Gun of Ashes

Gradually, the joy faded; no one responded to Blue Jade’s words. She looked over, seeing only a silent, struggling figure.

Bola, after all, was only human. He had pushed the Demons aside, clearing a path for Blue Jade, exhausting all his strength in the process. Now, he could only wearily wave his Folding Blade, making his final stand.

The Demons had tightly surrounded him. In merely a few seconds, several wounds had already appeared on Bola’s body. He was about to die, yet he did not call for help. He didn’t even glance at Blue Jade, as if once he opened the path, it was expected for her to escape, rather than standing there daftly, watching him.

Bola had always been tormented; it stemmed from a nightmare ten years ago.

He survived and escaped the Silent Sea, returning to Ingwig. Bola knew well the price of his survival. He often wondered, if it had been Lancelot who survived, would everything be different?

Could he truly accomplish those feats? Could he truly prove his worth? Shouldn’t it be him who stayed behind in the Silent Sea?

In truth, Bola was quite lucky. Throughout his life, he ventured into countless dangerous places, yet each time he returned alive. Even when Death God visited, someone saving him at a crucial moment allowed his life, long meant to end, to continue once again.

This time, it was Bola’s turn to save others.

The Folding Blade hacked into a Demon’s neck, but as the blade edge shattered, it could hardly cut further. Bola growled lowly, seizing the Folding Blade with his hands, pressing down with force, forcibly slicing through the Demon’s flesh and blood, severing the hideous head completely.

Then, a piercing pain surged from behind, as sharp claws slit open Bola’s back, claws and fangs magnifying in his eyes.

He was going to die.

Suddenly, a scorching sensation emerged. Bola could not make out what it was; all he saw was a dazzling flash of light, the scent of scorching filling his nose. The claws meant to pierce his chest were broken, while the Demon roared in agony.

Bola looked to the other side of the corridor, where more flames surged forth, Aluminothermic Bombs hit the Demons, the semi-molten metal scorching their flesh while piercing the bones beneath.

Blue Jade crouched at the corridor’s end, holding an Aluminothermic Rifle in one hand, while her injured arm clamped tightly against the scorching barrel. With her arm wounded, this was the only way to achieve somewhat stable firing.

Initially, she intended to abandon Bola and escape, for staying wouldn’t serve any purpose. However, rounding the corner of the corridor, she found an Aluminothermic Rifle abandoned by a Soldier. After transforming into Demons, these soldiers had forsaken their weapons.

Now, Blue Jade had found a glimmer of hope, so she returned, providing covering fire for Bola.

”Your turn to run, Bola!”

Blue Jade felt as though she was shouting out all the air in her lungs.

Countless sparks reflected in Bola’s vacant eyes. He dumbly stared at the corridor’s end, his numbed legs finally reacting, moving involuntarily.

Forward.

Bola began running toward the corridor’s end, his steps staggering, body covered in blood, with countless Demonic horrors chasing behind, yet he never looked back.

Thus, even more sparks flared up, closely following his figure, piercing the Demons, evaporating their blood, lighting up the dim corridor completely.