Gun of Ashes

Anthony has returned, for now, only he is allowed to approach here.

”The believers are evacuating in an orderly fashion, and in about two days, the majority of them will be evacuated. However, besides these, there are some people who are stubbornly resisting, even clashing with the soldiers.”

Anthony said with a hint of helplessness. The steadfast faith has turned into their shackle at this moment, these stubborn believers would rather die than yield, and refuse to leave this great Holy City.

”Is that so? Then use force, if that doesn’t work, kill them all.”

Faced with the most devout believers, the new Pope spoke cruel words.

”Suppose...suppose I’m right, once the monster in the well climbs out, even a slight spread of its power will turn this city into hell, and those devout believers, too, will transform into powerful demons.”

The new Pope slowly stood up once more.

”This is the place of Seven Hills, we have nowhere to escape, only to fight.”

”Alright, I understand.” Anthony didn’t ask much, only faithfully executed the orders.

”Also, have the Holy Hall Knight Order encircle this city, they cannot face the corruption directly, all they can do is block those fleeing, sporadic demons.”

The plan is so familiar, it resembles another Night of the Holy Arrival so much.

”And within this Holy City, all demon hunters will gather here, awaiting the arrival of the foes.”

The new Pope planned everything.

”What about those guests from afar? Will they really come?”

Anthony asked uncertainly, reluctantly admitting that the Evangelical Church has declined now, and the Demon Hunting Order, after reorganization, finds it difficult to regain its former glory.

Not to mention these demon hunters can only fight demons effectively, yet they remain helpless against the Inexpressible.

The current hope seems truly resting upon those two forces, one being the enigmatic Lawrence, and the other being Lorenzo, who has been proven capable of destroying all this.

”They must come, as I said, all demon hunters will gather here.”

The new Pope was very certain.

”Here is the beginning of everything, and also the endpoint of it all.”

Underneath the pitch-black well opening, in the endless darkness, something seems to slither, the wind sounds rising, light, as if mocking from the depths of darkness.

The two fell into prolonged silence until the faint sound of swords, halberds, and guns rang out.

”What’s going on?” the new Pope asked.

”Not sure, I’ll go check it out!”

Anthony, having said that, turned around to leave. The new Pope needed to hold his ground here; he couldn’t leave, leaving the Static Holy Temple meant everything was up to Anthony to handle.

He moved quickly, as the current situation demanded no room for accidents, and outside Saint Nalos Cathedral, the Holy Hall Knights wielded their sharp swords, reprimanding the approaching crowd; yet the crowd showed no panic, instead stirred with fervor.

”The devil has taken hold of the holy! That’s why Your Eminence made such foolish decisions!”

A fanatic shouted loudly, unwilling to leave the Holy City, pushed to the brink, falling into madness.

The Holy Hall Knights rode horses and swung swords, while the crowd pressed close, surrounding him completely.

”This is the place of Seven Hills, the great Holy City, we will never yield to evil.”

They continued their mad words.

It could be extreme faith to the point of madness, or maybe it’s the nightmares infecting through days and days, under the erosion’s influence, people’s minds grew biased, insane, until violent acts were committed.

The first hand reached out from among the crowd, grabbing the Holy Hall Knight on horseback, before he could react, more hands grabbed him, pulling him off the horse.

”For Your Eminence!”

Someone shouted loudly.

”For the Holy City!”

Their voices distorted into howls akin to beasts.

In panic, the Holy Hall Knights slashed with their swords, but were soon overwhelmed by the swarming crowd, following a low growl and wail, they vanished entirely, leaving only bloodstains and flesh behind.

The distant Holy Hall Knights, seeing this, couldn’t help but harden their expressions, sensing enormous pressure.

The fanatics, bearing bloodstains, walked slowly toward Saint Nalos Cathedral, their clothing in tatters, were now the most devoted ascetics of the Holy City, finding this expulsion amounted to a collapse of faith.

Faced with these fervent believers, the Holy Hall Knights felt fear, rarely.

Believers always revered the Holy Hall Knights, yet now they stood opposite, that once reverence converted to flames of anger against heretics.

”Stop them!”

Unclear which Holy Hall Knight shouted, the next moment other guarding Holy Hall Knights seemed to regain their senses, quickly lifting the exquisite firearms beside them.

Now blades were merely a symbol of identity, while true weapons were these cold firearms.

The first round of warning gunfire sounded, but no one stopped, their expressions fierce, like evil ghosts.

The second round of gunfire erupted, this time the Holy Hall Knights fired at the crowd decisively, scattering bullets, felling a group of people, but soon another group stepped forward, stepping over the corpses.

No one expected the first gunfire inside the Holy City to burst forth like this.

With the firepower of the Holy Hall Knights enough to guard Saint Nalos Cathedral, what worried them wasn’t this, but the possibility of disturbance spreading, potentially igniting chaos throughout the city.

The believers within the Seven Hills, were originally the most devout within the Evangelical Church, and so-called ”devout” at crucial times, would also be ”mad”.

Under successive nightmares, no one knew what these fanatics would do, or even say...

The Holy Hall Knights looked at their fellow comrades firing beside them, those who could become Holy Hall Knights were themselves the most devout of believers, perhaps among them there were also those who might fall into extremity?

Yes, even if falling into extremity, it’s quite reasonable, isn’t it? This nightmare sprang up suddenly, the unclear direction of new Pope’s orders, just like that, crude, forcing believers to leave this Holy City.

Rather than saying evacuation, it’s better described as expulsion.

By reasoning, Your Eminence wouldn’t do such a thing...

Could it be...could it really be like they say, the devil infiltrated the Holy City, it has beguiled Your Eminence.

Thinking so, the Holy Hall Knight slowly lowered the muzzle, following the darkness in his heart, nearly touching its edge...

”Don’t stop, fulfill your duties.”

The cold piercing voice brought the Holy Hall Knight back to reality; he looked to his side, seeing Anthony descending the steps.

His face was grim, like a cold, sharp sword.

The cold aura made the Holy Hall Knight obey his command, pulling the trigger.

Anthony hailed from the Holy Hall Knight Order, holding high prestige within it; his arrival somewhat stabilized troop morale.

Disputes and riots surged, using Saint Nalos Cathedral as the epicenter, such disasters gradually spread.

Gunfire rang through the Holy City in waves.

Anthony wasn’t panicked, everything was within expectation, just that he hadn’t anticipated everything arriving this swiftly.

The monster beneath the well stirred, while the gunfire here seemed to sever the strings maintaining fanatics’ sanity, sending them into hysterical madness, attempting assaults on Saint Nalos Cathedral from all directions.

Witnessing this frenzied, grotesque scene, Anthony couldn’t help recalling that night.

That night named the Night of the Holy Arrival, and that demon hunter who died before his eyes.

”What is faith, exactly? Some unknown, mysterious force, or perhaps a tool manipulating the human heart?”

He murmured softly, but no one answered for this lost lamb.

The only one who could provide answers was Anthony himself.

Thus, Anthony chose the new Pope, becoming his hammer; he believed following the new Pope, he would eventually find the answer to this puzzle.

Now, he drew closer to the answer, almost within reach.