Gun of Ashes

After several days of decay, the intensity of erosion within the industrial area has decreased significantly. It is still inaccessible to most people, but for someone like Lorenzo, it poses little pressure.

”Is this where they fought?”

Lorenzo looked at the mess strewn across the ground and couldn’t help but sigh.

”Yes, it seems they intended to battle here. If the conflict broke out in densely populated areas, we might still be fighting right now,” Red Falcon said, holding a report in hand.

”According to our predictions, once the erosion spreads in the city, we will face tremendous demon pressure. All armed forces will be deployed, controlling the streets and hunting demons.”

Lorenzo was not optimistic about this, ”Even so, the time left to us is extremely short. We need to resolve everything before the erosion spreads throughout the city. The anti-meme weapons deployed will help us buy time, but it is still not enough.”

”In this situation, we have no choice but to pin our hopes on [Wangchuan]. Hopefully, they are well-preserved and can help us deal with the disaster quickly,” Red Falcon glanced at Shao Liangye beside him.

In the estimation, the decisive battle is not expected to last long. In this overwhelming power struggle, either the Purification Mechanism will be easily crushed, and the Death Row plan will take effect, or [Wangchuan] will succeed in destroying the formidable enemy — it’s simple, not many twists.

Lorenzo began to move forward. They observed a corpse deeper within, or accurately, an abandoned shell. Lorenzo wanted to see, unsure whether it was left by Roger or Ed.

The abandoned mechanical equipment mostly melted and collapsed. The ground burned into a lava zone, with massive gashes, as if a giant blade had cut through the earth.

The remaining erosion emitted piercing, roaring shrieks, like invisible winds sweeping through, resonating around Lorenzo as he delved deeper.

The Purification Mechanism did the right thing; they didn’t rashly investigate here but entrusted it to himself to resolve. As soon as Lorenzo began to delve deeper, he sensed the horrors of these erosions, even as his sight gradually conjured distorted illusions.

”This is the power of Ascension,” Lorenzo felt, unable to suppress a bitter smile, ”It’s truly powerful.”

They fought and then died here, constantly repeating, falling into the cycle of life and death.

Stepping on post-rain puddles, Lorenzo stood beside the fallen remains, like a scorched sculpture, leaning against the Broken Sword, refusing to yield. It emitted familiar erosion, precisely Ed’s power.

A scene gradually unfolded in his mind, two mad monsters chasing each other, losing limbs, then raising sharp swords again, until one was finally defeated.

”So you received the message I sent, did you? Deliberately choosing the battlefield here, relentlessly pursuing Roger.”

Lorenzo pondered, speculating about Ed’s attitude. This initial Watcher was quite peculiar. Lorenzo was well aware of his goals, yet there were many things he didn’t understand, such as now.

Logically, with Ed’s power, he should have been able to subdue Roger, but judging from the traces on the battlefield, they had been entangled for a long time, evenly matched.

Had Roger become more powerful due to the Inexpressible’s corruption, or had Ed weakened?

Like expressionless dolls, they flashed sharply before Lorenzo’s eyes, having forgotten their appearances, leaving only a pristine face, kneeling beside the Well of Ascension.

This was the fate of Watchers, fading away one by one until one day they completely disappear from history.

”Ed... is losing his way; he is close to the point of collapse.”

Lorenzo felt a deep cold emanating from his heart; he only realized now how he had overlooked this.

He and Roger ventured into the Well of Ascension, facing the Inexpressible directly, yet their final choices were completely different.

Roger chose to hide, while Ed chose to fall into a deep sleep to combat the Inexpressible’s murmur, awakening only at essential moments. Now Roger was so clear-headed merely because he accepted the murmurs, choosing to become one of its kind, while Ed had been resisting; every moment of awakening was a battle against inner darkness.

Lorenzo’s eyes stiffened. This turn of events was somewhat beyond his imagination, variables changing again, progressing towards unease.

”No... no, this should be a good thing.”

Lorenzo quickly calmed down, saying so, yet the stress in his heart didn’t reduce much.

Once Ed fell, Lorenzo would face two absolutely formidable enemies. He would have no chance of winning, but similarly, now was his opportunity to rally Ed, in his inability to defeat Roger, Lorenzo would be his best choice.

”This is truly gambling with life.”

Lorenzo trembled as he reached out, trying to touch the remains.

Once contact with Ed happens, the subsequent outcome would be easy to foresee; Lorenzo would be hunted by him, possibly dying quickly, or Ed might calm down to hear him out... perhaps Ed was already bordering on losing control, and he could happen to become his frenzy opener.

If possible, Lorenzo truly didn’t want to do this, but given Ed’s impending death, Lorenzo felt there seemed to be no other choice.

If properly utilized, Ed would be a considerable asset, and it was clear from their battle here that Ed was reluctant to amplify casualties, at least their stances overlap.