Gun of Ashes

The folding blade was already drawn, its sharp edge reflecting a vague gleam in the dim light, and it was tightly gripped in Blue Jade’s hand. Blue Jade pressed herself against the wall, slowly advancing down the eerie corridor.

Although one hand was injured, Blue Jade still had the other. She was an Upper-Rank Knight of the Purification Mechanism, then a woman; she was not so fragile. As long as she could still swing a weapon, she could slay enemies.

She slowly approached the front. She remembered it was Bola’s room, but at this moment, Blue Jade could clearly feel the resentment and ghostly sorrow emanating from it. Negative emotions and erosion merged into one, fermenting quietly in the dark until it engulfed everyone.

”Bola...”

Blue Jade murmured softly.

Bola, an interesting fellow.

In the Purification Mechanism, there was a time when rumors about Bola surged, saying Bola might be the illegitimate child of some big shot in the Purification Mechanism, or else how could this newcomer who had just joined for a few years be promoted all the way to Upper-Rank Knight and appointed by Arthur as the ruler of the Lower City District.

Blue Jade had also doubted these before, but on second thought, if Bola really was some big shot’s illegitimate child, then his old man really didn’t like him. Letting him join the Purification Mechanism and giving him such a lethal position seemed like he wanted Bola to die quickly.

But later, Blue Jade heard a completely different story from some of the more experienced—luckier, retired—members of the Purification Mechanism.

According to them, Bola was once a very cheerful person until he was assigned to a secret mission. They didn’t know the details, but suddenly many familiar faces disappeared, and a few months later, it seemed only Bola returned.

It was after that mission that Bola seemed to have become a different person, which led to the Blue Jade familiar stories, his steady promotion to eventually becoming the ruler of the Lower City District.

From Bola’s past accounts, it was known that the mission which changed his life was exploring the Silent Sea. Now that they had returned here again, Blue Jade was a bit worried. Although Bola concealed it well, she could still feel the fluctuations in Bola’s mindset, these subtle changes.

Under the influence of erosion, even the smallest gap would become more deficient.

She was unsure what would happen next, but in this environment overshadowed by erosion, whatever happened, she would not be surprised.

During her service in the Purification Mechanism, Blue Jade had witnessed too many terrifying things that ordinary people couldn’t even imagine; such horror had become normal for Blue Jade. She had long since gotten used to it.

In the stillness, faint sounds rose, like someone greedily licking a liquid, thick and greasy, emitting deep breaths.

Blue Jade peeked her head out, looking toward the corridor beyond the corner.

The dim yellow lights barely illuminated the corridor, yet most of it remained in shadow. Blue Jade could clearly see a soldier standing guard at the corridor’s end, head down, hands raised as if eating something. The thick noise she heard originated here.

Blue Jade maintained her silence. She sheathed the folding blade back on her waist and picked up the handgun she had brought from her room, raising it with the muzzle aimed at the soldier.

Due to the arrival of the erosion, communications throughout the Morning Glow Advance were interrupted. To prevent internal issues, Bola had assembled a patrol team before resting, inspecting every part of the Morning Glow Advance to avoid anyone failing to endure the erosion and thus transforming into a demon.

Blue Jade hesitated a bit, unsure whether to join the fight in her current state or return to the command room for help. But thinking of the scene before her, she wasn’t sure if she might encounter the same situation on her way back, or if she could even make it back alive to the deck?

Her gaze wavered slightly, looking to the side. Not far from the soldier, there was a hatch, Bola’s room.

Blue Jade felt a headache. Earlier when the ship’s doctor came, he updated her on the situation. Lorenzo had woken up and was now managing the Morning Glow Advance, while Bola had returned to his room to rest out of fatigue.

If she now went to the deck for help, could the one still asleep in the room hold on until she returned?

Before Blue Jade could decide, the dire situation made the choice for her.

”I... I want to go home!”

A helpless cry erupted from behind her, causing Blue Jade to turn sharply. A soldier was crying out, rushing toward her, his eyes filled with crimson, teeth grotesquely deformed, protruding like the fangs of a beast.

Without hesitation, she pulled the trigger.

The successive gunfire illuminated the corridor while piercing the demon’s body. Before it could get near Blue Jade, it was shot to pieces, several blood holes appearing, fresh blood gushing and bones shattered by close-range gunfire. It collapsed helplessly but was not yet entirely dead.

The demon wriggled its body, dragging its broken form, crawling towards Blue Jade, craving blood and flesh.