Gun of Ashes

Lorenzo glanced at Galron and the others. They found a spot to sit down and shackled the frantic Froki beside them.

”Is this adding to my workload?” Selyu asked.

”Not really. They don’t fall easily, after all, they currently share mutual interests with me,” Lorenzo said, tossing two folding blades over, which slid in front of Galron. ”Protect Froki. I can bring him back to sanity, but if he turns into a dead person, it’ll be much more trouble.”

Galron silently picked up the two folding blades. Now, only the Iron Armor ship beneath them could take them away from the Silent Sea, and only Lorenzo could wake Froki up. Whether Lorenzo was telling the truth or a lie, all Galron could do was to trust him.

In this vast, silent sea, only the Iron Armor ship beneath them was their sole foothold.

”Should we keep moving forward, Lorenzo, continuing this aimless repetition?”

Notar had grown weary of it all. The scene before him was so monotonous that at times he almost forgot the existence of time, jolting awake with no sense of how long he had been voyaging in darkness.

Before setting sail, Notar was mentally prepared, but evidently, he had never experienced true despair, leading to some cognitive dissonance regarding the world’s malice.

”Keep moving forward. We are on the right path,” Lorenzo said confidently.

”How can you be sure of that?” Notar questioned.

Lorenzo didn’t immediately respond, instead carefully scrutinizing Notar. After a moment, he asked.

”Galron, did Froki mention that conflicts frequently occur within the Silent Sea?”

”Yes, this sea is cursed. Before each voyage, the adults would carefully choose those truly brave Viking warriors to bring them into the Silent Sea.”

Galron hung his head low, his hand clutching the cold metal.

”But no matter how brave a Viking warrior is, when faced with the test of death, they reveal their true value. Some remain here forever, while the fortunate ones return with the adults.”

”Notar, you’re somewhat shaken.”

Lorenzo stared directly at Notar, his demeanor turning fierce, with a blazing gleam flashing in his eyes.

”Trust me, Notar. As long as you trust me, I have the means to lead you away.”

Lorenzo made a listening gesture, then asked.

”Haven’t you heard it yet?”

”Heard what?”

Notar asked. This sea was so silent, without a ripple of sound.

”The Geiger Counter.”

Lorenzo said.

Notar froze. Though Silent Sea was quiet, the Morning Glow Advance was constantly restless. Since entering the Silent Sea, the Geiger Counter had been incessantly sounding, no matter where on the ship one was, one could vaguely hear its monotonous high-frequency ringing.

”Wha... what’s happening?”

Notar was somewhat bewildered, his mind stiffened after prolonged high-pressure conditions, making simple thoughts difficult to process.

”Listen, Notar. Haven’t you noticed the Geiger Counter’s warning has become more frequent, sharper?”

Lorenzo listened to the sound that accompanied them all, causing no one to notice this subtle change.

Notar’s face turned pale, an expression of terror slowly overlapped upon it, his hand trembling uncontrollably.

”Our route is correct. We are continuously delving deeper into the Silent Sea, the escalating erosion is the best proof.”

In Lorenzo’s recounting, mechanical screams encircled them, like infinite Evil Ghosts howling by their ears.

Galron didn’t understand what the so-called Geiger Counter was, but he could feel the rapidness and oppression from its incessantly escalating frequency.

These sounds like intense drumbeats, pounding the heart, pressing the rushing blood, to deliver oxygen continuously to the brain, causing the pupils to bloodshot.

The command room fell into a brief silence. As everyone contemplated Lorenzo’s words, a sudden change occurred.

A roar from the deck echoed through the night, like the craving of a bloodthirsty beast. Along with it was the scream of the Geiger Counter, and at this instant, its sound became even more frequent and sharp.

The sound seemed to transform into a sharp blade, continuously slicing the eardrums of all listeners, warning them of the erupting danger in this painful way.

”Demon!”

Lorenzo shouted, but before his voice, his movement was faster.

Winchester was directly lifted up, the trigger pulled, shocking the few into a stupor with the deafening gunfire, bullets exiting the barrel, piercing the already cracked glass, shooting into the night.

Seconds later, a still humanoid corpse fell from the tower, crashing against the window in front of the command room, blood slowly trickling through the glass crevices.

The face pressed against the window still retained human form, though some limb ends showed slight transformation, Lorenzo fired a shot through its heart. Despite such a high fall, it wasn’t dead yet, opening its mouth, a crimson tongue licked the window, as if savoring the flavor of the few.

Lorenzo flicked the folding blade, piercing through the glass with a slash across its neck, severing all bones and nerves.

”The erosion is increasing, and someone has started to undergo Demonization.”