Gun of Ashes

Then whose hands will death come from?

Recalling a few female colleagues who just started to get a bit of affection but died during actions... Hmm? Can’t remember their faces anymore, so let’s think about the people around...

Red Falcon seemed to think of someone, but before he could say anything stupid, he gradually fell silent.

...

Under the intense fighting, the Holy Silver coating the Nail Sword was almost worn off, and the blade made of Pine Iron was now covered with notches and cracks.

Who knows how many times he repeated it, Lorenzo thrust out the blade, killing a warrior, and slowly turned his head, seeing more warriors stepping over corpses, walking towards him.

They were endless, each wearing that dark mask; they seemed to each be Lawrence, and yet not at the same time.

”Truly insane... Maybe you really can do it, Lawrence.”

Lorenzo’s emotions were complex, finally saying with a hint of respect.

Lawrence said he might join Lorenzo, and similarly, Lorenzo felt that at some point in his past, he might also acknowledge Lawrence’s madness.

This is what Lawrence wanted to tell Lorenzo, that Lawrence was no longer a person, not a single individual; he was an idea, a command executed with determination.

But regrettably, the two would never walk together; they were mortal enemies, bearing different positions and wills, continuing until death.

Such a vast group of Secret Blood Men, the dark knowledge exposed to sunlight, Lorenzo was uncertain what letting Lawrence pursue Secret Blood would bring, but he could vaguely sense it would be a disaster sweeping everyone, maybe before the future Lawrence envisioned arrived, everyone would already die at Lawrence’s hands.

Ultimately, uncontrollable monsters like Demon Hunters should return to dust, letting himself, the last Demon Hunter, end it all would be the perfect conclusion.

Lorenzo felt facing that dark future, there must be a better solution.

”Secret Keeper.”

Lorenzo shook his head somewhat helplessly; it seemed he must go to the so-called World’s End, but to do that, he first had to leave alive.

”You look terrible, Lorenzo, you could completely leave alone.”

After the sea of fire, another batch of warriors emerged, so many casualties, yet they seemed endless, like humanoid shells, without souls or wills, merely tools temporarily occupied by Lawrence.

”This is the difference between me and you, Lawrence, I can still trust others, and they are willing to trust me, so I will never let them die.”

Secret Blood was somewhat waning, under such intense combat, Lorenzo’s will was also becoming exhausted, struggling to contain his strength, yet this tenacious figure still stood between the warriors and Eve.

”These are all burdens, have you not realized? Emotions make us indecisive, connections with others give us many weaknesses, beautiful things immerse us in falsehood... These are Lorenzo de’ Medici’s reasons for failure, I hope they won’t be yours.”

Lawrence said, feeling Lorenzo was a stubborn, unpersuadable fool; he’d already used himself as an example, yet Lorenzo remained obstinate.

He wanted to change Lorenzo, or possibly kill him, after all, to complete this grand feat alone was enough.

To this, Lorenzo merely laughed disdainfully, glancing at those few clumsy runners, muttering to himself.

”Do you think Lorenzo de’ Medici truly failed?”

The past scenes resurfaced in his mind, in that hellish dry well, the two drenched in blood, countless Demon Hunters who died for it.

”Lorenzo de’ Medici believed in me, that’s why I survived, and now I choose to believe in them.”

A smile tugged at the corners of Lorenzo’s worn face.

Secret Blood surged once more, Nail Sword struck the ground furiously, then the ascending light pierced through darkness, drawing a new sea of fire upon the street.

Raging flames blocked the warriors’ advance.