Gun of Ashes

The gentle sunlight rose from the edge of the sea, shining on the ravaged land. People looked at all this with some confusion. Even though seven days had passed since the incident, there was still a sense of unreality.

The familiar homeland had turned into scorched earth overnight, corpses and blood everywhere, like a sudden nightmare, except this nightmare had no end and there was no moment of awakening.

The authorities have not provided any explanation for this sudden event, and the atmosphere at Maruri Port has become oppressive. Battleships docked openly on the side, and the soldiers’ eyes cut through everyone in sight like daggers.

While the public was anxious and uneasy, Orthodoxy appeared before everyone, comforting the people without deliberately preaching. The hospitals were already overcrowded, and most of the civilians with less severe injuries were accepted and treated by Orthodoxy.

As the core area of the battle, the theater square was sealed off and only reopened today. Believers of Orthodoxy gathered here, fully aware of what needed to be done today.

Seven days ago, the Pope of Orthodoxy was supposed to ascend here. However, the explosion and fighting that suddenly erupted terminated everything. The believers were very concerned about the Pope’s situation. Rumors said the Pope was wounded in the chaos, and there were whispers that on the night of the ascension, the events were not just what people know, and it seemed like believers of the Evangelical Church also appeared here, causing conflict with believers of Orthodoxy.

In short, there were many, many strange speculations. Devout believers called that night the Night of Suffering, and to quell doubts and unrest, Orthodoxy would hold the ascension ceremony here again and provide everyone with an answer.

Inside the Church of Orthodoxy, a man adjusted his attire in front of the mirror, with painful cries occasionally arising from outside the window. Nuns walked between buildings with blood-stained bandages, the air echoing with the scent of blood.

Having completed all preparations, the man reached out and picked up a black mask nearby, placing it on his face.

Facing the mirror, it seemed as though he was facing the abyss. His gaze did not linger long, for Lawrence had matters to attend to today. He turned around, ready to leave the room.

His movement suddenly halted. He realized at some point, a girl was already standing by the door, as if she had been waiting for him all along.

When Lawrence looked towards her, Liya slightly lowered her head, as if too afraid to meet his gaze. Strange sounds came from her mouth intermittently, seemingly trying to say something, but she couldn’t due to her nervousness.

”Is there something you need, child?”

A gentle voice sounded from beneath the mask as Lawrence walked to the girl’s side, tenderly patting her head with some pity.

Lawrence remembered this child. Her name was Liya. Before the Night of Suffering, she was a lively and cheerful child, but after that night, she fell completely silent. She once shone with radiance, but now her entire being was swallowed by shadows.

His gaze swept over her. Bandages still wrapped around the girl’s body. The flames had burned her, and one corner of her cheek was bandaged. Perhaps she didn’t want others to see these injuries. She intentionally grew her hair long to cover them.

”I heard people say you are recruiting warriors, right? They said you want to form an army...”

Liya’s voice was timid. Perhaps before, she would have boldly spoken to Lawrence, but now she was like a frightened little animal, wary of everything.

Slightly lifting her head, from the gap in her hair curtain, wary eyes glanced up, but deeper inside, Lawrence saw something intriguing.

”Yes.”

Lawrence brought over a chair and offered one to Liya as well, signaling her to sit.

Warm light poured in from the window. Lawrence sat with his back to the light. Liya looked again at that somewhat unsettling mask, but all she could see was the blackness against the light, as if Lawrence’s visage turned into a shadow in her eyes.

”I see anger in your eyes. Do you want to join the warriors, to avenge your friends?”

Listening to Lawrence’s words, Liya was taken aback. She hadn’t expected her thoughts to be seen through so easily by him.

”I’m sorry... I...”

Liya apologized, flustered. She regretted coming to see Lawrence. What she thought of as courage seemed trivial. She wanted to pick up the sword and fight, but now she couldn’t even continue a conversation with Lawrence normally.

”There’s nothing to apologize for. I just want to ask, is revenge very important to you?”

Lawrence asked.

”I... They destroyed everything, killed my friends. I want revenge. I want to do it. It’s important.”

Liya mustered her courage and said.

”Hmm? Then who is your enemy?”

Lawrence asked again, continuing to speak.

”I can tell you who they are. That person is called Lorenzo Holmes, but in the end, he’s not your true enemy.”

”Not him... then who is it?”

Hearing Lorenzo’s name, Liya felt a flash of joy. The monster from her nightmares finally had a name, but upon hearing Lawrence’s latter words, she grew confused again.

”I saw it with my own eyes. He killed so many people. He even... even killed you.”

Liya’s voice turned devout. Lawrence’s death did not cause panic among the believers. In their eyes, Lawrence was the savior on the Night of Suffering. He saved everyone, and his death and resurrection were the perfect manifestations of Divine Power.