Gun of Ashes

But human life is limited, and without doing so, the Secret Keepers cannot continue the story. So they choose to merge their bodies with steel, transforming into monstrous beings neither human nor ghost, replacing organ after organ with complex machinery until they become unrecognizable.

Compared to me, they are the true monsters, yet they consider themselves pure. I cannot convince them, nor can they convince me. I left with someone who had reached the sanctuary at that time.”

The Pioneer was baffled, speaking to himself.

”So it’s strange, isn’t it? Everyone has turned into monsters, yet they’re extremely strict about the ’method’ of becoming a monster.”

”No, they aren’t wrong; the machinery changes only the body but does not distort the soul... Ascension makes us greater and inclined towards inhumanity. In the flesh of mortals, a soul that does not belong to humans grows.”

Watson’s understanding of Ascension far exceeds Lorenzo’s, and she spoke based on her own ideas.

”Perhaps... I would also struggle with these thoughts later, but gradually, they became unimportant. Anyway, those guys all died out, the flame passed through unknown cycles and ultimately extinguished.”

The Pioneer noticed something, pointing at a bag beside him.

”Is that wine?”

”Yes, we originally wanted to celebrate in front of the gates of Truth.”

The Plague Doctor picked up the bag, as the Black Angel can carry a large volume of goods, the wine was brought along casually.

”Oh, feels quite nice. The last time we drank here was during the celebration banquet, as most supplies had been destroyed, so we mixed alcohol with water to make do.”

The Pioneer picked up the wine bottle, poured it under the dark helmet, and after a while, he said with some disappointment.

”Those guys might have been right. I used to enjoy drinking, but now I can hardly taste the flavor of these wines... They are unnecessary in sustaining life, so there is no reason to expend energy obtaining unnecessary things.”

He spoke while pouring the remaining wine into the bonfire, making the flames more brilliant.

”Anything else you want to ask?”

The Pioneer paused before asking again, Lorenzo could sense the stiffness in his tone, like someone reopening their mouth after not speaking for centuries, his voice dry and tense.

”What is the significance of creating the Apocalypse Society?” Lorenzo asked again.

He was not in a hurry to solve the mystery, wanting to piece together a complete history from the Pioneer’s fragmented words like unraveling a thread.

Why did the Pioneer give rise to such a group and deliberately extend its existence?

”No significance, I left the sanctuary and wandered the world without anything to do, and some people liked to deify me, so I went with it... It was indeed quite interesting, like watching ants worship another greater being, a boring life that yearned for such things to pass the time.”

The Pioneer spoke casually, as if these centuries-long cycles of death and end were truly just a time-passing game for him.

Lorenzo observed, though unable to see the Pioneer’s face, he could sense the emotions rolling within, a feeling vaguely familiar, something Lorenzo had briefly experienced on someone else.

Watson...

His peripheral vision locked on the dark armor, Lorenzo had once sensed this transcending attitude in Watson, the abandoning of all emotions and distractions... divine nature.

”Then... why is it the end of all things?”

Why does the Pioneer also disseminate the notion of silent death, from which endless death and strife arise, no matter how many times the Demon Hunting Order attacks, they will always be reborn under the Pioneer’s guidance.

The Pioneer laughed, his laughter now obvious, with a metallic timbre.

”Holmo, why do you think a person believes in something?”

”Because he certainly believes in something, right?”

The Pioneer turned his head, the darkness beneath the helmet stared at Lorenzo.

The gaze was irresistibly drawn by the darkness, Lorenzo felt as if facing the Abyss.

What lies beneath the armor? A person or a wandering soul for centuries.

The Pioneer continued speaking.

”But belief alone is far from enough, what truly matters are the actions you take after believing.”

”They believed in you and then died? Is there any meaning to death?”

Lorenzo’s hand inadvertently reached for the sword pouch, filled with sharp Nail Swords.

The Pioneer noticed Lorenzo’s small gesture but was indifferent, carrying a transcendent divine nature that made both Lorenzo and the Plague Doctor akin to ants to him, do you care if an ant flaunts itself before you?

Just like Watson said, king to king, general to general.

The Pioneer has the power to repel Leviathan, neither Lorenzo nor the Plague Doctor could confront him directly.

”Do you think I manipulated those people, like a cult leader, tricking them into death?”

The Pioneer laughed even more joyfully.

”In fact, the Apocalypse Society resembles a cult largely because I deliberately made it so, after all, Edron has the Demon Hunting Order, and I thought I should also have something to oppose him, this old friend, to make this long life less boring.”

He gathered up his laughter and asked calmly.

”Holmo, would you deceive a child?”