Gun of Ashes

The command room fell silent, everyone listening to Lorenzo’s words.

”Hebdo told me, Ivar is of this mind; he thinks Odin is merely a lie the Vikings tell themselves, and the Heroic Spirit Hall is no different, drinking the night away then killing, reviving again before the morning sun rises, entering a crimson cycle.”

Lorenzo looked at the others, raising a question.

”Do you all think going to such a ghostly place after death is really good?”

Without waiting for the others’ response, Lorenzo gave his own explanation.

”I can’t stand it; I’ve fought my whole life, I don’t hope for anything after death, only to keep hacking away endlessly. No matter how you think about it, that sounds like Hell; maybe only a madman would long for such a place.”

The others looked at Lorenzo with strange expressions, inadvertently locking eyes with him, sinking into a somewhat awkward silence.

”You guys...”

”It’s nothing! Nothing!” Bola quickly exclaimed, covering Lorenzo’s mouth.

Lorenzo looked suspiciously at Bola, wanting to say something, seemingly wanting to criticize everyone’s stereotypes, but in the end, he gave up.

”I think, this thing called faith, perhaps it has its reason for existence.”

Lorenzo’s expression was serious; he wasn’t joking.

”I used to think the Evangelical Church was foolish, yet it indeed helped us through the toughest times... maybe it has its significance, but it failed to make the necessary changes with changing times, much like the belief in Odin, beautifying death so more Vikings might survive. But now it isn’t the age of blood and swords anymore.”

The shadow on the surface of the sea grew larger, spreading endlessly across the horizon, spikes rising one after another, tall buildings resembling swords and halberds protruding from the bodies of monsters; Willerte was coming near.

”The times have changed; everyone should change too, or only elimination awaits.”

...

”Is this Ingwig’s military force?”

The man stood on the high platform, gazing at the edge of the sea; the silhouette of the Morning Glow Advance had already broken into view even though it was distant, its shape still discernible.

His face appeared somewhat aged, cold eyes filled with fatigue, crossed scars covering his skin, resembling a beast that had been through bloody battles.

”My previous thoughts were still too naive,” witnessing the large ship breaking through the sea fog, the man shook his head somewhat helplessly, ”I once considered raiding south to pillage other countries, also thought about how to deal with such ironclad ships if encountered.”

”I thought our Vikings’ experience in naval battles could compensate for the technological gap, that our longships would swiftly approach their ironclad ships, throw hooks, rush to the deck, and kill all the enemies.”

But now it seems laughable; Hebdo, those ironclad ships don’t even need to fire at us, they can simply crush through and overturn our longships.”

Compared to ironclad ships, Viking longships seemed like ants, suppressed by an absolute technological chasm. Even though Viking countries have had substantial ironclad ships over the years with Ingwig’s technological support, they still paled against the Morning Glow Advance and were fundamentally incapable of fighting.

This gap can’t be filled just by technological support; from the viewpoint of basic industry, Viking countries have started far too late; the new era has long arrived, yet they remain blissfully unaware.

”Don’t worry too much, Your Majesty; we made timely changes, Ice Bay has already started producing ironclad ships, mutual assistance among various territories is also in orderly progress. Despite these clearly falling short compared to Ingwig’s, at least we’ve indeed taken a step, instead of continuing to be trapped in this bitter cold land, engaging in internecine fighting.”

Hebdo also watched the large ship on the sea, some familiar guys were certainly on that ship.

”But how long will this situation last? We and Ingwig are not one entity, just a temporary alliance. After dealing with the Gaulunaro issue, we might become the new problem.”

The King of the Ice Sea worried; this was an alliance between nations, not two people making friends, he knew well it was mutual exploitation, but he didn’t have the capability to refuse.

This was the last chance for the Viking countries; without relying on Ingwig, their gap with the world would only widen further.

”As long as Silent Sea is stable, we have the ability to negotiate with Ingwig.”

Hebdo said.

Looking at Silent Sea as the map’s core, one would discover it’s surrounded mostly by the islands of Viking countries, with the only place lacking islands intercepted by the Caucasus Mountains; Ingwig could not explore Silent Sea without bypassing Viking countries.

”Silent Sea, have you heard the legends about Silent Sea?”

Mentioning Silent Sea, the King of the Ice Sea recalled the rumors associated with it.

”A world-changing treasure, said Ingwig won the Radiant War because the Victoria family ventured into Silent Sea, acquiring part of that treasure, and they managed this thanks to the Willgardson family,” Hebdo said.

”The gods’ treasure... I heard the legends about ten years ago, back then not many knew, but recently these talks have increased; do you think it’s true, or a lie?”

The King of the Ice Sea turned to ask Hebdo, who pondered then gave an uncertain answer.

”I don’t know, but from how much Ingwig values it, perhaps there’s indeed something there in Silent Sea... but you also know, judging from the knowledge Ingwig shared, Silent Sea is full of those monsters called demons.”

Thinking of those hideous monsters, Hebdo felt a chill in his heart.

”So is this truly a treasure, or a Pandora’s box hiding a disaster, who knows?”

”But I always feel, such rumors might also relate to those conservative lords, devout believers of Odin, you stopped the civil war and chose to cooperate with Ingwig. In their eyes, this already counts as betraying Viking honor, let alone you still let them venture to Silent Sea.”

Hebdo recalled and continued.

”To those believers, the end of Silent Sea is the sacred Heroic Spirit Hall; a group of outsiders daring to disturb there is the greatest blasphemy.”

”Apocalypse Society?”

Listening to Hebdo, the King of the Ice Sea thought of these roaming cultists in Viking countries.

”Exactly, they’ve twisted the faith in Odin, expanding rapidly. I think we better deal with them, or it’ll become more troublesome in the future.”

”It’s not important; the Evangelical Church can rule the Western world through faith, still depending on the powerful Holy Hall Knight Order and Demon Hunting Order.”

”What decided everything has never been faith, but gunpowder and steel, and now, these things are firmly in our hands.”

Morning Glow Advance was already close to the shore, all of this in the King of the Ice Sea’s view, he smiled slightly.

”Rather leave all this to your friends; we’re merely assisting this operation and paving the way for them, leaving the rest to them to handle. They should manage those troubles perfectly, right?”

”Is that so? That works too.”

Hearing the King of the Ice Sea’s answer, Hebdo felt somewhat sorrowful.

”Are you worried about him?”

”Not really,” Hebdo denied, ”I’m just worried about those troublemakers.”

Black scale armor reflected pale flames, sharp blades slicing through steel, severing distorted flesh into fragmented remains, the consumed ashes rose into the sky, transforming into gray-black snowflakes falling.

Hebdo shook his head, took a deep breath, eased the pressure in his memories, speaking slowly.

”On that ship, it’s not just cannons and soldiers it carries.”