Gun of Ashes

The smell of the smoke carried a subtle fragrance, but Bola didn’t want to inhale it for long. After the operation in Ende Town, Lorenzo had explained many useful things, such as the use of Wind Tobacco. Afterward, Bola had impulsively tried it once, experiencing no terrifying or horrific visions, but he did feel a long period of lethargy following it.

Lorenzo stood as still as a statue, head bowed as if deep in thought. The tobacco burned between his fingers, and the rising smoke formed into various shapes.

It felt heavy and scorching hot, as if Lorenzo were trapped inside an oven. Every step he took required all his strength, and a piercing shriek of turning gears echoed in his ears, as though he were carrying a mountain forward.

Yet strangely, there was no pressure, none of that oppressive presence from the Demon.

Lorenzo had never worn the Armor of Original Sin, but as a Demon Hunter, he knew what it felt like to come into contact with a weapon made from Demons. For example, he himself was a weapon made from Demons, with a power called Secret Blood coursing through his veins, while the steel bones forged from Holy Silver both protected and imprisoned his body.

His mind wasn’t disturbed in the slightest, but the next second, the woman appeared before Lorenzo.

Countless faces flashed across her, finally settling into the form most familiar to Lorenzo. She chuckled softly, using the Wind Tobacco to deepen the connection with darkness, and once again stood before Lorenzo, forming her hand into the shape of a gun and then trembling slightly.

It was as if the scorching sun pierced through Lorenzo, his flesh incinerating and carbonizing in an instant, finally turning to ashes and scattering away. The burning armor cracked and twisted, and the flames didn’t stop, like a spear of light that completely shattered the fragile body.

Large drops of sweat dripped from the tip of Lorenzo’s nose as he clutched his chest in agony, holding himself up with one hand on the ground to prevent from collapsing.

Bola was clearly frightened by Lorenzo’s sudden change, his face serious.

”What did you see?”

But Lorenzo didn’t answer. After a while, as if he had regained composure, he lifted his head, his expression somewhat complex.

”Bola, have you ever thought about something?”

Lorenzo’s breathing gradually steadied. He glimpsed a possibility and, through his Spiritual Vision, perceived the likelihood of that possibility.

”Would armor that combines Demons and steel really be so easily shattered?”

The most significant characteristic of Demons is their tenacious vitality. Even Ed, completely soaked in Holy Silver, could survive for a long time with the support of Secret Blood, not to mention the prototype of the Armor of Original Sin.

Bola fell silent, as he hadn’t considered this either. He had experienced two encounters with the Armor of Original Sin, once during Galahad’s loss of control, and the other during the Ende Town operation, when he operated the Second Generation Armor.

Even under the impact and high temperature from Demons, and even during the cannon salvo when Galahad lost control, these were still unable to completely destroy the armor. Yet, the wreckage of the armor before them was completely obliterated with just one blow.

Per the design principles of the Armor of Original Sin, Demons not only provide power, but their strange and elusive flesh can essentially serve as a form of mechanical connection, possessing super resilience and ductility. It’s not only heat-resistant but incredibly tough. In fact, to some extent, the connecting flesh can be understood as a kind of mechanical material.

When the Iron Armor shatters, the freely growing flesh should tightly grasp it, instead of shattering with one hit.

”Do you mean the weapon that killed it?”

Bola was a bit shocked. Viewing it this way, what kind of powerful weapon could destroy the armor? But upon further contemplation, it made sense. The armor technology originated from Jiuxia, Far East, just as the Demon Hunting Order developed the Silver Binding Bolt to control Demon Hunters; they must have a weapon to destroy the armor when it goes out of control.

If it can destroy this armor, surely it can also destroy the Armor of Original Sin.

Bola pondered deeply, deciding to report this idea, even though Ingwig and Jiuxia maintained a cooperative relationship, vigilance was still warranted.

Lorenzo shook his head, dismissing Bola’s notion.

”You’ve fallen into a misconception. Extensive dealings with Demons have made you subconsciously attribute everything to them whenever something arises.”

”What do you mean?”

Bola felt a bit perplexed, as Lorenzo wore a stern expression.

”Look, doesn’t it seem excessively cumbersome for armor powered by Demons? The connections between the plate armor are mechanical structures, not a biological construct like that of Demons. Considering the massive injury on the back, if you think from another perspective, what if something pierced through the armor, causing a secondary explosion from behind?”

As the thought process began to reverse, Lorenzo pointed at the large wound on the back, where countless mechanical connections lay severed along with the gaping wound, covered in cracks.

”Bola, don’t you think its size is just right to accommodate a steam engine?”

Bola’s eyes narrowed, his expression full of shock as he gazed at Lorenzo with disbelief.

”Are you saying this thing is... purely mechanical?”

Lorenzo nodded firmly.

”I suppose that’s it. This explains why it doesn’t have any pollutants. Coupled with its massive size and complex machinery...”

”You understand what this means, don’t you?”

Lorenzo began to comprehend Arthur’s words at the church. The world was advancing at a feverish pace, not just in technology but also in the military. Such mechanical armor can’t contend against Demons, but for humans, it presents the gravest danger.

This is military armor. After years of research, Jiuxia from the Far East has finally made a crucial step in mass-producing armor.

But they’ve had steam technology for only a decade or so, and the progress has been astonishingly swift.

”Looks like you’ll be quite busy.”

This was explosive news. Regardless of whether Lorenzo’s inference was correct, it would be submitted as a dangerous possibility.

Bola showed signs of fear and, after pausing for a long time, finally spoke slowly.

”Sometimes I’m not sure if you’re the source of trouble or if you’re just one step ahead of it?”

”You should thank me for spotting the danger in advance... You know my bank account, right?”

Lorenzo jested, but inside he felt no joy. Arthur’s words were gradually becoming reality. The so-called outbreak of war seemed inevitable.

Bola had no mood for the ongoing conference. Halfway through, guards surrounded the venue, apologetically yet forcefully escorting everyone out. In the crowd, Selyu waited for Lorenzo, although he masked his expression well, the keen-eyed girl saw right through it.

”Did you do something in there?”

”What do you mean?”

”Shortly after you went in, the exhibition ended. You must have done something, right?”

Lorenzo awkwardly held his head.

”Why do you think that? Am I that unreliable in your eyes?”

”I just feel like you easily get involved in some strange matters.”

Selyu replied calmly.

”Well... the exhibition’s over. Want me to take you home, or buy some damned candy?”

”Mr. Holmes, although the exhibition ended early, my ’exhibition’ still has more than half of its time left. Don’t think you can slip away like this.”

Her clear eyes fixed on Lorenzo, leaving him nowhere to hide.

”You’re becoming a dull adult too, Selyu. It saddens me.”

To Lorenzo, growing older meant escalating costs for solving problems.

To this, Selyu nodded seriously.

”That’s true. I turn eighteen in just a month.”