Gun of Ashes

It was like some kind of evil ritual. The pitch-black evil anomaly egg was hoisted high by iron chains and machinery, countless lights falling upon it, revealing every detail of its steel feathers as much as possible to everyone present.

Lorenzo gazed up at that stone-sculpture-like existence. Under the focused gaze, Lorenzo could feel its vitality. As time passed, as if breathing, those steel feathers subtly rose and fell.

”After reclaiming the Black Angel, we conducted many examinations on it, and all the indicators were normal. We couldn’t find the cause of its loss of control.”

Merlin also looked at the pitch-black egg, holding even greater awe in his heart.

”It... is still alive, it is breathing.”

Lorenzo stepped carefully through unknown red liquid, slowly approaching the Black Angel.

”Yes, the Holy Grail Flesh not only fused with you but also merged with this forbidden Armor of Original Sin, steel and flesh...”

Scarlet muscles extended and grew under the pitch-black steel feathers, connecting to each mechanical structure, layers upon layers wrapping and protecting the most core steam engine and the demon heart processed by the Perpetual Motion Pump.

This is the Armor of Original Sin, a fusion of demon and machinery. The Perpetual Motion Pump has removed their original brains, leaving only the heart to drive the flesh. To be precise, this is a living dead, needing human will to drive it. But when the heavenly fire fell, it lost control. Without the drive of will, this living dead began to move.

”You could say this might be the most terrifying Armor of Original Sin we have ever created. After acquiring the Holy Grail Flesh, its strength far exceeds other Armors of Original Sin, but the cost is also very high, and the erosion endured while driving it far exceeds our imagination.”

Merlin spoke slowly.

”We conducted several tests, and as soon as the driver started the Black Angel, the Geiger index immediately hit its peak. The driver remained conscious for only a few dozen seconds before falling into a frenzy of hallucinations, followed by erosion and demonization within minutes...”

In just a few short minutes, it dragged a living person into the abyss of demons. This is stronger than any kind of erosion the Purification Mechanism has encountered in its history, almost instantaneously fatal, without even the time to resist.

”And then? Did it lose control?”

Regarding the Armor of Original Sin, Lorenzo also knew quite a bit. They are somewhat similar to Demon Hunters and can cause terrible destruction if they lose control. This level of erosion must have cost the Perpetual Motion Pump greatly to keep in check.

”No... that’s its peculiarity.”

Merlin shook his head, his hollow eyes fixed on the pitch-black object under the light. As an Alchemist, Merlin had seen many strange things in his life, but never had something made him feel so difficult, filled with untouchable unknowns.

”You know? When I was young and first encountered a demon, my world shattered, overwhelmed by the fear brought by this abominable thing. But after years of contact, I came to feel accustomed to demons, these monsters that devour reason,” Merlin said.

”It’s like living with tigers every day. Over time, you come to think it’s just a big fierce cat,” Lorenzo replied, often describing demons this way.

”A part of our common knowledge is based on habit. We’re used to the sun rising in the east, hence we consider it ’common knowledge’ that the sun rises in the east. But on some... some misty dawn, a demon named anomaly appeared in our world, breaking our common knowledge about the world.”

Merlin said this while turning his head to look at Lorenzo, his stiff face rarely showing an expression Lorenzo could understand.

It was aftermath, a reverence and fear. Lorenzo became tense in an instant. What could possibly make this well-informed Alchemist feel fear?

”Mr. Holmes, do you still feel fear towards demons now? Or, are you amazed by their existence?”

Lorenzo was somewhat puzzled by his words and shook his head in confusion.

”I’m not quite sure what you mean... when demons appear, isn’t it enough just to hunt them?”

”Yes... just hunt them whenever they appear, just like in those ancient times, humans with beasts, lifting torches and spears... Haven’t you noticed, Mr. Holmes? We have unknowingly become accustomed to a world with demons,” Merlin said with some difficulty. Sometimes, it is like this; your obsession makes you unable to notice everything abnormal.

”We have become accustomed to the appearance of demons and have turned this terrifying experience into a habit over the long years, transitioning from ’anomaly’ to ’normal’, into ’common knowledge’ that should not be known to others.”

He said this while pointing to himself, softly stating.

”A ’common knowledge’ that belongs only to us few.”

Lorenzo remained silent. Indeed, sometimes it is like this. It dragged on for so long, long enough that the fear of demons numbed people.

”Our common knowledge was first broken by the appearance of demons, and without a doubt, the Black Angel is the second breaking of common knowledge. I’ve scoured those alchemy notes, almost worn out, and I’ve never seen such a phenomenon, an ’anomaly’ that surpasses anomalies,” Merlin said as he quickly walked. Lorenzo followed closely behind him. During this time, the machinery emitted a piercing hum, dazzling sparks falling from above, along with the red liquid that was not blood but some kind of alchemical solution, repeatedly washing the sturdy surface of the Black Angel.