Gun of Ashes

Pain, ultimate pain.

Endless demons rushed toward Lorenzo. He tried to raise the Nail Sword and slash, the sharp steel cutting through one grotesque body after another, blood splattering everywhere.

For a moment, Lorenzo managed to single-handedly hold back the flood of demons, but soon more demons stepped over the corpses, the sword light frantically flashing. Yet Lorenzo was too weak to resist, eventually swallowed completely by the hell of flesh and blood.

The power of one man is so small, sharp claws tearing at Lorenzo’s body, fangs repeatedly gnawing at the flesh, skin peeled away from the body, revealing endless white bones underneath, the bones being bitten off bit by bit.

The darkness of death reached its end.

Lorenzo was drenched in cold sweat, leaning on the Nail Sword, surrounded by flickering flames.

”Lawrence...”

Lorenzo whispered the taboo name, despondently lifting his head, only to see the broken body half-kneeling in front of him.

At the end of the demon tide, he escaped from Lawrence’s [Gap] and returned to reality.

The bleak, despairing future echoed in his mind, the illusory pain before death still reverberating through his consciousness.

Lorenzo hadn’t felt such deep fear in a long time, such despair, like falling into a cold abyss, unable to see even a glimmer of light.

”This is what I’m supposed to do, Lorenzo Holmes. I am the savior of this world.”

Lawrence’s voice was hoarse, his body losing warmth.

”What savior? How could it be someone like you!”

Lorenzo rebuked.

”Then facing this doomed future, what do you think should be done? Clinging to humanity and morals, fighting against it relying on so-called faith? That’s ridiculous.”

Lawrence retorted.

”You are as naive as Lorenzo de’ Medici, you trust humans too much, underestimate the depravity of humans. Hasn’t the incident at Black Mountain Hospital made you aware?”

Lorenzo wanted to say something, but in an instant, he didn’t know what to say.

Lawrence was right, humans are not trustworthy, the human heart is unfathomable. In the incident at Black Mountain Hospital, he almost went to war with the Purification Mechanism.

His gaze became hesitant; this was why Lawrence did these things. He had already told himself he would never trust anyone or anything, relying only on himself and the sword in his hand.

”No, the Purification Mechanism will trust me...”

”Trust you with what? They’re an organization made up of people, they serve the Royal Family of Victoria, which corresponds to the entirety of Ingwig. Every decision they make involves countless interests, which leads to disputes and conflicts, like a machine running loudly, its cumbersome parts making it infinitely slow, incapable of doing anything properly.”

Lawrence mocked Lorenzo relentlessly.

”Do you think what you’ve thought of, I haven’t tried? The only thing that can end all this is a singular will, an absolute will controlling everything, with everyone maintaining absolute submission!”

”That is the only answer, to discard all the shackles that bind us. I will forge an incredibly powerful army with Secret Blood, and they will save us all at the end of days!”

Lawrence had gone mad, and under his words, Lorenzo had no chance to refute, nor a reason to refute.

It’s a simple question, within Lawrence’s [Gap] Lorenzo saw a distant future, endless demons descending, dragging the world into doom.

Facing this question, what answer can I give, what can I do?

Lorenzo was bewildered, like a lost child, helpless.

”Shut up, you lunatic!”

Lorenzo pulled the Nail Sword out of control, trying to kill Lawrence.

”Look at yourself, Lorenzo, you’re so ridiculous, unable to find an answer, you merely pour out your anger blindly.”

Lawrence looked at Lorenzo mockingly, but just as the sword was about to come down, a pair of hands grabbed Lorenzo’s foot.

”No... please don’t.”

A weak voice pleaded.

Lorenzo’s sword-wielding motion halted, he slowly turned his head, seeing the man crawling on the ground.

”Don’t kill him, please don’t.”

Hu ao begged, just an ordinary person, an ordinary sailor. He didn’t know what demons were, nor did he know what Secret Blood was. All he knew was that the man before him intended to kill their Dean.

”Lo... Lorenzo Holmes sir...”

Hu ao struggled to lift his head, recognized the man holding the sword. Hu ao remembered his name, the traveler who talked with him on the street after the first meeting ended.

For a moment, Hu ao froze, thinking of something, tears spilling from the corners of his eyes.

”Hu... ao.”

The voice squeezed out from Lorenzo’s throat, he remembered the man at his feet. Lorenzo’s memory wasn’t bad, he hadn’t forgotten him yet.

After a brief stupor, Hu ao’s emotions collapsed.

”Why, Mr. Holmes!”

All the flames and ruins, death and pain, now, even Hu ao guessed everything, this apocalyptic scene was all related to the man before him.

Hu ao couldn’t understand, he wanted to kill the man in front of him very much, but he was also clear, he couldn’t possibly resist him, he could only grasp his foot like this, humbly pleading.

”Why do this? Just because of differing beliefs?”