Gun of Ashes

”Purification Mechanism, Lorenzo Holmes, Mechanical Institute, Furnace Pillar, Death Row...”

The demon emitted a low growl, uttering a series of indistinct words.

In the eyes that should have been crimson, a blazing white light rolled, as if another spirit of fire was residing within the deformed shell.

”Is this what you are guarding?”

The demon, controlled by Roger, bowed its head and looked at the soldier in its hand, who seemed to have lost consciousness, eyes hollow and gray, body limp as if it had lost its skeletal support.

He still breathed, but in truth, it was merely the instinct of the flesh, his real self had already died.

The moment Roger invaded his [gap], his consciousness was torn apart and collapsed, as Roger greedily consumed his memories, discovering the Purification Mechanism’s purpose through the shattered cracks.

”Death Row...”

It murmured, a smile appearing on its grotesque face.

This was the reason for the Purification Mechanism’s resistance, as long as it was destroyed, it would crush the will of these humans, and the great ascension would follow.

Casually discarding the soldier, more demons surged in the darkness, tearing the soldier into pieces, feasting until nothing was left, amidst the wreckage there were more corpses, large Geiger counters toppled, damaged, reminiscent of tombstones commemorating the fall here.

Sporadic gunshots echoed around, quickly falling silent, demons had completely overrun this stronghold, along with the secrets hidden within.

The blazing white in the demon’s eyes gradually dimmed, as Roger departed, its consciousness returned to the haze, becoming an ordinary demon once more, left only with the craving for flesh in its mind.

They scoured the surrounding flesh, then surged like waves towards the next target.

In a far-off location, within the Purification Mechanism’s defenses, the streets were already deserted, citizens evacuated, leaving only soldiers operating in a rush, transporting supplies, supporting the defenses.

As if all living souls vanished in an instant, leaving behind an empty city, some doors left ajar, windows banging continuously, curtains flapping in the wind, dragged out of the house.

One could see light still shining inside some rooms, with a small dog venturing out between the rain and fog, the terrain here was high, water barely covering its paws.

The small dog barked frantically, searching for its little master, but under the rain and fog, no one answered its calls, not knowing how long had passed, a shadowy figure emerged at the end of the mist.

He kicked and splashed, advancing as if dancing, humming a light tune from his lips.

Roger’s dance was graceful, possessing a different meaning in such a scene, too bad there was no audience here, probably the only living creature being the little dog not too far away.

It noticed Roger’s approach, baring its teeth and growling, the beast’s instincts made it fear Roger.

”Are you lost?”

Roger paused his dance steps, his face relaxed, squatting to gently rub the dog’s chin.

”So fierce.”

Seeing the dog’s fangs, Roger did not get angry, but instead smiled, rubbing harder.

”No no, child, that’s not how you intimidate an enemy,” Roger whispered softly, ”it’s done like this.”

With those words, scorching fire ignited in Roger’s eyes, as if another grotesque face overlapped on his.

Evil anomaly and fangs, countless crimson eyes opened like a kaleidoscope, reflecting the scene ahead, as if situated in the deep dark.

Roger smiled, and immense fear followed, the dog let out a wail, frightened it fled from Roger’s grasp, tail tucked, wading into the shadows.

Roger stood up, watching the dog’s fleeing silhouette, laughing loudly.

”Run along, child, go find your little master.”

He felt unprecedented ease, as if a long-desired wish was about to be fulfilled at this moment, Roger felt he was about to achieve that ultimate ideal, and after that...

”I should go find my master too.”

Roger chuckled, he strolled down the empty street, towards the end of the road, in the barren industrial district, the furnace was yet unextinguished.

...

Cold, bone-chilling cold.

As if his body was frozen in solid ice, Naven gradually lost sense of his body, lost all sensation, even the pain was slowly being soothed.

Is this... is this death?

Naven wondered, his thoughts gradually freezing as well, breathing became increasingly difficult, but just as darkness was about to swallow him entirely, a pair of strong hands dragged him out of the water.

The man hoisted him with great effort, moving with him amidst the roaring artillery.

”Ha... Ha...”

Naven breathed painfully, the sensation of coming back to life was both wonderful and awful, his lungs felt as if they had burst, each breath bringing immense pain.

”How is the situation? Chief?”

Naven asked with difficulty, he was not a warrior of the Purification Mechanism nor an anonymous figure, he was just an ordinary citizen, the only thing not ordinary about him was his profession as a police officer.

This was a nightmare-like moment, no one told Naven what this was really about, they could only hastily pick up weapons and protect themselves amidst artillery fire.

”It’s okay, those monsters have been driven back...”

The chief did not continue speaking, they all understood what would happen next, those monsters would make a comeback, just like before.