Gun of Ashes

The nightmare breached the blurred boundary, arriving beside everyone, leaving them unsure whether they were in reality or a nightmare from which they could not awaken.

The sound of explosions never ceased by the ear, artillery shells fell on the shores of Ice Bay, igniting fierce flames, and after a brief panic, another round of shelling began, only this time the sound came from within Ice Bay.

The coastal defense cannons began to operate, though it was unclear how these ironclad ships crossed the alert and arrived here, but now all that could be done was to retaliate.

Shells tore into crimson trails of light, interweaving into each other, becoming swords of mutual aggression.

Everyone watched this sea area in panic, the next moment, rolling flames forged into a burning spear, piercing through the night sky, hitting an ironclad ship a few seconds later.

The surface of the armor was instantly burned red, momentary high temperatures melted a hole, residual metal penetrated through it, piercing most of the ship’s body, triggering multiple secondary explosions, flames roared, gushing from every seam of the cabin.

Ascalon launched a counterattack, this shelling brought many into brief calmness, never having thought such weapons existed in the world, but their fear was soon overwhelmed by greed and anger.

The fleet began to advance, the boom of artillery suppressing the coast of Ice Bay, the coastal defense cannons had some effect, concentrating fire on the ironclad ship penetrated by Ascalon, but it had not sunk, the fire roared, but it still advanced, even as the ship’s body began to take on water, the sinking seemed so slow at this moment.

Advance, towards the coast, sowing war and nightmares.

”We can’t stay here!”

Notar shouted loudly, the roar of explosions incessant, he screamed with all his might, not knowing how many could hear him.

The current situation was dire, the Plague Doctor’s fleet directly blocked the Morning Glow Advance in Ice Bay, and they seemed to have no tactics, simply firing, as if determined to kill everyone here.

”But Lorenzo and the others haven’t come back yet!” Blue Jade hid behind a cover, staying together with Hebdo and Selyu.

Whistling shells passed overhead, fell into the docks behind, splashing earth and remnants of structures, countless wails echoed within.

”We can wait! But not too long, here the Morning Glow Advance is like a target!”

Notar finished speaking and clumsily crawled back to the command room, though naked, he didn’t care, even the cold was dispelled, his mind was only on the battlefield before him.

The ship’s body became restless, the boiler room began operating, they could set sail at any moment, with the armor strength of the Morning Glow Advance, they had the capability to withstand the shelling, to break through the siege.

At this moment, the sea around them surged, smaller ironclad ships appeared on the sea surface, these were the ironclads stationed within Ice Bay, most of them were hit during the first round of shelling, their armor full of scars, and some had already begun to sink.

The roar of artillery sounded, overlapping with the counterattack of the coastal defense cannons, confronting the fleet above the sea surface.

The next moment, the artillery fire interwove, the armors on both sides began to collapse, firelight flickered below the dents, wailing incessantly, shadows of those falling overboard could be seen, the bloodstains and dismembered limbs remaining on the deck.

Resounding bell tolls rang from within Ice Bay, Notar turned his head to look, not knowing who rang the alarm bell, the melodious and clear sound spread over the sea.

Notar’s fiery heart suddenly cooled, he felt the cold, now naked, he could not only feel the cold but even fear dying from it.

No... it was not a physical cold, but a chill of the heart.

”What are you dazing at!”

Blue Jade, protecting her head, charged into the command room amidst the artillery roar, followed by Hebdo and Selyu, owing to their size difference, Selyu was carried by Hebdo, who said it was faster this way.

Hearing Blue Jade’s shout, Notar shivered, looking over as if waking from a dream.

Blue Jade stopped her scolding, she saw Notar’s eyes, full of fear and bewilderment.

”What’s wrong?” she asked.

”War is coming,” Notar answered with some trembling.

War?

To Blue Jade, this was a very familiar term, her entire life spent rushing across various battlefields, just awaiting the day of her death in battle, she didn’t quite understand Notar’s words, and Notar repeated once more.

”War is coming, everyone.”

Notar swallowed, trembling slightly as he placed his hand on the helm.

Blue Jade’s expression froze, suddenly she understood Notar’s meaning, the same was true for Hebdo and Selyu, they realized all this even earlier than Blue Jade.

The current situation in the Western world was very clear, with only three camps, one led by Ingwig, another opposed to it by Gaulunaro and its Rhine Alliance, and the last was the ancient religious countries, which now held no significant power, having lost interest in this war since Saint Nalos Cathedral remained silent, losing their strongest core.

Ultimately, this was a conflict between Ingwig and Gaulunaro, but now an unknown fleet appeared within the Viking nations, attacking the critically important Ice Bay.

Given the current level of technology among the nations, besides Gaulunaro, it seemed no one else could possess such a scale of ironclad ships, the answer was evident.

”We have become a part of the legend, a part of history.”

The voice spoke, Bola appeared on deck carrying Froki, speaking as he walked towards the group, behind him, his deputy carried Galron, climbing on board along the ropes in this emergency.

”Bola... Where’s Lorenzo?” Selyu asked.

Bola set Froki down, responding simply.

”Set sail! We can’t stay here, as for Lorenzo... he will catch up.”

”But... I understand.”

Selyu wanted to say something, but she restrained herself, as Bola said, tonight they all became part of deciding history, she was rational, and should be so.

Indeed, war is coming.

The Morning Glow Advance let out a low hum, beginning to move slowly, sailing towards the sea amidst the artillery fire, advancing together with it were the stationed ironclads, joining with the coastal defense cannons in retaliation.

The sea breeze hit, bringing with it pungent blood and wails, the sound of waves crashing on the reefs could be heard, as well as faint cries, as if babies were screaming.

Sharp and high-frequency alarms sounded, one after another, sweeping through every corner of the Morning Glow Advance, the few had not yet awakened from the fear of war and were hit with such a message.

Bola and Blue Jade briefly exchanged glances, he shouted.

”I’m going to drive the Armor of Original Sin, you keep an eye on Froki, he has been corrupted, don’t let the Demon near him!”

Without waiting for Blue Jade to respond, Bola hurriedly left, his movements rushed, as if rushing to his death.

Hebdo picked up the Aluminothermic Rifle and Folding Blade, while Notar issued a broadcast, ordering everyone to prepare for battle, beneath the dark blue sea, shadowy figures clad in iron armor quietly approached.

Tonight was no longer a battle between the Plague Doctor and Lorenzo over Froki and the Truth, it was a campaign, involving the Viking nations, Ingwig, and Gaulunaro.

Exhausted figures appeared on the docks that had turned to ruins, Lorenzo gazed at the ironclad ships engulfed in flames, his heart sank to the depths.

The worst had happened, and this was not just a battle at Ice Bay, it would be the prelude to war.

The prelude to a world war.