Gun of Ashes

This feels like a childish game from my youth, chasing shadows. Yet, for some reason, feeling this damp cold, Rod’s mood inexplicably improved, rising along with delight.

...

”Has Shao Liangxi left? Will she be alright?”

Inside the narrow elevator, Lorenzo stood in a corner, asking Shao Liangye in front of him.

”She’ll be fine. I gave her a communication device. Besides, there’s nothing here she needs to worry about,” replied Shao Liangye.

”True, she seems to like it here but never had the time to look around,” Lorenzo sighed, ”It’s not bad indeed; if she doesn’t see it soon, she might not get the chance.”

Shao Liangye turned to look at Lorenzo, who stood in the corner, only a vague silhouette visible.

”Do you think she will die?”

”Who knows? Maybe we’ll all die, won’t we?” came a sound from the darkness.

Indeed, this would be the strongest enemy they had ever faced, betting the entire city and everyone’s lives. In such a situation, anyone’s death seemed reasonable. Shao Liangye didn’t say more.

”Don’t be too tense. Being tense won’t help. Might as well relax... want to hear a joke?”

Shao Liangye shook his head, not wanting to hear Lorenzo’s lousy jokes, which were usually bizarre and annoying cold jokes.

He composed himself, filled with a murderous aura, fully armed at the moment, clad in a Jiuxia-style light armor, with firearms and blades on his back.

”Speaking of which, where are we going?”

Lorenzo asked. He had been notified to meet Shao Liangye, who then brought him here.

Silver-white light flickered in the dimness. Since Roger’s attack, everyone wore the Holy Silver Crown. Though a bit showy, it increased the chances of survival, and its state indicated whether one had been invaded by Roger.

Lorenzo still wasn’t used to wearing it, frequently touching it, feeling it troublesome. He had to take it off when he needed to invade the [gap].

”You’ll know soon enough,” Shao Liangye said mysteriously.

”Oh? A surprise gift? Hope it won’t be too disappointing.”

Lorenzo said, casually drawing a Nail Sword from the sword bag, tapping it idly.

In this cramped space, the metal clashed with a tinkling sound.

Suddenly, another layer of noise arose. In the vertical passage, another elevator seemed to be rising slowly. Judging by the noise, this elevator was far larger than the one Lorenzo occupied.

Dim light streamed through the metal gaps, illuminating Lorenzo’s shadowy face. He looked over but saw nothing.

They reached their destination.

The door slowly opened, cold wind sweeping in, making Lorenzo shiver. He wrapped tighter in his coat, the underlying metal becoming more pronounced.

Like Shao Liangye, Lorenzo was also fully armed, though in a much more lightweight gear than before.

Since obtaining Authority · Michael, Lorenzo no longer lacked direct lethal capabilities. Coupled with Authority · Medanzo’s crafted long nails for throwing strikes, Lorenzo seldom used firearms, nearly abandoning them. Those complex bullet heads, too, since the Holy Silver Mine’s excavation made Lorenzo unnecessary to use the Holy Silver Bullet as a lethal strike.

So now, Lorenzo only carried a heavy sword bag filled with Nail Swords made from Holy Silver and Pine Iron, with a Winchester at his waist, like a lucky charm, always with him.

”Mechanical Institute...”

Lorenzo looked up. Before him were chimneys exhaling black smoke, metal clanging continuously, heavy machinery operating repetitively.

He was inside the Mechanical Institute, ahead was a vast area made of metal plates, visible cracks, and warning signs.

This was a large lifting platform, the thing rising with him in the darkness.

Lorenzo moved closer, feeling the vibrations beneath his feet, something being lifted up.

Looking aside, the people from the Perpetual Motion Pump seemed to have been waiting a long time. Merlin, with an umbrella, walked over.

”What surprise, Merlin.”

Lorenzo shouted, seeing Merlin coming over, somewhat guessing; perhaps it’s some new equipment again.

For these things, Lorenzo didn’t care much. His power had already surpassed human capabilities, unless it’s a weapon like Ascalon, which might stir Lorenzo’s interest. But it’s too heavy; Lorenzo couldn’t use it effectively.

”You’ll soon find out,” Merlin responded while walking over.

Soon, a black shadow swallowed several people, cold drizzle blocked. Lorenzo looked up as Iron Whale slowly hovered above, the hatch opened, several iron chains hanging down.

Lorenzo was puzzled; soon, technicians approached carrying heavy toolboxes, surrounding the large lifting platform, waiting for the thing in the darkness to surface.

”What is it?”

Lorenzo leaned beside Merlin, asking curiously.

”Hmm...”

Merlin pondered for a moment, then answered.

”A gift from the Stuart family.”

”Oh?”

Hearing ”Stuart family,” Lorenzo’s expression turned odd. Even without thinking, he knew it was Selyu’s mischief. Yet, she managed to mobilize people from the Perpetual Motion Pump.

”Nation-Builder?” Lorenzo asked tentatively.

Merlin nodded, then shook his head.

”What is this!”

Lorenzo exclaimed but quickly halted as the heavy sound in the darkness grew clearer.

The large lifting platform opened, the elevator climbing upward in darkness, exposed to light. As it ascended, the grotesque angles became clearer.

Lorenzo calmed down, as did everyone present, falling into the fear of facing a giant object.

Countless smooth and sharp Iron Feathers, densely woven together, intertwined, forming a solid iron ball. Lorenzo saw the flesh connecting the Iron Feathers and the dense patterns on the metal.

The texture of this metal is familiar, like the Nail Swords in his sword bag, forged from Pine Iron and Holy Silver, with great resilience and suppression against erosion.

”What’s its name?” Lorenzo asked, completely captivated by it, ”Black Angel · Modified? Black Angel, enhanced version?”

Listening to Lorenzo’s lousy jokes, Merlin shook his head repeatedly.

”We haven’t thought of a new name. If you don’t mind, it can keep the old name, Black Angel.”

Lorenzo didn’t respond. He gazed at the dense Iron Feathers, this armor-like piece of art captivating him.

”No, Black Angel is no longer suitable,” Lorenzo said, ”there’s no God, nor Angel. What the Gospel says is merely a beautiful hope.”

”This is your armor; the naming right is yours,” Merlin said.

Lorenzo removed the Holy Silver Crown, closed his eyes, and light filled the gap at the corners of his eyes.

Breathe.

Everyone heard it, a heavy breathing sound, not something humanly possible, followed by a loud heartbeat; they looked towards the sound’s direction, only to see a faint flame rising on the Armor of Original Sin.

Metals intertwined, emitting a screeching sound, spreading like thousands of swords pieced together, forming steel wings.

Without the protection of Iron Feathers, a strong body appeared, covered with heavy and solid External Armor, adorned with immaculate patterns, reminiscent of an ancient knight’s design, even the face armor resembling a knight’s visor, leaving a cross-shaped gap.

The flames extinguished, Lorenzo opened his eyes, reaching out to touch the metal surface, feeling the chill.

”There’s no God, nor should there be.”

Lorenzo murmured.

”Flame Holder.”

Ignite the black night, illuminating the path ahead.