Gun of Ashes

The withered body was infused with strength, stiff muscles gaining vitality, and fresh blood surged once again.

It became Lawrence.

”The name is not important, Lorenzo Holmes. Whether I am Lawrence is not important either, what matters is what I am going to do, what matters is the will that runs through all of this.”

It looked at Lorenzo, as if fighting for the mask, fighting for the ”meaning” the mask represented, countless hands clutched onto it once again.

”Many years ago, here, at the moment I was about to die, the blood of the Holy Grail saved me and let me see the future, a future unimaginably distant.”

It walked towards Lorenzo, not very far, but within this distance, it died several more times, the mask replaced again and again.

Lorenzo’s heart turned completely cold; he suddenly felt lost, and fearful, unable to understand exactly what he was facing.

Lawrence had long since died, countless remnants rotting his will, his true self lost in broken memories.

Lawrence was still alive; he had lost his name, lost everything he had, but he still remembered what he had to do, like an iron law binding him, firmly following the command despite being replaced countless times.

This was the answer Lawrence found; he overcame the side effects brought by Authority·Gabriel with absolute iron laws, although the price was his true self had died long ago.

”Is humanity a protection for us, or a shackle?”

It muttered, finally reaching Lorenzo’s side.

”What exactly do you want to do…”

Lorenzo tried to say Lawrence’s name, but he hesitated just as he was about to utter it, unsure of how to address the… monster before him.

”What do I want to do? It’s simple, save the world.”

It said.

Lorenzo was stunned, then he cursed out loud.

”Are you kidding me!”

”I’m not kidding, the Golden Era is just too distant, too unrealistic.”

Its voice was calm, but Lorenzo could feel the despair intertwined within it, ultimately abandoning this unattainably ideal.

”How could demons possibly be eradicated, this is a curse given to us by God, we cannot break the curse… but I can save the world, save everyone. I may not be able to eradicate demons and usher in the Golden Era, but I can at least keep more people alive, to ensure the survival of humanity.”

The voice was like a mad whisper, continually assaulting Lorenzo’s psyche, making him feel as though his world was collapsing.

Save the world, for the survival of all humanity.

This is its reason, its purpose.

”Some things must be done by someone, and the result of being bound by mortality is Lorenzo de’ Medici, he did so much but ultimately failed, defeated by ridiculous humanity.

I won’t walk his path, Lorenzo Holmes.”

It hadn’t spoken so openly with someone for a long time, it was like a confession, also like a declaration of war.

”You’re building an army, an army of Secret Blood, do you know what happens when it loses control?”

Lorenzo shouted.

”This is necessary to save the world, to ensure human survival, this is my army, and it will only follow my orders.”

It grabbed Lorenzo’s head, forcing him to look forward.

”If you think I am wrong, then show me, try to prove my mistake, correct me, instead of talking big, Lorenzo Holmes.”

”I won’t kill you, you are not my enemy, they are.”

Lorenzo couldn’t make any sound, he saw it, saw its memory, the nightmare hidden deep in its heart.

It was a vast sea of blood, Lorenzo had seen glimpses of this in its memory, but those were just fragments, now he witnessed it all firsthand.

The tides surged towards the wasteland, writhing strangely… it wasn’t seawater, it was countless demons, grotesque and terrifying demons.

They were as numerous as swarms of ants, like a tide, endless and inexhaustible.

Passing over the wilderness, crossing rivers, invading cities, fierce flames rose amidst the ruins, people wept, resisted, strong bastions crumbling bit by bit, not waiting for the demons to fully conquer, the warrior guards turned into demons one by one.

Human armies were easily defeated, the Demon Hunting Order held on briefly, but they were too few, ultimately destroyed with Saint Nalos Cathedral in the blaze.

Lorenzo saw Old Dunling beginning to fall under this hopeless tide, familiar places piled with blood and corpses, he vaguely saw countless bodies again.

Bola, Red Falcon, Eve, Selyu, Heracles…

Everyone will die, this is an incomparably dark and desperate future.

Each person was torn into pieces, flesh and organs scattered on the ground, blood smeared everything in sight, Ingwig gradually falling, followed by Gaulunaro, Viking nations, Leiber…

The whole world plunged into silence.

Lorenzo panted heavily, unsure whether it was an illusion or a genuine memory, oppressive despair stripping away his warmth, his mind going blank.

This is what it wanted him to see.

It released Lorenzo, slowly walking forward.

This was the last Pure Land, and now the demons were rushing towards it, it held no fear, instead feeling a sense of relief.

Unshackled by morals and ethics, abandoning humanity and desire, for this purpose, even itself could be easily sacrificed.

Raising the Nail Sword towards the demons, Lawrence calmly said.

”These are my enemies, the battles I am meant to fight.”