Gun of Ashes

”It’s not enough!”

Roger laughed aloud, reaching the zenith of Ascension, invisible threads binding its shattered flesh. In an instant, it resembled a coiled monster, towering like a hill.

Its voice twisted into a deep growl, akin to the roar of a mountain giant.

A raging fire illuminated this hellish scene.

Ed Delun once again drew a sword from the sheath on his back. It was also a Nail Sword, but unlike Ed Delun’s usual, somewhat antiquated and humble Nail Sword, this was an imitation crafted by the Purification Mechanism, mixing Holy Silver and Pine Iron.

”It’s truly sad, Roger.”

At this point in the battle, Ed Delun couldn’t help but feel a touch of sorrow.

He still remembered the idealistic times shared with Roger, the achievements they created, and the darkness that swiftly followed.

As time changed, no one could have predicted that the two who began together would fall into such a state.

After a brief moment of mourning, Ed Delun gripped the Nail Sword tightly, as if finally making a true decision, his expression solemn, hiding an overwhelming fury.

”This is the mistake we’ve made. It’s time to rectify it.”

The erosion spread, reaching the blade, like cold water meeting hot flames. The chilled metal stirred with unknown power roiling on it. A crimson gold light aligned with the engraved runes, carrying a pervasive killing intent.

The monster let out a roar, its abdominal skin pallid and repulsive with a slimy sheen, its pale yellow mucus clinging to the bones, which then fractured, ribs lifting up, the rib cage transforming into a dark maw, emanating a stench of blood.

Ed Delun stared directly at the maw, where dense sharp teeth overlapped like a meat grinder, threatening to crush even steel effortlessly.

There were also crimson tendrils intermingled, swiftly rushing forward, aiming at Ed Delun, covered in tough hard material, transforming into sharp Bone Spears at the ends.

Maintaining sanity is difficult, but completely abandoning oneself to fall is easy.

Ed Delun could see the crimson hundred eyes in the darkness. Roger had already transformed into ”the Gate”, and at the end of ”the Gate” lay the root source of all this hatred.

He swung the Nail Sword, effortlessly severing the Bone Spears.

Logically, under the influence of The Inexpressible, the monster’s strength should reach its peak, yet under Ed Delun’s strike, the resilient Bone Spears shattered easily, even the flesh beneath offered no resistance, breaking wholly. They attempted self-healing, but after a few seconds of growth, the tissues wilted completely.

It was as though Ed Delun wielded not a blade but ”Death”, absolute ”Death” casting onto the immortal monster.

A mournful cry resounded, amidst the chaos, resembling the wails of thousands.

The Inexpressible is inherently chaotic and disorderly, rationality opposed to it. Due to its expansive power, the so-called ”Roger” was long gone, leaving only a monster atop his visage, devoid of rationality.

It could only instinctively wail, feeling the death emanating from the Nail Sword, a death capable of crushing its immortality.

”Truly walking to one’s own death...”

Ed Delun chuckled bitterly, his peripheral gaze resting on the Nail Sword, already etched with cracks.

Excruciating pain radiated from the hand gripping the sword, akin to rampant vines, piercing through his skin, traversing beneath the flesh, spreading along the bones, crushing everything in its path, finally enveloping his head, extending sharp roots towards his fragile brain.

With every movement Ed Delun made, fine dust rose from his body, followed by faint sounds of cracking. More and more fissures spread across his physique.

”What is this...?”

A raspy, bizarre voice arose as the monster launched another assault, yet the outcome remained unchanged.

Be it claws or fangs, flames or steel.

Ed Delun merely swung his sword, effortlessly cleaving through everything.

”Perhaps... the Wangchuan Sword?”

Ed Delun pondered, his mind contriving such an absurd term.

He threw the Nail Sword, having been wielded several times, its Anti-Meme power nearly drained, but falling upon the monster, it still easily carved out a massive blood hole, as the decay continued its relentless spread.

”He said originally, the plan was for us both to be trapped here, then a group of madmen would descend from the sky, wielding these sharp swords, slicing us into pieces.”

Ed Delun laughed mournfully, using the Anti-Meme to strike at the monster, he too suffered its effects, as he fundamentally differed little from the monster, resisting the whispers of The Inexpressible.

Thus, he understood what Watson meant by walking to one’s own death.

If not for himself, another group would come here to die. Ed Delun was unsure of the exact list but guessed there would be familiar faces.

The monster let out roars, now afraid, meeting an opposing power for the first time, even amidst chaos and disorder, threatened by a dim memory.

Yes, just like this.

Years ago, many years ago, beneath that illustrious fortress, was a group, using this place’s power to defeat it and imprison it.

A tidal wave of erosion surged, filling the underground space in an instant, as the monster attempted escape, abandoning its bloated body, invading the Gap in conscious form.

But its consciousness smashed against a wall, rebounded, followed by tremors like earthquakes, as the Land of Sorrow violently shook, endless dust and debris falling from above darkness.

”This is the Death Row, your and my prison.”

Ed Delun drew another Nail Sword, Forbidden Power raging upon it.

”Looks familiar, doesn’t it?”

Ed Delun laughed loudly, as his laughter resonated, the pitch-black barrier shed its attachment, revealing the shiny, icy metal inner wall.

Death Row is false, yet true. In this brief time, the Cleaners transformed the Land of Sorrow, vast amounts of Holy Silver cast upon it, turning the Land of Sorrow into a cage of Holy Silver, like years ago when the Secret Keepers targeted the Inexpressible.

”Without killing me, you can’t escape!”

Another Nail Sword struck, piercing the monster’s body, then decay and withering swiftly spread, masses of flesh died, rotted, pus-seeped, akin to corpses rising from the swamp, unable to restrain the fetid dark blood, bursting, crimson blood flowed.

Crimson hundred eyes opened from countless shadows, all staring at Ed Delun, who glared back, feeling the hatred within those hundred eyes.

Bone Spears and flames showered down.

Ed Delun’s movements slowed, naturally, for each use of Anti-Meme incurs effects, gradually consuming him.

The torso and limbs were pierced, his sword-wielding hand ceased its descent, binding Ed Delun’s body tightly, flames arose, executing a cruel punishment.

”Do you think, restricting me, I can’t hunt you?”

Ed Delun mocked, perhaps nearing death brought him a sense of ease, a delight of liberation.

”You still don’t understand us.”

He shouted.

”We are hungry wolves, wandering souls, nightmares!”

With muscular exertion, the Bone Spears shattered section by section, Ed Delun extracted the piercing Bone Spears, striding out from the flames.

”We travel in packs, never alone!”

In a daze, Ed Delun seemed to see pure white feathers fall, quickly burned by hallucinations, leaving only his own nearly shattered face reflected on the sword.

Ed Delun shook his head, dismissing troubling thoughts, then revealed a brazen smile.

”This is the last duty! Everyone!”

His voice boomed, like a tolling bell.

Silent, then restless.

Someone answered Ed Delun’s call, waiting long in darkness, just for the curtain’s rise, the actors’ final entrance.

Thus, in this deep hell, wandering souls stood from darkness, blazing white Thunder Groups covered their apparitions, their luminous bursts linking together, resembling a descending Celestial Kingdom.