Gun of Ashes

”So next, let’s find a way to leave here and return to Ingwig.”

Lorenzo mumbled, clutching the cable tightly, climbing upwards inch by inch.

The elevator completely broke down during its descent, yet the cable remained resilient without snapping. Lorenzo could only hold onto it, gradually emerging from the darkness, heading towards the platform’s direction.

It was a somewhat tedious process; aside from performing mechanical climbing motions, Lorenzo couldn’t do anything else.

For this reason, during the dull period, he pondered and planned his next actions, his eyes full of worry.

A new restart cycle was about to begin, with Roger and Edlun, these two out-of-control monsters, reappearing in the world. Although they opposed each other, regardless of who survived, it posed a great crisis. Lorenzo had to find a way to kill them both.

Thinking of this made him feel a headache, and visions of the illusory Static Holy Temple surfaced before him, with figures kneeling beside the Well of Ascension one after another.

To prevent themselves from becoming another threat, the Ascenders had erased themselves, turning into machines that obeyed commands. But over the long timespan, machines also wear out, and they vanished one after another.

The Watchers also entered a phase of decay. Even if these events hadn’t occurred, perhaps in a few centuries, the Watchers would all perish, the barriers would cease to exist, and the path to Ascension would open once more.

Looking at it this way, though the current world is prosperous, it is fraught with crises. It might completely collapse in the next second.

The Plague Doctor followed behind Lorenzo, the two climbing upwards, one in front and one behind, both carrying a melancholic mood but with concerns about different things.

Lorenzo cared for the world where his friends resided, while the Plague Doctor only cared for his Truth. He never denied his own vileness, but now the Plague Doctor had obtained it all, yet his mood wasn’t as ecstatic as expected.

The Plague Doctor always felt... something was missing.

However, he didn’t know what he was missing at this moment. No matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t make sense of it.

It was hard to know how much time had passed, but finally, the darkness dimmed considerably, with a faint blue light nearly within reach.

Lorenzo reached out his hand, forcefully climbed onto the platform, let out a long breath, and shook off the dust on his clothes.

The climbing process was not easy, in the boundless darkness, only a single cable connected Lorenzo to the light, and no one knew if it would snap in the next second.

”It’s about time to leave.”

Lorenzo passed by the Iron Coffin on the disc, glanced at the faint light in its crevice, then noticed Froki who was still drawing.

Recalling the decaying force below, Lorenzo hurried over, noticing that Froki’s body had already experienced extensive rot, some parts exposed gleaming white bones, yet this guy seemed unable to feel pain, lowered his head, clutching his drawings.

”Froki...”

Lorenzo reached out his hand to touch him, but it was Froki who turned his head. His dry face was filled with scarlet wounds, with the flesh writhing underneath like maggots.

”He looks about done, the only difference being whether he’ll be tortured to death by this force first, or transform into a Demon.”

The Plague Doctor spoke pessimistically, among the few, Froki was the only mortal, bearing one curse after another.

Describing him as unlucky seems insufficient, it’s as if the world’s malice has all poured onto him, yet this ignorant fellow doesn’t feel afraid, instead revealing a grim smile, tightly clutching his drawings.

Like a greedy little man, death arrives, yet he still clings tightly to his Gold Coins.

Lorenzo’s expression was somewhat complex, but ultimately he chose to take Froki along. Lorenzo didn’t know his relationship with Froki, all of this was severed when Froki was consumed by the Anti-Meme.

But recalling that somewhat laughable and stubborn conversation, Lorenzo felt a reluctance to give up on Froki.

”Froki Willgardson.”

Lorenzo muttered softly.

He didn’t remember the meaning of this name, nor the memories behind this name, not even knowing if this was truly his name.

Yet Lorenzo felt using this name to designate this obstinate fellow, even if consumed by the Anti-Meme, he ought to struggle to climb out, remember desperately, engrave it into his instincts.

”Let’s go, let’s leave here first.”

Lorenzo stopped thinking about it, speaking as he intended to pass through the door’s gap, leaving the sanctuary.

”Holmes!”

Suddenly, the Plague Doctor called Lorenzo, who turned his head, only to see the Plague Doctor discard the tattered gas mask from his head, completely exposing his writhing Evil Anomaly-like face.

As if vermilion snakes were entangled together, winding around decaying white bones, collectively forming this man known as Charles Darwin.

”What’s wrong?”

Lorenzo turned around, feeling something was off with the Plague Doctor.

”Did we... forget something?”

Scarlet eyes stared closely at Lorenzo, the Plague Doctor recalling, realizing there was a fracture in his memory, ”I remember... we walked into a certain room.”

Lorenzo nodded, he took out the black cube, displaying it in front of the Plague Doctor.

”That’s right. It appears we entered the room, and after knowing ’its’ form, chose to leave, therefore we forgot matters related to ’it.’