Gun of Ashes

”So ten years ago, was it Bola who killed Lancelot in the end?”

Lorenzo walked ahead, casually asking, and without waiting for Galron to respond, he continued talking to himself.

”Never mind, who cares anyway? It’s already been ten years.”

After hearing Galron’s story, Lorenzo led the group toward the deck. Along the way, he mulled over the various conflicts from ten years ago, but eventually found his peace.

That was already in the past; according to Bola and Galron, the stories were similar, yet they differed in the nuances that determined the story’s direction.

Lorenzo was too lazy to keep dwelling on these matters. No matter how bizarre the stories might be, they couldn’t escape the limitations of those involved in them.

”I really look forward to seeing you return to normal, Froki.”

He glanced to his side, where the deranged Froki was securely bound. Lorenzo effortlessly lifted him with one hand, shouldering him, while Cliff supported Galron, heading upwards.

Exiting the dim light, there was no airflow on the deck, only a chilling silence, where exhaled breath formed visible white mist.

A large number of soldiers gathered on the deck, conducting repairs and keeping watch. The elevator platform was open, allowing rapid descent to the lower cabins via the cableway, making troop support quicker while the command room was heavily guarded, and Captain Notar’s eyes were red as he held the steering wheel.

The mechanical arm on the crane moved slowly, transporting scraps of metal to be dumped into the silent deep sea. Massive hooks swung above the group, along with powerful lights that illuminated the deck and reaching some into the sea, lighting up the ocean blue.

The seawater was clear, with the light extending several meters before gradually fading. Under the illumination, there was nothing in the water, not even drifting sand particles.

”It’s really quiet...”

Lorenzo muttered in awe at the sight.

From Bola’s account, Lorenzo thought he had a rough understanding of this sea area, but upon truly entering it and experiencing this frightening tranquility, even Lorenzo himself couldn’t help but feel a bit stifled.

Too quiet.

Compared to staying here, Lorenzo preferred the madness of bloody battlefields, where at least he could clearly identify his enemies, see their silhouettes, and hear their sounds, rather than here, constantly alert to the strange demons lurking in the depths under the faint glow.

”What’s the situation, everyone?”

Stepping into the command room, Lorenzo tried to make his voice sound cheerful, planning a few jokes to lighten the mood if needed.

With a fake smile ready, he was just about to speak, but it froze in place.

The atmosphere in the command room was oppressively heavy, crushing Lorenzo’s ability to crack jokes, let alone say anything frivolous.

Notar stood there like a withered corpse, gripping the steering wheel tightly, eyes bloodshot, staring straight ahead at the dark ocean.

If not for the slight rise and fall of his chest from breathing, Lorenzo would have thought Notar had died at his post.

He slowly turned his head, revealing a pale face before Lorenzo. Notar said nothing, did nothing, glancing at Lorenzo once, then again stared forward into the darkness.

Even Notar didn’t know what to do anymore; in this realm of darkness, steering wasn’t required, for no matter which direction they went, all that lay ahead was endless darkness.

Yet he continued to clutch the wheel, as if this gave him some semblance of security.

”He seems a bit off. Should we take him out first?”

Selyu noticed Lorenzo and hurriedly approached, quietly suggesting in his ear.

The girl wasn’t in great shape either; Selyu had injected several doses of Florun Potion, her eyes red, and like many others, she had a sleep-deprived look.

Unlike the others on the ship, Selyu hadn’t undergone professional training, yet perhaps driven by primal instincts, she exhibited unexpected resilience, still standing strong and even eager to act first on others.

”I think Captain Notar can hold on a bit longer.” Lorenzo said, rejecting Selyu’s grim proposal.

Even without encountering enemies, in this corrosive environment, they continuously lost manpower, and without even reaching World’s End, this ironclad ship might become a ghost ship.

Each current person was an invaluable asset; as long as they showed no signs of mutation, they remained Lorenzo’s comrades.

”You’re doing quite well; I thought you’d start transforming into a Demon by now.” Lorenzo half-joked.

Selyu’s performance exceeded his expectations. If not for her bloodshot eyes, she seemed unaffected by the environment’s erosion, appearing almost normal.

”I’m just trying to distract myself, keeping busy. Once idle, those voices grow louder.”

Selyu said, picking up the book ”Victoria’s Secret” and flashing her Folding Blade, indicating she was keeping an eye on Notar.

”You all just stay here, protect Froki.”