Gun of Ashes

Stepping into the Realm of Nothingness, after a brief moment of darkness, Lorenzo once again felt the solid ground beneath his feet, emerging in this brand new pillar-like space.

Looking at the surroundings, a strange feeling rose in Lorenzo’s heart. Unlike the previous desolation, this seemed to be the most prosperous time in the Secret Keeper’s memory of the sanctuary. The containers on the well walls were all filled, and something seemed to squirm within the pink liquid. Green indicator lights lit up one by one, spreading to both the top and bottom ends.

The giant disc in front of him was stored safely as well, a ghostly blue light tracing its contours while the mechanical arm descending from the dome slowly moved. It detached from the constraints of the disc, maneuvering between the well walls as if inspecting the condition of the containers.

Lorenzo felt as if he had never left; he found himself back here, somewhat surprised, but it made sense as he thought about it. Scenes so deeply etched into the Secret Keeper’s soul were bound to lead back here eventually.

”Personality awakening in progress.”

A cold voice resounded as the cover of the disc in front of him opened. Amid the enveloping white mist, an old man sat up between the pooled water and tangled cables. Unlike what Lorenzo had seen in reality, the Secret Keeper’s form was not yet a pitiful piece of cerebral tissue, but compared to that, he wasn’t much stronger now.

Most of his body had been replaced by metallic machinery. The back of his skull was replaced by a translucent container, and his chest cavity was completely exposed. Lorenzo could even see the machinery operating beneath the flesh. His limbs had been transformed into metal prosthetics, and to sustain basic life functions, a series of digestive organs had morphed into forms Lorenzo couldn’t comprehend.

Liquids of various colors surged through pipes of different thicknesses, a slight electric current coursed through. On the aged face, an electronic eye gleamed with dim light, then swiveled and shifted.

The old man let out a harsh cough, expelling the accumulation lodged in his throat.

”Is this reality, or...”

The electronic voice sounded, indicating that the old man lacked the ability to speak and relied entirely on the machinery for communication.

”The Gap, at least that’s what we call it here.”

Lorenzo responded.

”Is that so?”

The old man hunched his body, the light in his electronic eye flickering as if he was deep in thought.

”That lunatic Roger has come back, and so has Edron.”

The electronic voice warped slightly, suggesting the old man was aware of outside events, which puzzled Lorenzo.

”You know what’s happening outside?”

”Just crude information. Though the sanctuary is utterly ruined, some facilities are still functional, such as the external observation systems. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to guide you in.”

Slowly, the old man spoke.

”Sadly, I’m too old, and the equipment is mostly broken. It can barely keep me alive. If you weren’t Ascenders, I wouldn’t even know how to communicate with you.”

”You anticipated such an event?”

If this were true, Lorenzo had to admire the old man’s resoluteness and decisiveness. He saw himself as a living recorder, waiting for Ascenders like Lorenzo to arrive.

”I’ve lived far too long, witnessed many outrageous things. Predicting such possibilities isn’t difficult.”

The old man’s voice was hoarse, the electronic sound twisting.

”Hold your questions for now, please allow me to compose myself. I’ve taken many measures to prevent self-collapse, and this brain has been stagnant for far too long. I need to get it moving again.”

As he spoke, he extended a mechanical arm, tapping the glass skull gently with metal fingers, causing the liquid within to ripple slightly, along with the brain tissue.

”You know what we want to ask?”

Watson appeared beside Lorenzo, having stepped into the Gap alongside him.

”Of course.”

The electronic eye displayed no expression, but from the cold machinery and dim light, Lorenzo felt a certain emotion.

”Every group that arrives here, regardless of gender or morality, asks me the same questions, which is why I’ve lived this long.”

Gears whirred rapidly, white mist filled the air, cables snapped one by one. The old man slowly stood up from the incubation pod, dripping wet, descending, his angular metal form displayed fully.

”Though it’s an illusion, standing up once more feels quite good.”

Lowering his head, the old man noticed the emptiness below, prompting an odd expression on Lorenzo’s face. It made sense, considering present assessments, the Secret Keeper was also a man; encountering such a situation was naturally discomforting...

Before Lorenzo could delve further into his bizarre thoughts, the Secret Keeper couldn’t help but burst into laughter, leaving Lorenzo at a loss.

”Perhaps long, long ago, before I was ’optimized’ into this, and still had a simple excretory function, the technicians installed an amusing device for me. By slightly adjusting the pressure, I could spray waste mixed with metal particles like a Water Blade, casually killing a few enemies by urination.”

The electronic eye darted back and forth, quite animatedly, while the old man continued, thrusting his hips forcefully and laughing heartily.

Lorenzo’s expression turned somewhat stiff. Though he didn’t understand what a Water Blade was, judging by the idea of urinating enemies to death, it was certainly nothing proper. The Secret Keeper’s character differed somewhat from his expectations.