Gun of Ashes

The floodwaters surging into the streets lashed against the buildings, repeatedly baptizing the walls’ surfaces, swirling with chaotic debris, like a throng of excited rioters trying to knock on door after door with swords.

The tavern floor was already covered with water, the door shaking violently, rainwater constantly seeping through the cracks.

Heracles was not frightened by these anomalies. Perhaps it was because he had spent so much time with Lorenzo; all this was far from reaching his threshold.

Polo sat anxiously on his shoulder, while Heracles gripped a shotgun, wrapped in ammo belts, looking as if he was ready to slaughter everywhere.

”Ladies and gentlemen, this tavern offers sanctuary services. You can choose to stay or leave.”

Heracles calmly stated.

”Sanctuary? Are there secret tunnels?” Oscar inquired. ”I heard Lorenzo mention that you rats dug countless tunnels under Old Dunling.”

”Secret tunnels are impossible now. With this heavy rain, I figure they’ve all been washed away,” Heracles shook his head. ”The sanctuary is a safe house behind the tavern, just with simple protective measures. As long as the demons don’t show up, we can drink there carefree until the next morning.”

”Should... should we stay?”

Rod clutched the folding blade, his voice trembling.

He looked at those present, trying to seek their opinions.

”No, I’m Anonymous, I need to fulfill my duty.”

Shao Liangxi said fearlessly, gripping the folding blade and firearms. The girl who had just hidden from the rain with him was gone, replaced by a murderous Martial God.

Rod felt a headache, these guys all seemed like this, not knowing whether to call it professionalism or what, they kept their personal lives and work very separate.

They could be crazier than anyone when needed, and stand up more than anyone else when it came time to die.

”But...”

Rod wanted to say something more, but suddenly a violent knocking sound rang out, as if hundreds of hands were pounding on the door, with howling winds and wailing sounds.

This gave him quite a scare. Right now, the only reliable combat force seemed to be Shao Liangxi. It wasn’t that Rod didn’t trust Shao Liangxi, but in this crisis, the few seemed so fragile, like a solitary boat on a raging wave, about to be swallowed by a giant wave.

”Open the door! Help!”

After being on alert, those inside clearly heard such cries.

Exchanging glances, Shao Liangxi held the folding blade forward, while Heracles jumped over the bar, picked up the shotgun, and aimed it at the door.

Buscalo was still immersed in the madness of the prelude, while Oscar drank and reveled, as if none of this concerned him.

He exhaled alcohol fumes, stood up, wandered through the tavern, then stood in front of a wall, reached out, and took down a decorative longsword and a hand axe.

”Is this thing sharpened?” Oscar asked.

He was probably really drunk. Without waiting for Heracles to respond, he muttered to himself, ”Nevermind, it’s about the same.”

Fully armed, the few of them watched as Shao Liangxi opened the door, and a few battered individuals rushed in, stained with blood and faces full of fear.

”Citizens... relatively stable citizens,” Shao Liangxi remarked meaningfully.

Heracles understood his meaning, lowering the gun barrel, paying attention to these few people.

”Monster! Monster!”

They shouted loudly, completely ignoring Shao Liangxi’s outsider face.

”I saw it, no need for you to tell me.”

Shao Liangxi stared straight ahead, where in the pouring rain vague shadows began to slowly appear, with a familiar scent wafting in the cold water vapor.

Raising her gun barrel, she squeezed the trigger, and after the flash of fire, the bullets melted into the rain and mist, stirring up specks of crimson blood.

”The demons are here!”

Shao Liangxi shouted, raising the folding blade, firing as she lowered her stance and charged towards the shadows in the rain mist.

She couldn’t let the demons come any closer. As someone under anti-meme protection, Shao Liangxi wasn’t afraid of the pressure erosion, but these fearful citizens were different. Until the demons were eliminated, every survivor was a potential demon.

The downpour drenched her at once, and the waterlogged clothes became heavy, but this didn’t stop Shao Liangxi. She squinted her eyes, striving not to let raindrops obstruct her view, the shadow close at hand, and the raised claws broke through rain threads.

An impact like that of metals clashing rang out, Shao Liangxi forcibly with both hands raised the folding blade, putting all her strength into a swing, and then a grotesquely twisted limb with razored claws flew off, with a mangled and bloody stump.

Raising her gun barrel, continuously pulling the trigger, in the ceaseless firing, Shao Liangxi suddenly stepped and stepped onto the demon’s knee, leaping in front of it.

Rod hid inside, watching Shao Liangxi’s struggle against the demon.

Shao Liangxi knew the demons would only grow in number. Before they could receive aid, they needed to conserve firepower. Furthermore, the ammunition Heracles used wasn’t equipped by the Purification Mechanism. It was just ordinary gunpowder and steel, lacking Holy Silver and Anti-Meme protection, unable to suppress the demons.

The folding blade was coated with Holy Silver, Shao Liangxi’s sharp weapon. She was so close to the demon, like a dance.

With clenched teeth on a grim face, Shao Liangxi frowned slightly, then the folding blade went through the forehead, piercing the skull, the blade tip stabbing out from the jaw, utilizing wrist strength and body weight, the blade tip plunged again, chopping down from the demon’s head, splitting the chest in a thunderous act.