Gun of Ashes

Flesh and metal collided, tearing off large chunks of crimson, accompanied by shattered iron.

It was like a battlefield of cavalry charging from a century ago, with no retreat for anyone, fighting to the death on this narrow path.

The Armor of Original Sin strode forward, letting its armor hang down to shield the rain, using it like a shield to protect the body, but soon it became dented and uneven, then torn into countless fragments by cracks.

Sharp claws struck the armor, sparking dazzling firelight and ear-piercing clashes.

The sound was so sharp, cutting through eardrums like a razor blade, and soon Gawain’s left ear began to bleed, his hearing blurred, and finally only silence remained.

”Ah... Ha...”

He gasped for breath, losing the protection of his helmet, the incessant rain obscured his vision, and despite his efforts to open his eyes, Gawain could see only blurs.

Unable to see the enemies or his comrades, only patches of blazing fire burned.

The Great Sword lifted the Demon, vigorously churning it, completely crushing its innards and bones, then the Armor of Original Sin seized the Demon’s corpse and hoisted it up with force, using it like a shield.

Soon this body was shattered by claws, but on this bloody battlefield, corpses were never in short supply.

With each step Gawain took, numerous bodies fell, and for him, weapons scattered across the ground everywhere, merely needing to be discarded and picked up repeatedly.

Then in a certain moment, after countless destructions.

Sharp claws pierced through the corpse, slicing through the steel beneath it.

Gawain felt a momentary blankness before intense pain struck, and the entire left arm of the Armor of Original Sin, along with the hoisted corpse, was violently torn away.

Logically, it shouldn’t be so fragile, but under this intense combat, even the most solid steel became battered.

”Does it taste good?”

Gawain asked expressionlessly.

The Demon bit onto the severed arm of the Armor of Original Sin, exerting pressure, crushing its mechanism and squeezing out torrents of crimson.

That was the arm severed along with it.

Gawain had long prepared for this, battling Demons, losing limbs seemed normal, but perhaps truly numb, there was no ripple in his heart.

Turning, he swung the Great Sword, slicing the Demon in half.

The twisted metal structure also sunk at the moment of the arm’s severance, deeply piercing Gawain’s body.

Under these circumstances, such injuries were fatal, even with doctors present, Gawain couldn’t be saved, his body was firmly locked inside the armor, which both protected and imprisoned him.

Gawain could feel the Armor of Original Sin’s corruption; this battlefield full of Evil Anomalies provided its perfect soil, he could even hear the faint sound of his flesh being gnawed beneath the armor...

Strangely, Gawain wasn’t afraid.

Stubbornly, he swung the Great Sword, hoping to make one last contribution before he bled too much and died.

The defenses regrouped, then pressed forward, encountering resistance, they then crushed it, and proceeded again...

”I will hold my ground...”

A whisper echoed across the battlefield, like a Ghost, lingering and refusing to dissipate.

A scarlet and sinister figure slowly advanced, its complete damage exposed the complex mechanical structure, twisted metal laden with severed limbs and flesh, shattered pieces accumulating in crevices, like being entwined by crimson vines.

The figure stubbornly moved forward, mechanical arms rusted and slow to rotate, it thrust down the similarly damaged Great Sword, piercing the Demon’s head, destroying its chest’s heart along with it.

Everything seemed to quiet down, leaving only the monotonous rain, the disturbing roar finally ceased.

Scarlet eyes, filled with weary souls.

When Gawain came to his senses, the battle seemed over.

The broken Armor of Original Sin stood amidst countless corpses, disarrayed, shed of all armor, dangling broken cables, like drained organs.

It should have fallen, yet firmly clung to the ruined Great Sword, resembling an iron statue, refusing to fall no matter what.

”Is it over?”

Gawain asked softly, but no one answered his question, even the enemies no longer roared.

Puzzled, he turned his head, seeing intertwined corpses in his blurred vision, both human and Demon alike.

Gawain also saw Anonymous, who had talked to him before, leaning against the wall, collapsed in the corner, holding a blood-stained Folding Blade.

Anonymous seemed to be resting, his expression was very calm, if not for the huge wound on his chest, Gawain might have thought he was asleep.

Gawain felt no sadness, excessive blood loss made it difficult for him to continue thinking about anything complex, not even able to maneuver the Armor of Original Sin.

Now the armor had reached its limit, the engine had stopped roaring long ago, leaving only faint steam leaking, like a soul fleeing from the hull.

A shadow enveloped him, the rain was covered, Gawain saw the fearsome armor up close, with blazing white remnants burning in the steel crevices.

”Holmes?” Gawain asked, then revealed an awkward smile, ”You’re late, it looks like it’s all over here.”