Gun of Ashes

An invisible force spreads, wielding unseen knives, guns, swords, and spears, slashing those spreading erosions. The shells of the demons begin to shatter and twist in an instant, even the flowing blood evaporates together, turning into ashes scattered in the sky, soon washed away by the downpour.

This is eradication, purification, extinction.

All entities tainted by the erosion are expelled in an instant, completely disappearing from this world.

The anti-meme destroys the enemy while also destroying the carrier it’s attached to. Lorenzo burns fiercely like a fleeting meteor.

”Look... does this mean he passed your test?”

On Dunling Tower, Watson gazes at the direction of Lorenzo’s battle with Roger. The anticipated [Gap] invasion hasn’t happened, Lorenzo remains in place, and meanwhile, the wild anti-meme continues to spread.

In the darkness, the observer is puzzled and confused by all this.

”Why? According to you, he was also affected by the anti-meme and is completely unaware of the existence of the ’Mechanical Deity.’ Then why is he doing this?”

The observer doesn’t understand Lorenzo’s suicidal and frenzied attack, and even less understands that this isn’t a momentary impulse, but a premeditated plan. That is to say, from the beginning, he contemplated such a tactic to end everything.

”Because he knows himself too well.”

Watson says slowly.

”He devised the mechanical deity, he not only calculated against you but also against himself.”

She reminisces.

”Lorenzo once told me, he’d eventually notice the flaws in the death row. He believes with his character, he won’t allow such an unstable factor to exist, so he’ll use everything to achieve his goal.

Like the [Echo of the End].”

A long time ago, on the train heading to the military port, not only did Lorenzo sit in the last row of seats, but also Watson who traveled with him.

”So, does that mean he’s also factored his own reaction into his plan?” the observer asks.

”That’s right. When Lorenzo uses the [Echo of the End], it means he is already at a dead end, the gambler’s final madness. He wants to use this method to prove his sincerity to you.”

Watson turns around and looks at the existence in the dark, she continues.

”You are on the same side, not just fellow demon hunters; he shares your wish to eradicate demons.”

”So, what do you think, Adren Levien?”

Adren steps out of the darkness, standing on the edge of Dunling Tower, gazing at the rain-drenched city, with a complicated expression.

”Let me think. So, everything you’re doing here is just to rope me in, to join your plan, to hunt Roger.”

”In a certain sense, yes. Only a monster can counter a monster, and you’ve seen, despite all our preparations, it’s meaningless against Roger’s might. The only one who can kill him is you.”

”It’s best if both sides suffer losses and perish together, isn’t it?” Adren squints at Watson, ”In your eyes, I’m also a threat similar to Roger.”

Watson has no intention of hiding, she nods frankly, affirming.

”That’s correct, if possible, we hope you die in the fight against Roger too.”

”So you’re asking me to die? Seriously?”

Adren is amused but realizes Watson speaks without any change in tone, she’s very serious, without any deceit.

”Indeed, please die to sever the sins preserved from distant eras.”

”And what then?” Adren asks, ”Without me, without Roger, only you and The Inexpressible remain; what will you do after that?”

”Haven’t you seen it?”

Watson waves her hand, gesturing at the battlefield permeating every part of the city.

”This isn’t just Lorenzo showing his sincerity to you; it’s all of us signaling that we are capable of moving forward. You should lay down your burden and leave it to us.”

Adren falls silent. When the war began, he already noticed all this, far stronger than the era he belonged to, even ordinary humans have gained the ability to resist, not relying on any so-called Secret Blood.

Adren suddenly thinks of something.

”I am guessing the power of the [Echo of the End] isn’t just limited to this.”

”Certainly, according to our expectations, the release of [Echo of the End] is enough to flatten the entire city, even stronger,” Watson says.

”Then...” Just as Adren is about to ask something, he realizes, ”Oh, that’s also part of your plan.”

”Yes, the anti-meme is a piece of information, the carrier can be changed at will, Lorenzo was just using [Wangchuan].”

Everyone was deceived by Lorenzo, including himself.

”The [Echo of the End] has a more important use, and, it’s not yet time to sacrifice Lorenzo, his miserable life still needs to continue for a while.”

Watson explains, without revealing what the current carrier of the [Echo of the End] is.

”Is that so... but I have another question. Your precondition for the mechanical deity is persuading me. What if you can’t convince me? Wouldn’t your plan completely fail? I don’t think you have the guts to place everything on being able to convince me, right?”

Adren realizes the issue.

”Yes, so the plan has many branches to deal with different situations. It will have more complex changes, like Lorenzo’s madness. It’s not just to prove our stance to you; it’s also a trigger.”