Gun of Ashes

The tranquil and peaceful world collapsed in an instant, replaced by a scarlet madness.

In Old Dunling, ear-piercing alarms echoed in every corner, broadcasts repeatedly announced, and the increasingly violent rain urged everyone to flee. They hurriedly sought shelter in buildings, watching the tidal waves rolling on the streets through the windows.

The horses neighed in panic, the coachmen tried to release their shackles, yet the strong wind overturned the carriages, toppling the horses. More waves surged up, engulfing and rolling over them, swallowing the coachmen as well.

The drainage system of Old Dunling completely broke down, the torrential rains accumulated more and more, flooding the streets, pouring into buildings. People shut their windows and doors tightly, but still couldn’t stop them.

Buscalo’s expression seemed slightly dazed. He had never truly understood Lorenzo, yet he could still smell the stench of blood from him. Now Buscalo had crossed that line, witnessing the advance of madness.

”Corrosion is on the rise. This time Roger has chosen to erode the entire city. Old Dunling is about to fall.”

The communicator crackled, the warnings continued.

”Act according to the original plan, everyone heads to the nearest stronghold and stands by, confront all observable demons, and keep the disaster controlled to a minimum!”

Upon hearing this, Shao Liangxi walked to the bar, selected a few weapons from Heracles’ array, arms herself, seemingly prepared, placing the weapons on herself one by one, fully armed.

”Take this!”

Shao Liangxi tossed over a few folding blades and guns. Rod, Oscar, and Buscalo each received one.

Oscar reacted little, catching them casually. Buscalo was completely dumbfounded, the folding blade hit him, then dropped at his feet. Rod grabbed the tossed folding blade, looked down at the cold metal.

”Am I... am I joining the fight too?”

Rod took a deep breath, trying hard not to let fear consume him.

”This is for your self-defense... this storm has swallowed everything, no one can stay out of it.”

Shao Liangxi said calmly, her expression stern, then took out the Holy Silver Crown, wearing it on her head. It fit tightly like a silver-white hairband.

Seeing this, Rod said nothing more. Shao Liangxi was Anonymous, the only expert among this group of drunkards. Now it seemed like an isolated island in the storm, no matter what happened, it’s best to follow her lead.

Rod took out the crown from his waist pouch, understanding its importance, so he always carried it with him. He wore the crown, then flicked out the folding blade. Though he had no idea how to wield it, he gripped the handle firmly, trying to appear unyielding.

Suddenly, a myriad of roars resounded, bursting in midair, as if an earthquake shook, the entire house trembled incessantly, glasses on the counter collided, emitting crisp sounds, bottles fell one after another, shattering into foam and shards.

Then, endless lightning flashed outside the window, the dazzling light reflected on the rushing water surface on the street, as if the tides themselves were glowing, spreading with thunder.

”It’s just like the apocalypse...”

Oscar exclaimed, such a terrifying scene didn’t instill fear in him but instead brought an odd joy of witnessing an anomaly.

Indeed, Oscar had nothing to fear anymore, as he had already passed on that heavy responsibility. His successor had safely left Old Dunling. In this doomsday, he had no attachments, thus nothing to fear.

...

Lightning and torrential rain, as if the gods were unleashing their wrath upon this place, attempting to cleanse the sins of the world.

Watson stood firmly atop Dunling Tower, looking down with human eyes, the entire Old Dunling had already been engulfed by the storm, the chaotic rain shrouding all sight. She guessed if someone stood on the street, they would probably lose their way.

The streetlights flickered, then blinding signal flares rose, but before they could ascend high, they were swept into oblivion by the gale.

Watson watched coldly at it all, underneath the mask, fiery white light rolled.

She took a deep breath, and in an instant, all things in the world seemed to slow down, finally freezing in place.

In the blazing white light, countless raindrops reflected, the expanding thunder, the people’s hurried fleeing, the activation of steel... then, power exploded in an instant.

The world in Watson’s eyes changed, innumerable beams of light rose from the storm, one after another, standing tall like a forest of lances.

These were one after another [Gaps], united by Watson.

”The Lower City District has fallen.”

Watson whispered, her voice traversing the [Gaps], reaching those hidden in the dark.

The waters of the Thames River surged ashore, aided by the gale to form waves. The first thing they destroyed was the Lower City District.

The drainage system completely failed, the tides with nowhere to go directly swarmed the muddy Lower City District, a disordered and backward zone instantly engulfed, countless foreigners swept by the tide, plunged into darkness.

Fragile buildings crumbled in response, collapsing in large numbers, like boulders flushed by torrents, their edges worn smooth, leaving only polished mirror surfaces.

The dock had become a ruin, filled with countless fragments of wood. Ships swayed crazily, some had long been clawed at by countless hands, dragged into the water, others pushed by rising tides onto the streets, charging wildly.

The gale stirred up, swirling everything caught in its grasp, forming a giant tornado in the air, advancing, destroying, and continuing further into the city.