Gun of Ashes

Accompanied by the gradually dissipating thunder, Ed’s figure emerged in the desolate ruins, strong winds swept over, kicking up dust, engulfing the two of them, vision falling into a haze of yellow.

Roger smiled as he faced forward, rough grains striking his face, bringing a mild sting, followed by a sharp sword clanging on the other end of the sandstorm.

The sound was as high-pitched as, like the lightning cutting through the clouds.

The sword momentum drew up a storm, slashing through the dust, in the blankness, Ed’s gaze was like a torch, rushing forwards.

His speed was so fast that the ground shattered beneath his feet, covered in fine cracks.

Metal clashed, emitting a piercing sound, the blade in Ed’s hand shattered, and with it, the armor covering Roger’s body also broke apart.

Fragments scattered, with hardly a moment to catch his breath, an electric current swept up Ed’s arm, a new blade was forged amidst the hard textures, like angels, breaking from the palm in a spiral long nail.

Roger did not yield, after deflecting Ed’s first strike, he made the same decision, another long nail shaped like a nail sword formed in his hand.

This was just like Authority Medanzo’s application, like the hardness of metal is not just Iron Armor, but can also be a steel sword.

The image slowed down momentarily, but in the next instant, it was like pressing an acceleration button, their movements exceeded the visual observation, only able to see the sword light twisted into a snake-like distortion, crisscrossing each other, dust and storm drawn into the sword blade’s tempest, scattered sparks continuously erupting from it.

Metal sounded in harmony, together performing the symphony of blood and iron, until at a certain moment the strings broke, the blade shattered.

Roger leaned backward, laughing wildly, hideous wounds erupted on his chest, amidst the gushing blood, the beating heart could faintly be seen, Ed’s blade would need only a few inches deeper to cut Roger apart.

Roger indeed stood no chance against Ed, who once as the Dean, was far stronger than Roger.

Not waiting for Roger to fall, Ed followed up with his sword, the sharp sword light instantly reached above Roger’s head.

A blazing light flashed by.

In an instant, extreme heat erupted, Ed’s vision was covered in endless pure white, simultaneously his descending blade was charred, evaporated, his body burned and charred too, incinerating winds blew him far away.

He was swept into the sky, half of his body shattered in the ambush, but soon the blackened coals peeled away like a shedding skin, new flesh rapidly regenerated, first white bones broke through the body, then strong fibers adhered along the white bones, reconstructing.

Ed landed, stepping and cracking the earth again, electricity arced, dense Iron Armor covered him, he swung sharp dual blades, like a hunting falcon spreading its wings, slashing towards the center of the flames.

The resounding sword clangs echoed repeatedly, the impact of tremendous force collided, sparking strong winds, even the flames wavered because of it.

A rising fire cleared out a blank circle, each collision expanded the circle a bit.

Roger’s blade was filled with cracks, just having deflected a strike, quickly another blade arrived before him, twin blades spinning and cutting, Roger simply couldn’t withstand Ed’s assault.

He swiftly retreated backward, moving as fast as a flying bird, Ed did not let up, closely followed.

Two figures one before the other, each contact ignited dazzling sparks, leaving deep sword marks on the ground, high temperatures wanton, the surrounding metal began to melt and collapse, in a blink the industrial zone turned into a scorching Hell.

The anomaly here already drew the attention of the Mechanical Institute, but upon observing the exceeding Geiger index, they were temporarily unsure of what response to make.

Everything happened too quickly, leaving no time to catch one’s breath.

Roger’s figure crashed into a small hill, rubble and metal debris flew, he struggled to raise his head, meeting the scorching gaze rushing towards him.

In a trance, countless figures appeared before Ed, one after another, with familiar faces.

Looking at these familiar faces, Ed tried hard to recollect, but couldn’t remember their names, soon his eyes raised with fury.

The illusion Roger created didn’t last long, probably a mere second or two before it shattered.

Awakened from the illusion, Ed’s face was filled with rage, over the years he rarely got this angry, sharp sword light sparked dazzling brilliance.

Pierce.

The first sword penetrated Roger’s chest, pinning him firmly to the ground, the second sword immediately was about to decapitate Roger, but was blocked by Roger’s raised hand.

The blade pierced through his palm, Roger tried to alter the falling trajectory of the blade, but Allen’s power was too strong, he only managed to slightly shift it, the blade along with his hand stabbed into Roger’s neck, slicing through the throat, almost cutting it.

Roger revealed that mocking smile again, blood continually oozing from the corner of his mouth, he seemed to want to say something, from the wound in his throat, large amounts of blood spilled.

”You... feel terrible, don’t you, Ed.”

Ed’s face stiffened, all the muscles in his body seemed tense, under his cold expression, as if suppressing something.

”Why... not use your full strength?”

Roger’s smile widened, corners of his mouth seemed about to crack to his ears, like a monster.