Gun of Ashes

Under the cover of night, the storm had fully formed. The fierce wind lifted the seawater, swirling it high into the sky, intertwining with the thunder, resembling a giant pillar reaching the heavens, slowly moving across the sea surface.

The Morning Glow Advance was on the edge of the storm, running at full power to escape the storm’s reach. The heavy rain poured down fiercely, making crackling sounds as it hit the portholes.

With Bola’s narration, the atmosphere in the cabin was utterly oppressive. Even Blue Jade, who usually wore a cold expression, showed signs of softening.

Information control within the Purification Mechanism was very tight; without reaching a certain rank, there were some things you simply couldn’t access or know, like the fate of each Knight Commander.

Blue Jade still remembered Galahad. After participating in an operation in the Lower City District, he mysteriously disappeared from the Purification Mechanism. Did he die? Blue Jade wasn’t sure; nearly a year had passed with no one taking on his title. So, was he still alive? And what was he doing?

No one knew. Perhaps only Arthur was aware of everything. Just like what Bola had narrated, it wasn’t until Bola shared this past experience that Blue Jade learned how the former Lancelot had died.

Now Blue Jade also needed to head to that forbidden sea, and her mood involuntarily grew heavier.

”And then?”

Lorenzo asked. When it came to the critical part, Bola suddenly stopped. He rested his head in his hand, eyes downcast, as if contemplating something.

No one disturbed Bola; this silence lasted for a long time until Lorenzo lost his patience.

”And then? There was no ’and then’.”

Bola looked extremely fatigued, the terrible memories leaving him both mentally and physically exhausted.

”The Horned Whale hadn’t advanced far before it stopped... to be precise, the Demons caught us,” Bola recalled with difficulty, ”Everything was too chaotic at the time, I don’t know the specifics.”

”In short, the Horned Whale suddenly stopped. I guess the bodies of the Demons entangled the propeller, and then we became a lonely fortress on the ice shelf, countless Demons piling up into mounds, easily climbing onto the deck.”

Bola let out a long sigh; he didn’t know whether to be happy or sad.

”Froki’s plot fell apart. Barring any surprises, we were likely all destined to die at sea. I even mocked him at the time, but that guy didn’t give up. He gathered a few remaining rational Vikings and used the frenzied Soldiers and Vikings as bait, lowered the longboat, and tried to escape the Horned Whale.”

”You broke through the encirclement?”

Lorenzo found it inconceivable. From Bola’s words, it seemed their death was certain in such an environment, yet the fact remained that Bola survived, sitting here recounting his story.

”Not really, just lucky. After losing power, the bow got stuck in the ice shelf, the two tightly melded. The Demons had nowhere to strike, scratching the sturdy ice from below, and as Froki brought me to the ice surface, I could even see the Demons beneath the ice thanks to the light trail’s illumination.

They opened their bloodthirsty maws, using teeth and claws, constantly gnawing and scratching, numbering in tens of thousands like a school of fish, with only a layer of solid ice separating us.”

Only a layer of solid ice separated them from the Realm of the Dead.

”How did you escape?”

Lorenzo continued questioning, not particularly concerned about Bola’s mental state. If Bola was indeed that fragile, he’d have died long ago.

”I don’t know, then I just lost consciousness,” Bola stated with utmost certainty.

”The corruption was affecting me; I was already hallucinating. The Demons beneath the ice became familiar faces, my colleagues, my fallen comrades, even Lancelot. Their faces were ghastly white from the seawaters, reaching out to me...

I nearly grabbed their hands, and at the last moment, Froki saved me. The Demons broke through the ice, sharp claws nearly slitting my throat. Froki pushed me away, axed the Demons, and then a greater tremor erupted... like an earthquake.”

”An earthquake?”

It was an intriguing term, and Lorenzo thought the situation had become much more interesting, so he inquired.

”Can you be sure it wasn’t a hallucination?”

”I can’t, I just felt intense vibrations, and underfoot, the Silent Sea was boiling. Soon, the entire ice surface burst into a myriad of cracks, black seawater gushing from the fissures. Under the light trail, it looked like multicolored gems, with the Demons’ faces reflecting through the mirror-like surface, like a kaleidoscope...

It was simply a beautiful Hell.”

Bola appeared profoundly troubled and pained.

”What followed is the blurred area of my memory, and even after all these years, I haven’t reached a conclusion. I even thought of venturing to the Viking nations to reclaim the lost parts, but fear in my heart kept me from moving forward—until now, when I have no choice.”

He glanced at Lorenzo with a bitter smile, as if he could help it; Bola didn’t really want any more ties with the Silent Sea. But just like Froki spoke of a curse, those who left the Silent Sea were all cursed people.

”I’m not sure if it was a hallucination, but I clearly remember the feeling at that time, like I was being watched by something—like a prey being spotted by a Hunter—a primal fear from the soul. It wasn’t just me, the Demons were also afraid; they climbed up along the crevices, but didn’t attack us. They were fleeing, scattering away...”