Gun of Ashes

This bizarre situation made him think for a while, his eyes wandering, until they rested on the sea, seeing the faint light rising behind it.

At first, there were only one or two points of light, but slowly, the points of light became more and more, the sound of steel breaking through the ocean waves came with the wind, accompanied by the rumbling noise of engines.

”What... is that?”

He walked to the edge of the deck, puzzled, placing his hands on the railing.

In the next moment, Hebdo heard a roar coming from the distant end of the sea, followed by a flare suddenly appearing in the darkness, it grew larger and larger until it filled Hebdo’s terrified eyes.

”Enemy attack!”

Hebdo shouted, quickly grabbing the bewildered Selyu, then pulling up Blue Jade, the three of them crashing into the shadow of the cabin, crouching on the deck, immediately after, heavy shells swept over the deck, shattering the deck along the way, finally hitting the cabin, igniting a fire.

Several ironclad ships sailed out from the darkness, the soldiers on board watching this expressionlessly, faithfully carrying out the Plague Doctor’s orders.

...

”What was that just now?”

Galron moved forward with difficulty, recalling the explosive Spear of Melting in his mind, he had never seen such a weapon, nor had he witnessed such a scene. For a moment, he felt a bit desolate, the gap between the Viking nations and the world had become so vast, how on earth could they catch up?

”If I say it was a signal flare, would you believe me?” Lorenzo said without turning his head, ”But you can also consider it an illuminating shell.”

Though it sounded a bit far-fetched, Lorenzo felt he wasn’t lying, the Spear of Melting could indeed be used that way, as practice had proven.

Galron didn’t say anything further, they found a few horses, and with effort, the deputy helped Galron onto one, and several of them rode through the streets of Ice Bay at breakneck speed. This city was considered prosperous among the Viking nations, but compared to Old Dunling, it was far inferior.

The road was muddy, and they quickly rushed through the sea of flames and chaos, leaving all the noise behind.

Someone noticed their wild ride and tried to stop them, only to hear a gunshot, Winchester precisely broke a few people’s legs, causing them to roll to the ground, only to be trampled by hooves and let out wailing cries.

Lorenzo had become their enemy, and the enemy needed to be eradicated, more and more figures appeared around them, gradually the sound of hooves could also be heard.

”We can’t escape.” Galron said, somewhat despairingly.

”As long as we reach the dock, we’ve won.”

Lorenzo fired again, shooting a few more enemies, during the jolting, he loaded Winchester, then re-aimed.

In an instant, scorching Dragon Breath Burned fiercely with them as they moved forward, using the blinding flames to shield their actions.

Normally Dragon Breath Bullets were useful, creatures instinctively feared fire, but this time Lorenzo’s enemies were not afraid of death, they even overcame the constraints of instinct, striding towards the flames.

The Staff Sword hummed softly, slicing through bodies, severed heads tossed high, Lorenzo charged at the forefront, cutting a path for those behind him.

”Mr. Holmes...”

Galron looked ahead, as if seeing something, and shouted softly.

His voice was too weak, in the fierce pursuit, Lorenzo couldn’t hear his words, Galron also tried to warn loudly, but when the words reached the tip of his tongue, he found he couldn’t utter a word.

Fear.

The fear of the unknown captured him, he tried to resist, but to no avail, breathing sharply, until with all his strength, he finally found a moment of respite under the pressure.

”Holmes!”

Galron reached out fearfully, pointing ahead, yelling.

The corner of Lorenzo’s vision caught sight of Galron’s gesture, then he looked forward, the firelight tore through the darkness, at the end, someone was waiting there.

The darkness dispersed, and a heavier pressure fell into everyone’s hearts, this is the price, the price of gazing into the ominous, the heartbeat’s pace couldn’t help but quicken, as the eyesight cleared, seeing things more clearly, this heavy pressure also became more immense, until it was suffocating, until his appearance was in full view.

A tattered cloak covered most of his body, the exposed arms also covered with scratched silver armor, he leaned on a spear, beneath the helmet was an impenetrable darkness.

”Odin.”

Galron murmured, blankly, tonight he saw Him once again.

Lorenzo wasn’t as shocked as Galron, speaking a word different from Odin.

”Pioneer.”

Without any warning, Lorenzo suddenly leaped from the horse’s back, flames entwined on the Nail Sword, scorching heat enveloping the metal, as if it would explode the next second.

”I’ll wait for you on the ship!”

Having worked together for so long, Bola was accustomed to Lorenzo’s various odd actions, the two maintained a corresponding rapport, he didn’t ask why Lorenzo did this, quickly crossing the battlefield, sprinting towards the dock.

Galron’s gaze remained locked on that leaping figure, he couldn’t believe it, why dare Lorenzo draw the sword? He had no idea what he was facing.

That was a god.

How could a mortal dare to draw a sword against a god?

Lorenzo held the burning Nail Sword, rolling swiftly through the air, all power applied to the Nail Sword, this strike could sever all things.

Perhaps once Lorenzo would have believed in gods, but now it was different, it was all a hoax, everything was, whether gods or demons, they were all false.

Lorenzo would use his sharp sword, one after another, to verify.

The Pioneer didn’t move, he seemed unaware of Lorenzo’s sword strike, the biting winds carrying an irresistible sword momentum, coming down head-on.

The sword strike missed, Lorenzo didn’t cut anything, the Nail Sword fiercely sliced through the air, finally landing on the ground, the force so great, it made the entire ground tremble a bit, the flames entwined on the Staff Sword erupted instantly, surging heat waves spreading around, toppling those attempting pursuit.

”What are you trying to do?”

Lorenzo withdrew the Nail Sword, looking at the nearby Pioneer, this was Lorenzo’s first time seeing him, yet in just that first glimpse, Lorenzo instinctively realized his identity.

The Pioneer did not respond, he was like a mass of unknowable mist, silently standing there, blocking Lorenzo’s path.

Lorenzo frowned slightly, a scorching bright white light rose in his eyes, as though a pure white storm swirled within his pupils.

If unexpected, the Pioneer, like himself, was also an Ascender with Secret Blood, he also wielded the Authority of Gabriel, among enemies Lorenzo encountered, he might be more troublesome than Lawrence.

A guy who didn’t know whether he had lived hundreds or thousands of years, not knowing his intentions, Lorenzo could only heighten his vigilance.

”He’s coming.”

Suddenly, the Pioneer spoke.

”Who’s coming!”

Lorenzo asked, but received no answer.

After speaking these words, the Pioneer seemed as if he completed a task, resting on his spear, he turned and walked into the darkness, Lorenzo tried to pursue him, yet at this moment another set of footsteps sounded, getting closer, until stepping out of the darkness.

”Oh my, never thought I’d see you here!”

The newcomer’s voice was jubilant, he truly seemed pleased to see Lorenzo.

Lorenzo looked towards the source of the voice, dim light reflecting off the bird-beaked mask and then shimmering off its mirrored surface.

”Seems like this is our first meeting, Mr. Holmes.”

Lorenzo nodded, he no longer concerned himself with the Pioneer’s whereabouts, instead facing this bizarre individual head-on.

”Yes, Plague Doctor.”

For a long time, both had heard of each other’s existence, now they finally, here, bore witness to one another’s presence.