Gun of Ashes

Her body was stained with the blood of demons, and she desperately clutched the folding blade, holding it tightly to her chest.

”Fear is the most natural thing, after all, we are human, destined to be imperfect humans, fear and cowardice are very normal.”

Selyu, recalling Notar’s apology, said with some sadness.

”He didn’t do anything wrong, he is just an ordinary person.”

The command room fell silent again, leaving only the howling wind and faint wailing.

Under Galron’s control, the Morning Glow Advance remained relatively stable; however, on the edge where daylight rose, more fragmented icebergs accompanied the waves, colliding with the ship’s hull. Fortunately, none were as lethal as the previous ones, and the damage wasn’t too severe.

The other danger came from the storm, where dazzling white brilliance rose, covering the entire surface of the sea. From the moment that brilliance ascended, Lorenzo’s voice faded away, no longer resonating in their minds.

No one gave them instructions, all communications were interrupted, and everyone was at a loss. Besides dealing with the demons that climbed aboard, they didn’t know what else to do.

”What... what is that?”

Cliff looked toward the storm’s edge, his body involuntarily trembling.

Everyone noticed the anomaly there, the blazing sun hidden beneath the sea finally rose above the surface, stirring monstrous waves.

Waves over ten meters high could be seen rising, spreading outwards, and the Blood Shark swayed like a fragile leaf amid them. Waves washed over the deck, nearly swallowing them into the depths, but ultimately, they tenaciously broke through the surf.

The waves soon reached the Morning Glow Advance, the ship violently shaking. Several people quickly grabbed onto nearby fixtures to prevent being thrown out.

The tide surged, almost engulfing the entire Morning Glow Advance, seawater sweeping across the deck. Some soldiers were consumed by the raging waves, while more demons were slammed onto the deck by the waves. Even the tower tilted, Ascalon’s cannon barrels dislocated once more, swinging to the other end.

It wasn’t over yet, the waves’ tips nearly reached the command room, clear seawater mixed with metal fragments and images of demons. They were smashed against the cabin, along with the defending soldiers who were knocked down and fell into the sea.

”Icebergs!”

Galron shouted, realizing too late that the shattered ice perfectly melded with the seawater, noticing them only as they were thrown like catapults.

Countless shards of ice painfully crashed against the cabins, walls dented and damaged, ladders destroyed. Some soldiers not swept away by the impact were struck by these giant ice shards, splattering bursts of fresh blood.

What remained of the command room was a makeshift refuge, collision sounds incessantly resounded, all the portholes shattered, and cold seawater burst through the cabin doors, flooding inside.

The ship tilted in the face of monstrous waves, Galron abandoned his cane, clutching the wheel tightly. Cliff also clung to wall hooks, preventing himself from being swept away.

In an instant, the earth-shaking uproar meant everyone was struggling to protect themselves. Selyu leaned in a corner, bracing against her body, as she glimpsed bodies rolling, Notar’s body washed along by seawater, shattered glass, disappearing outside the observation window without a trace.

Selyu stared blankly at it, the cruelty of death replaying before her eyes, yet she was powerless, unable even to protect herself.

The first wave of attacks ended, but the aftermath of the disaster was just beginning. Shattered ice pounded like catapults against the hull, and demons within the ocean waves were thrown onto the deck again. Though most demons were injured in the collision, some were killed outright, but a significant portion survived, and for demons of such peculiar nature, as long as there was breath, they could kill.

”Demons are coming!”

Cliff fearfully shouted.

Outside the door, a host of demons gathered, their limbs fractured and bent, yet they could still crawl arduously, thirsting for flesh and blood.

This time, the command room had no cover, and many soldiers outside were dead or wounded. The few survivors inside the command room had to face these threats directly.

”Retreat!”

Galron shouted to the others, his cane washed away by the seawater. He could only hold tight to the wheel, standing up with difficulty; the slick, cold ground made movement challenging.

But where to retreat? This was a teetering, isolated island.

Cliff ignored his words, raising the Aluminothermic Rifle to attempt firing, but the recent wave extinguished the firing device on the barrel, leaving no time to rekindle.

Selyu removed her coat, revealing her slender body and thin attire.

The coat soaked by seawater became exceptionally heavy and cumbersome, making Selyu’s movement difficult. She exhaled white breath, gripping the folding blade. She didn’t know how long she could survive, but every extra moment she gained was her victory.

Hiss—

A piercing metallic sound echoed, sharp claws pierced through the iron wall behind, thrusting a grotesque arm inside, encircling Selyu as if embracing her through the wall. A gentle squeeze and her young body would be shredded to pieces.

Too late, everything happened too quickly, Selyu couldn’t even defend or dodge. She tried to leap aside, but the cold environment lowered her body temperature, making it difficult to move; she felt only numb coldness.

Galron and Cliff saw this too, but they were powerless to help Selyu.

But something was different.

Selyu saw their expressions, both fearful and delighted.

A sharp blast resonated.

Blood sprayed, dyeing Selyu’s white clothing a deep red. After a distorted white flare, she stood dazedly, with head bowed. Before her was an arm constantly twitching and twisting, its severed end continuously gushing blood.

”Move aside, lass!”

His voice was deep but clear.

Selyu could only see a hunched silhouette, hair disheveled, wielding cold metal, piercing consecutive holes through the iron wall. With each stab, great spatters of blood surged from the apertures.

Suddenly turning, he hurled the folding blade, chopping directly into the demon’s head. He strode forward, grasping the hilt, exerting all his strength upon it, cleaving open the skull along with the neck and chest cavity.

This wasn’t over. It was unimaginable what kind of power lurked in that decaying body. He fiercely sliced horizontally; the folding blade cut through another demon’s face, splitting the entire skull into halves, slashing the pupils blind, effortlessly dodging the raised claw attack, then stabbing into its heart, violently lifting.

Standing before the gruesome corpses, he allowed the splattering blood to soak him, its warmth dispelling the cold from his body, causing muscles long dormant to tense anew.

”Ah... Silent Sea.”

He could always recognize this sea that haunted his soul, where light and darkness occupied the world, splintered ice and storms entwined, reaching skyward.

This was a scene that terrified mortals, but he was ecstatic.

Galron and Cliff witnessing this seemed invigorated, sudden hope emerged in the darkness. They clung to it desperately, unwilling to let go.

Since there was no time to ignite, there’s no need for ignition. Cliff used the rifle’s butt to strike at approaching demons. Galron clumsily supported himself against the wall, advancing arduously, hacking at demons, bearing the pressure of defense.

Selyu watched as the man staggered to the wheel, then firmly clutched it, stabilized in his hands, seemingly tamed.

He resembled a beggar just crawled from a river, his body in disarray. Upon closer observation, one could see his crimson pupils and sharpened nails, bones slightly protruding, as if something were about to erupt.

Aura of death and rage spread across him, a feeling familiar to Selyu, seen before in those reckless outlaws.

Froki Willgardson turned his head, glanced at Selyu, and said.

”I suppose you folks need a ship captain.”