Gun of Ashes

They have been affected by the corrosion, falling into this endless cycle of killing.

In a daze, Bola felt a strange sensation, recalling the myth that the Viking had mentioned before.

Torrential rain and thunder, frenzied warriors, and bloodthirsty demons, all happening on this great ship, pressing over the ice with the guidance of light trails, heading towards unknown lands.

At this moment, everything is so similar to what the myths describe, as if, in a moment of the recent voyage, the Horned Whale had unknowingly strayed into a Divine Domain, making everything happening now part of the myth.

”We are already in the Heroic Spirit Hall.”

Bola heard Froki softly saying.

Not understanding what Froki meant, Bola himself couldn’t comprehend the Vikings’ strange beliefs and myths, but for some reason, Bola felt a bizarre empathy at this moment, like beasts of different kinds feeling fear towards the same deadly predator.

Bola felt that something was watching him, circling around him.

”I don’t want it this way either, but who told you to give up?”

Froki retracted his gaze and hoisted Bola, dragging him across the deck, not knowing where he intended to take Bola.

”Do you know? Vikings call me Froki the Shipbuilder. I’ve spent over thirty years traversing all the sea regions of the western world, drawing every inch of sea into my nautical chart, yet this chart is not perfect.”

”You cannot penetrate the Silent Sea.” Bola said.

”That’s right, after returning from my travels, all my energy devoted to this mysterious sea area. It is truly beautiful here...” Froki stopped, looked up at the magnificent light trails, ”Beautiful yet deadly.”

This is the Land of No Wind. The longship can only move through primitive manpower, but after a certain depth, it encounters a sea area full of floating ice, followed by places completely covered in ice.

The longship cannot navigate here, even if it is fortunate enough to reach the ice, the harsh environment presents another challenge with its demand for resources. This is the Realm of the Dead, with no living fish for them to hunt, let alone more terrifying things hidden in this silence.

All these factors fittingly combined into a formidable barrier, hindering anyone attempting to step into the Silent Sea... Until human technology kindled the flame, an iron-boned ship opened the waterway.

”If you want to explore here, we could have worked together.”

Bola gritted his teeth and said, accumulating strength, waiting for the moment to counterattack.

”Cooperation? Mutual equal strength defines cooperation. But with you, it would end up as nothing but one-sided slaughter.”

Froki’s words were steady; he would not regret this decision.

”Do you think you hid well? I’ve seen ironclad ships before, but never one as advanced as this. Moreover, you come from Ingwig... and know these dead ones, which you call demons.”

The heavy bell sounded again, and Froki shot down a demon climbing up, its head exploding into a mass of flesh, soon washed away by the rain.

”Of mysterious origin, advanced technology, and so clear in purpose, even though no one has disturbed this place for many years, yet you relentlessly pursue it.”

The Viking in front of Bola turned out to be smarter than expected. Rather than calling him a barbarian, he was more like a cunning wolf.

”Let me guess, a secret organization kept by the Victoria Royal Family? Look at you, more of a secret mercenary group than an army, you only obey your master.”

Bola’s breath paused for half a beat; he didn’t expect this Viking to speculate so much, but just then Froki’s tone changed to a mocking one.

”I’m not that smart, I just know that many years ago, there was also a group who went deep into the Silent Sea, and they came back alive, returned to their country. Since then, that nation has been shrouded in the light of technology.”

Froki turned back, only seeing Bola’s face full of anger and resentment.

”Can’t understand, can you?” Froki said dispiritedly, ”My ancestors took them into the Silent Sea, saying there was immense wealth, instructing us to take it. But no one could reach there, gradually these became laughable legends.”

”But now it’s different.”

Froki said as he stopped, tossing Bola aside.

He stood at the bow, amidst the constant rocking, the sturdy ice was crushed open by the Horned Whale, as they moved forward unstoppably, carving a black path across the gray-white icy land.

This was Froki’s objective; now he had successfully seized the Horned Whale. The Chief Mate, as the second in command, had already been killed by Lancelot, and Lancelot himself had also become one of the dead.

The remaining soldiers held their positions; under the pressure of the outside demons, they didn’t have time to think about anything else. The gunfire and slaughter noises sounded continuously, so close to Bola, but at this moment, Bola felt like he was in a different world from them.

”Just for this reason?”

Bola couldn’t understand someone as insane as Froki. Indeed, he hadn’t known this madman for long, hadn’t even spoken much with him; no one would expect this Viking to betray so quickly.