Gun of Ashes

”From the current combat information, it’s clear that these guys don’t have any higher consciousness. They execute a certain command with machine-like loyalty, but they’re not completely rigid. When ’errors’ accumulate to a certain extent, they’ll clumsily change tactics... like coming for me first.”

Lorenzo looked toward the sea of flames where the Angels crawled out once more, and new Thunder Groups emerged, with the dead appearing again.

William is their priority target, but when there are too many obstacles, they will change their approach and destroy the obstacles first, just like the encircling annihilation just now.

”Think carefully, William, you’re running out of time.”

Lorenzo said mercilessly.

In fact, this could be considered cruel to William. He had just awakened from an almost unending nightmare, only to be met with another nightmare and the reality of death, not the tranquil Celestial Kingdom.

Any reaction from William would not surprise Lorenzo, be it crying, breaking down, or refusing to cooperate, but upon knowing his fate, William didn’t do anything ridiculous. He dutifully cooperated with everyone, glimpsing a corner of the truth under the shadow of destined death.

”Give me some time, give me some time...”

William repeatedly muttered. There were several needle marks on his neck from overdosing on Florun Potion to stay awake, his consciousness on the brink of collapse.

Beneath his clothes, there were writhing undulations. Merlin no longer wanted to lift his shirt to check what was happening underneath. Now, William was just a temporarily human-shaped demon.

”That’s right! You said they’re the will of the void, right? The will of the void is their true form, these bodies are just shells.”

William seemed to think of something, shouting loudly to Lorenzo.

The stuck gear slowly began to turn, with William piecing together his research on Angels. For a moment, he thought he had found the answer.

Lorenzo nodded. He clearly couldn’t understand William’s excitement. Winchester kept firing, hitting the Angels’ arms, interrupting their climb upward.

”Yes... that’s the source of the plague.”

William scratched his head, as if trying to free his poor soul from the shell, his cheeks torn and bleeding from sharp fingernails.

”What did you say?”

Lorenzo turned around, shouting at William, not wanting to mishear when he mentioned the source.

”The source! The source of the demons! Haven’t I said it before? The so-called demons are just by-products of this plague. Its true form is the erosion, and these Angels...”

William’s words trembled. He saw those hallucinations again — the endless starry sky, the dazzling stars getting closer, nearly scorching his eyes blind.

”These non-corporeal entities, existing without form, they continually release erosion. Aren’t they exactly the source of it?”

Blood streamed from William’s eyes, his vision blurring to a dark red as he struggled mightily.

”But doesn’t this conflict with your Shepherd theory? How can a Shepherd carry the scent of a wolf?”

Lorenzo countered.

If Angels were the source of erosion, then why would they protect the lambs? They should be indiscriminately attacking, expanding the erosion as much as possible...

Lorenzo suddenly froze, realizing something. He looked sharply at William, who was now half-kneeling in a pool of blood, whimpering in pain. His entire back was rising up, with glimpses of exposed bone as clothes and flesh tore open.

Lorenzo understood.

Yes, it made sense for a Shepherd to have the scent of a wolf, just like how a Demon Hunter has demon blood coursing through their veins...

Shepherds, Angels, Silencers, Demon Hunters...

Wolves, demons, darkness beyond the fence...

Lorenzo slowly lifted his hand, covered with still-healing wounds and dirty blood, his gray-blue eyes reflecting it all, but he found it unbearably unfamiliar.

According to William, Angels are the source of erosion, so how much does having Authority·Gabriel make him similar to them? Though using himself as an example isn’t entirely accurate, as Lorenzo has a physical form.

Watson.

Watson and the Angels are so alike, except Watson possesses individual consciousness. Lorenzo couldn’t immediately think of the difference between the two.

Lorenzo’s eyes were bloodshot, perhaps overwhelmed by his sudden thoughts, lacking a logical way to process everything. He could only stand there blankly, as if soulless.

”So... is this what lies at the end of [Ascension]?”

Lorenzo murmured softly, looking at his hand, which dropped slowly, revealing the Angel that had just climbed to the edge.

It was a face devoid of any emotion, like a refined mask, with lifeless gem-like eyes inlaid upon it, reflecting Lorenzo’s somewhat lost gaze on its smooth surface.

A gunshot echoed.

Winchester expelled the final bullet, blowing off half of the Angel’s head at close range. Yet, it didn’t seem to loosen its grip, so Lorenzo drew his Nail Sword, severing its arms, causing the dismembered Angel to drop into the flames below.

”I’m... done for. This is likely my limit.”

William staggeringly rose from the bloody pool, having started to lose his human form. His limbs elongated, joints protruding with bone, resembling a slender-armed evil ghost with sharp teeth piercing his lips.

”Thank you for your contribution to the Purification Mechanism.”

Seeing this, Merlin said nothing more, stepping back to maintain a safe distance, then saluted him.

”I should have done this sooner.”

William’s voice was muddled.

Lorenzo turned away. William was about to lose his capacity to think, the Perpetual Motion Pump having drained his final worth. Lorenzo began reloading for the Winchester, the barrel lifting, aimed at William.

”Do you need a dignified death?” Lorenzo asked.

William shook his head, looking at his reflection in the pool of blood with a wry grin.

”In my current state, what dignity do I have left?”

He lifted his head once more, nostalgically surveying it all.

”But how things have changed, these things, back in my day, were merely designs on paper...”

”That’s really a shame. If you could see present-day Old Dunling, perhaps your lament would be even more profound,” Merlin said.

”I can imagine, after all, I was once the director, wasn’t I?”

William said, looking forward.

”Make way... what was your name again?”

Lorenzo stepped aside, replying.

”Lorenzo Holmes, nice to meet you, William.”

”Likewise.”

William said his final words, his throat swelling, constricting his airway, leaving only beast-like howls, before dashing forward with wild beast fury.

He swept past Lorenzo, diving headlong into the sea of fire beneath the Workshop, leaving wind and blood in his wake. In a daze, he felt as if he had returned to years ago, to the moment of that fateful day.

William slammed forcefully into the Angels, tearing open the phony flesh with razor-sharp claws in a frenzy.

But William’s battle soon ended, countless Spiral Long Nails pierced his body, the sharp Iron Feathers acting like a meat grinder, layer upon layer enveloping him, shredding him into a pile of mincemeat.

Lorenzo and Merlin did nothing. They simply stood at the edge of the high terrace, silently observing the churning flames, initially accompanied by William’s roars, gradually drifting into silence, with only the fire continuing to burn.