Gun of Ashes

”This is like an epidemic; all it needs is to keep spreading, and death is just a byproduct in its propagation. That’s the real ’demon,’ our true enemy.”

”What kind of research did you conduct at that time?”

Merlin followed up with the question, both he and Lorenzo furrowed their brows. It was a novel angle and a terrifying conjecture.

”Before talking about my research, I need to share some preconditions that led to my experiment.”

William took a deep breath, the erosion still affecting his brain, shattering the knowledge he remembered under such influence, which led to his words being illogical.

Medical staff injected him with a dose of Florun Potion, which made William feel much better. He sat up straight, with an unspeakable dignity and obstinacy.

”You mean, given the demons’ ability to spread, humans are utterly powerless to resist, right? Yet, we still exist in this world and can confront them, so to correct this, there must be some aberrant inhibition force controlling the spread of demons?”

Merlin continued speaking.

”I have read your research and some surviving diaries, and your thoughts coincide with a cardinal of the Evangelical Church.”

William was taken aback, then nodded forcefully.

”Indeed, as I thought, at the end of the path of seeking knowledge, we all walk on the same road.”

”My research was aimed at tracing this mysterious force; if we could control it, perhaps we could completely eradicate the demons, but at the time, I was too naive. I never considered why that inhibiting force would act this way.”

William spoke, falling into pain once more.

”Why would it act this way?”

”Yes, it has the ability to control demons, to correct this world, then why not completely eradicate demons? Or perhaps it can’t kill all demons, all it can do is control, maintaining the fragile balance between humans and demons.”

William’s pace of speech accelerated.

”I realized, at the end of the experiment, I realized we are like a flock of lambs fenced in, and that inhibition force is the shepherd; they protect us from external harms but still, some anomalies seep through the gaps of the fence...

That’s the demon.”

The words seemed to have magic power; everyone felt it, with William’s narrative, a piercing cold spread gradually across everyone’s bodies, although everyone was clear, here underground, the entire facility of the Perpetual Motion Pump depended on the main trunk of the Furnace Pillar, here it was always hot, never was there ever coldness.

”We are restless lambs, we try to uncover the truth, but this inevitably crosses the fence. We might die outside the fence, but what’s more probable is bringing in hungry wolves from outside, causing the death of other obedient lambs. If you were the shepherd, what would you do?”

William looked at Merlin, staring intently into those empty, lifeless eyes.

”Kill the wolves that sneak in... and those restless lambs.”

William smiled, shaking his head helplessly.

”This is my experiment... the truth of the Red Signal Incident.”

The horrifying power surged again, frightening everyone; turning to see Lorenzo already fully armed, dense iron armor covered vital parts of his body, he drew out the Nail Sword and Winchester, his eyes blazing, vigilantly watching the surroundings.

Lorenzo sensed that, as William, the restless lamb, narrated those forbidden, cursed knowledge, he clearly felt that kind of force surging.

”Merlin, you’d better speed up.”

Lorenzo held his weapon, uneasily looking around.

”The shepherd is coming.”