Gun of Ashes

The line of sight was obstructed by layers of metal, and the comfortable temperature turned cold. By the time Lorenzo felt the light again, the surroundings were covered in icy coldness, with a layer of hard ice forming on the deck, and white vapor appeared and dissipated with each breath.

”It’s a good time to set out.”

The Plague Doctor opened his hands, savoring the beauty of the moment.

The night had dissipated, and dazzling morning light rose at the edge of the sky, spreading across the white snowfield, reflecting even more brilliantly. The Plague Doctor gazed at the end of the light; that was their destination.

Immediately, the light in the Plague Doctor’s eyes began to churn, like molten iron, starting to get agitated. The next moment, a violent pain erupted in his eyes, and his vision plunged into darkness. But this darkness didn’t last long; crimson pupils opened once again.

”The light here is too intense; you need a blindfold.”

Lorenzo was saying as he put on a blindfold made of rigid leather, with a horizontal slit for observing the outside, blocking most of the light from flooding into his eyes.

”Here.”

Beside him, Froki also donned a blindfold. He had a spare one and handed it to the Plague Doctor, but the Plague Doctor was not grateful; he rejected the good gesture.

”No need, I’ve already started to adapt.”

As the Plague Doctor spoke, the flesh beneath the gas mask undulated, and more appeared beneath the heavy lenses, as if more eyes had opened.

This is the evolution and adaptation of life; the Plague Doctor’s body surface also changed due to the cold, with a growth in hard tissues and fat layers reducing heat leakage, and blood circulation accelerating to warm the body up.

”Let’s go.”

Watson’s voice echoed inside the Black Angel, and the Plague Doctor noticed the equipment behind it.

The Black Angel not only carried two weapon cases but also had six fuel tanks mounted on its back, making it appear extremely bulky. The Plague Doctor began to doubt whether it could move freely.

”The environment is harsh, but there are pros and cons. The advantage is that this is the Land of No Wind; there are no cold winds to impede us, so we’ll move faster, but the downside is that there’s no wind; we can’t glide all the way.”

Lorenzo spoke words the Plague Doctor didn’t understand. He grabbed the metal handle on the Black Angel, which the technicians had temporarily welded to Black Angel. All around the Armor of Original Sin, there were such handles, likely for Lorenzo and others to grab onto.

He grabbed the handle and climbed up, finally sitting on Black Angel’s shoulder. He took the rope tied around his waist and secured himself to the armor.

”What do you mean? Holmes.”

The Plague Doctor was somewhat confused, while Froki didn’t ask much. He mimicked Lorenzo, grabbing the handle, climbing onto Black Angel, and then using a rope to firmly secure himself to it.

”Who knows how far we still are from that place? Only advancing on foot, who knows how long it will take?”

Lorenzo found a comfortable position and lay on Black Angel’s body.

”Anyway, none of us here are normal anymore. This pressure should be bearable, right?”

Lorenzo spoke words the Plague Doctor didn’t understand, while Watson grew impatient. The Black Angel extended a hand and grabbed the Plague Doctor.

”Hold tight. If you fall off midway, I won’t pick you up.”

Watson said.

”Wait!”

The Plague Doctor cried out, but Watson gave him no time for nonsense. The next moment, surging flames erupted from Black Angel’s back, and it spread its Iron Feathers like a majestic eagle ready to soar.

Black Angel carried far beyond its fuel tank limits, never intending to advance with all this load for long.

The fuel tanks combusted, and the flames birthed from them instantly melted the ice-covered deck, turning it red, causing it to collapse. The Plague Doctor only had time to grab onto Black Angel as the roar began, and his vision swiftly changed.

When the Plague Doctor’s vision cleared again, he had ascended into the high skies with Black Angel, the accelerating pressure causing discomfort in his body. Similarly miserable were Froki and Lorenzo.

The preparation time had been too hasty; the technicians of the Perpetual Motion Pump contemplated for quite a while before coming up with this plan. They were like ornaments hanging on the armor, gripping tightly onto the temporarily welded handles to prevent themselves from being flung off.

Black Angel ascended into the high skies, and the fuel tanks ceased burning. With the support of its wings, it briefly glided, reigniting to soar when nearing the lowest point.

This was a somewhat cumbersome, even ridiculous way to advance, but given the puzzled circumstances, it was barely viable.

Lorenzo gripped the handle tightly. He lifted his head, and the wind slapped his face. It felt like riding on a colossal, jet-black falcon.

In the distance, the radiance of sunrise shone brightly, brilliant and dazzling.

Turning back, within a few short minutes, Black Angel had traveled a great distance, and the Morning Glow Advance, behind them, had melded into the surrounding snowy landscape, becoming indistinguishable, and finally vanished from the horizon.

Lorenzo watched its disappearance, feeling odd, but couldn’t pinpoint the issue.

The Black Angel also showed signs of change; one iron feather after another fell, striking the ice below like beacons, deeply embedding themselves.

They carried an erosive signal. On return, these would act as streetlights guiding Lorenzo back. Along the swift journey, Black Angel left behind many such beacons, nailing them along the path.

The flames rose high again at its back, escalating its speed one more notch.

Black Angel elevated its height, while behind it, the fuel tanks slowly went out. The lacquered antimony inside had burned out during the swift journey; only the metal twisted with a crisp sound as two extinguished fuel tanks detached from the Armor of Original Sin, descending into the deep chill below.

The wings trembled from the high-speed movement, and Black Angel’s speed in the gliding process began to decelerate until it could no longer maintain altitude, descending towards the cold ground.

[Hold tight!]

Watson’s voice echoed within [Gap].

Black Angel spread its wings to maximum, seeking as much cushioning as possible.

The falling stirred up a fog of snow dust, the sharp iron feathers piercing the ice below, pulling out long scratches as it skidded along the ground. Fortunately, the silhouette didn’t topple, maintaining a stable posture.

The three hanging from it fared poorly, cloaked in cold snowflakes, shattered ice chips striking their faces like stinging blows.

So far, everything had gone smoothly, but unfortunately, this smoothness wouldn’t last.

The supporting iron feathers fractured under the intense friction, tilting one side of Black Angel. Then, due to its high speed, it couldn’t maintain stability and began to roll fiercely, with its wings folding to shield Lorenzo and Froki. But the Plague Doctor, who was held in its hand, wasn’t so lucky; he was thrown out, tumbling dozens of times on the ground before slowly stopping.

Fortunately, his body was strong, and such injuries barely affected him. Soon, the Plague Doctor clutched his dizzy head and staggered to his feet.

Not far from him, Black Angel also rose slowly, and Froki and Lorenzo, who were clinging onto it, jumped down too.

Black Angel itself could be understood as a machine of flesh, and machines need fuel. The remaining four fuel tanks it carried served as its reserve fuel; after using two additional loaded fuel tanks, this exploration was finally on track.

”We’ll have to walk from here.”

Lorenzo approached, patted the snow dust off the Plague Doctor, and proceeded forward.

Froki followed him, holding a sturdy sheepskin in one hand and a pen in the other, with a telescope hanging from his waist. Compared to others, Froki truly seemed like an explorer, gazing excitedly at this uncharted land.

Lastly was Black Angel, carrying all the supplies, its towering figure resembling a giant.

The four silhouettes strolled through the white world, growing gradually smaller until no trace remained.