Gun of Ashes

”Now, there are two Ascenders highly likely to become the ’path’ wandering around. They are monsters who have lived for an unknown length of time, almost reaching the end of Ascension, and most importantly, they both have rational minds.

They are no longer the demons we are familiar with; they are rational enemies, which means we can no longer judge them by conventional means.

Edron was initially one of the Watchers; one could say he is, in fact, on the same side as us, but as we delve further, his chosen methods are different from ours. There might be a possibility for collaboration, but we are destined to draw swords against each other.

Roger, on the other hand, is a madman corrupted by the Inexpressible. He now only wants to open the ’path’ to awaken the Inexpressible, end humanity’s long struggle, and achieve the Great Ascension.”

Merlin’s gaze followed the factory walls upward, as if trying to see through the heavy clay and stone to witness the grandeur of Old Dunling.

”To Roger, his enemies are not only Edron, who is chasing him, but also us, the Purification Mechanism, Old Dunling, Ingwig, all who might block his actions.”

”Roger may not be able to defeat Edron, but once he descends upon Old Dunling and chooses to destroy us first, it will be a disaster.”

Arthur’s eyes were heavy; this is the significance of the ’Death Row.’ If Merlin’s envisioned future truly comes to pass, no one can predict the course of the war.

If Roger succeeds in turning Old Dunling into ruins, then ’Death Row’ is the hope for a counterattack.

”Faced with such a monster, nowhere is safe to hide. Moreover, I don’t think we’re the only ones threatened.”

Arthur thought for a moment, recalling one formidable enemy after another, as a new idea rose in his mind.

”Roger’s target is not limited to us. I guess the Evangelical Church is also within his hunting range.”

”Exactly, and it seems Edron has been awake for some time. When Lorenzo went to the Silent Sea, the place of the Seven Hills was completely sealed off. No one knew what was happening inside, and all the Holy Hall Knight Orders were gathered there, with no news from the new Order.

The Evangelical Church amassed troops at the place of the Seven Hills, which is Edron’s stronghold. They are aware of the enemy’s arrival.”

”So will Roger prioritize attacking the place of the Seven Hills?”

”I’m not sure, but Lorenzo thinks we can try to leverage Edron. Therefore, he chooses to integrate this information and hand it to the new Pope to see what decision will be made.”

Merlin continued.

”But Lorenzo also said that the new Pope might already be dead. Back when things weren’t this severe, he said the new Pope might have long been attacked by Edron, his life or death unknown.”

”Should we keep sending information?” Arthur asked.

”Lorenzo’s intention is to continue, whether it’s the new Pope or Edron. Before all of this unfolds, we are in opposition. Now we must try to draw them together, the only difference being the size of the risk.”

”This is a gamble.” Arthur felt uneasy.

”It’s a war where the odds are heavily against us. We need some luck... I think Lorenzo is rather lucky,” Merlin said calmly.

”If the new Pope is still alive, let him know the truth, and this information cannot be hidden from Edron. Tell Edron what we intend to do. Considering his duty, he should be willing to join us in hunting Roger.

As for what happens next, we’ll discuss it then.”

Merlin took a deep breath; the fate of the world hovered in the hands of these few individuals, navigating through countless dark branches to find the road illuminated by light.

”These matters were brought to Queen Victoria and other Nation-Builders for decision a few days ago. In reality, all they can do now is completely trust us. After all, we are very familiar with the war against demons.” Merlin inquired of Arthur, ”What do you think?”

”What else can I say but agree?” Arthur said helplessly, ”We are familiar with these, but Lorenzo is the expert. Leave the professional matters to the professionals.”

The more Arthur thought about it, the more he felt fear. This emotion wasn’t intense but surrounded you like mosquitoes, hard to drive away.

”Using Edron... seems crazy no matter how you look at it.”

”It’s more than that; Lorenzo also wants to use more people, but he is very hesitant about this part.”

”Hesitant about what?”

”Lorenzo still wants to use another person. If successful, it will increase our chances in the war.

This person is complex. According to Lorenzo, he is a madman of great sin, but if viewed from his original intention, he is indeed saving the world.

If used well, it may indeed play a significant role. If not, it may accelerate our demise instead.”

Thinking about this, Merlin too felt terrified. Although not as powerful as Edron, perhaps due to past interactions, Merlin felt he was even more frightening than Edron.

”Who?”

”Lawrence.”

Seeing Arthur’s stunned expression, Merlin shook his head and said slowly.

”When I first heard the name, I had the same expression as you. I think this trip to the Silent Sea had quite a significant impact on Lorenzo, even driving him to use Lawrence.”

”What exactly does Lorenzo want to do?” Arthur lowered his voice to avoid shouting out.

”Save the world, according to himself,” Merlin said. ”Saving the world by any means necessary, even if it means making deals with the devil, as long as it can end this dark fate and break the cycle.”

”He’s indeed gone mad.”

”Pretty much. Lorenzo said he saw Lawrence’s [Gap] and he continuously expands his legion for the war he prophesied, which is now upon us.

The task we need to accomplish is straightforward, and it wouldn’t even provoke a conflict with Lawrence.”

”What’s that?”

”Similar to the method used on the new Pope, tell him the truth about the world, inform him who his enemies are, allowing his legion a target to focus on. As for what will happen, Lorenzo says he doesn’t know either.

Perhaps the next day, Lawrence will lead his legion to ambush the place of the Seven Hills, setting the Well of Ascension ablaze, or perhaps fall into total madness, achieve the Great Ascension, becoming one of our enemies.”

Merlin waved his hand.

”Who knows? Lorenzo himself isn’t sure what Lawrence will do, so he’s very hesitant, unsure whether to use this madman.”

”I think when Lorenzo has this idea, he should realize the wrongness of this act,” Arthur said.

”Lorenzo holds onto a strange hope, which propels him to utilize the new Pope, Edron, and even Lawrence.

He believes that leveraging these devils might be the correct way to end the cycle.”

”What makes him so sure about these? Just because of this strange hope?”

Arthur couldn’t accept it, having witnessed Lawrence’s terror; his fear is rooted deep in everyone’s heart.

”Do you remember what I just told you, Arthur? Why do you have this somewhat foolish and blind trust in so-called ordinances?” Merlin said.

”You believe in those who set the ordinances, believe in the Purification Mechanism, believe in yourself.”

”What are you trying to say?” Arthur asked.

Merlin shifted his words abruptly, starting to talk about something else.

”Lorenzo said sometimes he feels a sense of daze, not realizing he has lived in Old Dunling for so long, so long that sometimes he forgets his life in Florence, looking back, that part of his life feels like someone else’s.”

This was what Lorenzo told Merlin during their time at the Perpetual Motion Pump. They were just like now, walking in the underground depths of the factory, watching these roaring machines, feeling the iron and fire.

”Lorenzo said he is willing to believe in these madmen, and as for why, his reason is the same as yours.”

”What reason?”

”He believes in the oath he took when he became a Demon Hunter.”

Arthur froze; he felt something gripping his heart, and with light pressure, his blood surged through his body.

Merlin remained stoic, as solemn as a priest within a church.

”Regardless of their positions, purposes, or actions, they were all once members of the Evangelical Church, members of the Demon Hunting Order.”

”Eradicating demons.

This is the purpose of the Demon Hunting Order’s existence and the oath of the Demon Hunter.”