Gun of Ashes

The site underwent a certain degree of automation transformation, with personnel only entering during safety inspections. However, each safety inspection is a perilous adventure for the staff.

Now Nikola has also joined this adventure.

He has always found the existence of Death Row to be quite mysterious; he doesn’t remember what is beneath the Furnace Pillar, and it seems there’s no direct path leading deep down there.

Through research, Nikola only learned that deep inside there is a landfill specially used to discharge the furnace’s accumulated ash. Nikola can’t understand why a shelter would be established here.

Nikola has asked Merlin and Arthur similar questions, but they were ultimately dismissed. Now, he can’t hold back any longer and decides to go there personally to investigate.

It’s clear that as Nikola leaves the enclosure of the Perpetual Motion Pump, the temperature in the dim passage is astonishing. In the darkness, the sound of fans can be heard, as if hundreds of fans are operating, extracting the scorching gases.

After years of redesigning, this underground space resembles a labyrinth. Except for the area surrounding the Perpetual Motion Pump, other regions of the map have not been updated for years and are mostly abandoned, becoming desolate.

Nikola advances along the road from memory, gripping the safety rope tightly and ready to hook himself onto the handle beside him at any moment.

Continuing downward.

He has visited here only a few times, and back then, he was just an ordinary technician chosen to maintain the Furnace Pillar pipework, and even then, Nikola rarely went this deep.

As he proceeds further underground, he can distinctly feel the temperatures rising. This is normal as the Furnace Pillar is extremely hot; to cool it down, the Mechanical Institute redirected the Thames River and set up a vast network of ventilation pipes, all whirling and roaring together as if to stir up a storm in the underground world.

The Purification Mechanism has never worried about the Furnace Pillar being invaded; the harsh environment here ensures that even if invaded, it would become the invader’s grave.

Even through the protective clothing, Nikola has already felt the unbearable heat, breathing heavily. Fortunately, there is enough oxygen; without an oxygen supply, breathing this underground hot and stale air, Nikola fears he wouldn’t last long.

The surroundings gradually become more expansive, covered in rust and dust, as if no one has ever been here.

Nikola climbs the suspension ladder, unsure of when it was last maintained. Each time he moves it, it creaks as if it’s about to collapse.

Apart from these messy noises, it is very quiet here, seemingly only Nikola exists, highlighting an extreme loneliness.

He traverses an aerial corridor, below lies endless darkness. Nikola kicks some debris down, it disappears into the darkness, into nothingness.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

A sound like a heartbeat resonates, only this heartbeat sounds far louder than a human’s, as if it comes from a giant’s chest.

A red glow envelops Nikola, he looks to the other side and sees an unbearable blaze emerging through the steel crevices, as if the metal is wrapping around a scorching sun.

The furnace begins to stir.

This place not only supplies energy to the city but also refines metals. Some special alloys can only achieve such extreme temperatures in the Furnace Pillar, the molten metal intertwining with the flames flows into the channels, crafting weapon after weapon.

As he ponders, Nikola feels the corridor trembling, then feels an emptiness beneath him.

Damn.

It’s been too long since anyone has visited here, after repeated baptism between dampness and dryness, the metal is already full of rust and damage, during Nikola’s stay, it completely shatters.

Nikola plummets into the darkness below, muttering a curse, always cautious, yet making a mistake on matters like this.

Fortunately, he had previously set up the safety rope, halfway through the fall, Nikola is jerked by the rope, crashing heavily against the other wall, before he can guard his stance, the oxygen mask shatters, glass fragments injuring his skin.

Before Nikola can rescue himself, the other end of the safety rope above also snaps, the fragile metal bends, Nikola descends once again.

For an instant, Nikola’s mind turns blank, lacking any regretful emotion.

Nikola has always believed Death Row is a deceitful conspiracy; without answers, this somewhat obsessive guy wouldn’t settle.

Quickly raising his hand, he grabs the protrusion on the wall, stabilizing himself. Lowering his head, he hears echoes in the darkness, very close, seemingly not as high as anticipated.

Above, the safety rope also dropped, extending into the darkness. Nikola steels himself and leaps down.

A brief moment later, the impact hits.

Nikola fiercely crashes to the ground, wincing in pain, but survives. Only the mask is utterly damaged, the hot air enters his nostrils, leaving Nikola dazed and lost.

He struggles to get up, tries fixing it, but the leakage is severe, compelling him to discard it.

Nikola emits a furious growl, ripping off the heavy oxygen cylinder, tossing it aside.

His vision somewhat scattered, sometimes high temperatures can cause hallucinations, a fact he’s aware of, just didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.

A woman’s soft singing seems to rise, the heat fades, replaced by a comforting coolness, enveloping Nikola, urging him to sleep.

”Shut up.”

Nikola curses angrily, clumsily dragging the oxygen cylinder, channeling the pipe towards himself, greedily inhaling oxygen to become somewhat sober.

Various accidents often occur during Furnace Pillar maintenance, so they usually operate in small teams, but now Nikola is alone. Fortunately, the communicator is still by his side, he might still be able to call for help...

Nikola’s thoughts halt; he sees something he’s been searching for all along.

A dusty door stands not far ahead, as if waiting patiently for Nikola. He takes a few deep breaths of oxygen, forcefully shedding the heavy protective clothing, feeling a sharp stinging sensation on his skin, akin to being burned.

This makes Nikola much lighter; he quickly sprints to insert the oddly shaped key in his hand into the keyhole, feeling dryness from within, Nikola prays the lock hasn’t rusted shut. He applies gentle force, the door opens.

Nikola tumbles inside, stretching his hand to the position recorded in his memory, pulling down the valve.

Soon, dim lights ignite, following a burst of noise, the narrow elevator begins its descent.

”I surely didn’t misremember...”

Nikola mutters to himself.

The Furnace Pillar continuously updates itself, many things are hard to fully document on the map; in a certain map edition, Nikola once saw this place, an elevator for maintenance, one of the few that can reach the ”landfill” below directly.

Afterward, this symbol seemed intentionally erased, unknown to anyone, while the key is found deep within an archive room. Mixed with a bunch of keys whose purpose is unknown, Nikola spent a long time digging it out.

Continuously descending in darkness, Nikola struggles to maintain his consciousness. After an indefinite amount of time, the door opens.

He staggers up, the air no longer hot, but carries a coolness, making Nikola significantly clearer; he walks to the platform edge, gazing down at numerous buildings, witnessing silhouettes flickering, and enormous armor slowly advancing.

Nikola’s expression freezes entirely; logic dictates this should be a shelter, but what lies here is merely an army in the shadows.

Breathing becomes constricted; he mumbles to himself.

”Where... is this?”

”The Land of Sorrow, headquarters of the Cleaner Division.”

Someone replies; Nikola nervously turns around but feels a force strike him, vision blurs. Falling, in his final consciousness, he hears someone addressing him.

”Don’t be afraid, we’ll lead you to Death Row.”

Galahad walks beside Nikola, forcefully carrying him away.