Gun of Ashes

The explosion sounds intertwined with people’s cries, echoing repeatedly in the sky over Ice Bay. Tonight feels like the omen of twilight in myth, as the vibrant city collapses continuously in the flames.

Standing from a high point, one could see two figures hastily moving through the darkness, with one pursuing the other, flattening all obstacles along the way.

This chase has lasted for an unknown amount of time until finally, at a certain moment, the flames and explosions subsided.

Lorenzo donned the pitch-black scale armor. It did not completely cover Lorenzo’s body but protected the vital areas, allowing Lorenzo to be shielded while not hampered by this armor.

The hard material coiled around Lorenzo’s hand, forging a long slender black nail sword, crudely made with an edge that wasn’t sharp, like a stubborn baton.

Lorenzo didn’t care much about this. Under the Demon Hunter’s power, even without a sharpened edge, this thing could easily smash through flesh and bone. For killing, one didn’t need to concern oneself with such details.

He vigilantly scanned his surroundings. Since the battle commenced, the Plague Doctor had been fleeing, and though Lorenzo had pursued all the way, he had lost track of his figure. But it was certain the Plague Doctor was still nearby; Lorenzo was incredibly sensitive to the erosion, enabling him to roughly deduce the Plague Doctor’s location.

The black nail sword was thrust into the ground, denoting the extension of authority. Lorenzo had tried this several times before, such as allowing the hard material to cover the weapon, and now, it could form independently without needing a weapon as a basis. Though it’s a bit crude, it still suffices.

This is the true form of authority.

Suddenly, Lorenzo thought of these things. In the state of Secret Blood boiling at a high temperature, the power Lorenzo commanded seemed much stronger. Just as the backfire he had just caused...

Perhaps the authorities used by Demon Hunters in the past were castrated versions, while the ones Lorenzo was utilizing now, are their true faces. Under the constraints of Silver Binding Bolt and other restraints, few Demon Hunters can achieve a Critical Breakthrough like Lorenzo, allowing Secret Blood to maintain a boil for extended periods.

No... it shouldn’t be called authority. The so-called ”authority” is merely how the Evangelical Church describes the traits manifested by mortals after they achieve ”Ascension”.

Lorenzo hasn’t grasped all authority; instead, he is continually ascending, thereby obtaining more power.

The same goes for the Plague Doctor. Authority · Yanar has always been a passive authority that can heal the body, reaching an almost immortal state. But in the recent battle, the red threads turned into blood-red thorns. If it weren’t for Lorenzo mastering multiple authorities, he might have actually fallen to the Plague Doctor.

”So where are you, Plague Doctor?”

Lorenzo carefully felt the fluctuations of erosion. On his death list, the Plague Doctor was quite high up; this mad scholar must face justice.

...

”Indeed, scholars should honestly stay in the lab...” he muttered quietly, as he lay amidst the cold ruins, countless rubble striking his body. Thankfully, this couldn’t take his life yet.

Though the injuries seemed daunting, they remain within controllable limits. In his extended surgeries, the Plague Doctor had transformed himself into a creature similar to a demon. After contacting Lawrence, he advanced further along the path of ”evolution.”

His blood seemed to have its own consciousness, slowly flowing back into his body, silently stitching red threads, gradually healing the flesh.

In order to evade Lorenzo’s notice, the Plague Doctor suppressed his breathing, even reducing the intensity of Secret Blood within his body by several degrees, significantly slowing his self-healing ability, but recovering as much as possible was crucial.

Lorenzo is not Lawrence; the Plague Doctor is completely opposed to him. He would not go easy on him while trying to kill him.

Then... submission?

The Plague Doctor did possess knowledge that Lorenzo might need, and even if he didn’t, the Perpetual Motion Pump could be useful. If he surrendered them, perhaps he could let himself survive...

To survive, this is easy, as throughout his prolonged life, such deception wasn’t a first.

Indeed, indeed, it’s never the first time confronting formidable enemies, but ultimately, he continuously lived.

Yes, that’s exactly how it is...

Not even needing complete surrender, just delaying enough time, as long as it delays to...

His thoughts gradually maddened, revealing an uncontrollable gleeful grin on his previously calm face.

The Plague Doctor intended to deceive Lorenzo through a cunning surrender, but his actions conflicted with his plan entirely. Red threads stitched open flesh, as sharp bone ripped through his clothing.

The ruins trembled from the Plague Doctor’s revival, as the cooled Secret Blood began to boil again, expanding suppressed erosion.

The Plague Doctor couldn’t do it; even unable to defeat Lorenzo, he refused to do so. That is a Truth that belongs to him alone, only he can claim it, and he wouldn’t share it with anyone, anyone!

Greed for Truth and eroded by the Secret Blood intertwined, causing the Plague Doctor’s composure to also descend into madness.

In response, almost instantly upon exposing himself, the scorching sun appeared above the ruins as Lorenzo’s figure flipped mid-air, proceeding to thrust the Black Sword into the rubble.

Authority · Michael.

This time Lorenzo was donning armor, maximizing the intensity of Flaming Order with the instant of activation it collapsed. It was not only burning the surrounding matter but ignited Lorenzo along with it.