Gun of Ashes

”We’re out of ammunition!”

Heracles was just about to continue moving the bullets, but his hand came up empty.

He looked at Nikola, who was still holding the binoculars. Heracles wanted to ask something, but suddenly realized something.

Perhaps due to some mental confusion, under the glow of fireworks, Heracles realized he had no idea who this guy in front of him was.

”What’s your name?”

The atmosphere was a bit subtle.

”Nikola Tesla.”

Nikola stretched out his hand, maintaining an elegant demeanor even in the face of an avalanche.

”Heracles Christie, pleased to meet you.”

Heracles was having a mental lapse. He too extended his hand, shaking it with Nikola, in the manner of comrades.

”So... we’re out of ammo, what do we do now!”

Heracles said urgently. Without the cover of artillery, they lost their last means of resistance.

”What else can we do? Prepare to retreat!”

Nikola said and put down the binoculars. A few people had already approached, and Lorenzo’s figure also appeared in his view.

It must be said, after going through so much, Lorenzo had clearly become a reassuring presence. Although this person had many quirks, as long as he was present, there was a glimmer of hope in the face of whatever terrifying Hell.

”Follow me, Heracles. Trying to start the Silverfish with just one person isn’t enough.”

Nikola said as he started running, directly jumping onto the Silverfish.

The cabin was small. As an experimental type, its space was extremely cramped, with basically no excess space. Therefore, the Perpetual Motion Pump had installed everything inside the cabin, shaping the whole ship like a sword.

”Are we standing on a steam turbine that could explode at any moment?”

After Nikola’s brief introduction to the Silverfish, Heracles suddenly realized this cruel reality.

”Trust me, this thing has been tested, there’s no problem. Pass me that barrel.”

Nikola lifted the metal lid, revealing the black pipes beneath.

”What kind of test did you do?”

Heracles lifted the heavy water barrel, unsure of what was inside.

”Tests, anyway, we sailed from the open sea to here without any issues... just sometimes the vibration was too strong, and some screws came loose.”

Nikola took the water barrel, while Heracles covered his face, feeling that the land was safer.

”So... what are you pouring inside?”

The dark liquid gushed from the barrel, poured into the pipe opening. Heracles watched the liquid, feeling inexplicably uneasy.

”Lacquered Antimony, diluted lacquered antimony. You’ve seen this stuff, right? It’s what Lorenzo uses to blow things sky-high.”

Nikola poured the whole barrel of diluted lacquered antimony into the pipe opening, then screwed the metal lid shut.

Lacquered Antimony? Diluted lacquered antimony?

Heracles recalled when Lorenzo introduced this thing, using it to blow the street sky-high. However, Heracles remembered the dose was very small then, yet just a little produced such destructive power. And now, this guy named Nikola poured a whole barrel inside, even though it was diluted, still...

”Wow, Heracles, you’ve outdone yourself this time.”

Polo couldn’t help but say.

Heracles ignored him. He felt even dizzier, stumbling to one side, and after a long pause, he asked.

”So... where did you pour it?”

”Into the combustion chamber, the fuel needs to match the combustion chamber.”

Nikola appeared to not understand why Heracles was so full of questions.

Heracles went silent for a few seconds, this time he had no emotional surprise. Quite the opposite, after so much shock, he suddenly felt this was normal.

”Prepare to set sail!”

Nikola said, starting the Silverfish. Scorching steam instantly rose, engulfing almost the entire ship in dense fog. Heracles could clearly feel the temperature rising around him, the cabin below his feet shaking with the steam, as the dials on the instrument panel began to spin wildly, with several pointing to the red zone. But judging by Nikola’s composed expression... it wasn’t a big issue.

...

”Run fast!”

The annoying shouts wouldn’t stop, figures crashed through the smoke and dust, running frantically.

”Yes! Just like that! Engwig, I’m back!”

Red Falcon opened his hand, feeling the gust of wind coming towards him, the sea breeze baptized by burning flames, slightly warm.

”Shut up! If you keep yelling, I’ll throw you off!”

Hebdo simply couldn’t endure Red Falcon’s screeching anymore; at that time, Red Falcon was lying on Hebdo’s sturdy arms, being carried while Hebdo ran.

”Charge, Hebdo!”

Perhaps it was because the injections were too many, Red Falcon was extremely excited and didn’t hear Hebdo’s words at all.

Explosion after explosion came behind them, rising flames mixed with flying debris fell everywhere, a group of people running against the flames started a grand escape.

”So, is this what you usually do?”

Erin simply couldn’t help but ask, that’s how it was from the beginning. This group of people didn’t seem to have a serious sense of life and death, instead, they appeared like circus performers on the wrong stage.

Is it possible Purification Mechanism’s corporate culture is like this?

”Life is already miserable, people should find some fun for themselves... like now.”