Gun of Ashes

Clearly in a phantom state, but all senses were magnified in an instant. This was not the kind of ”clarity” following a Florun Potion injection; rather, it was a real delirium, experiencing the madness in the most comprehensive manner.

The entire world seemed to lose its light, plunging into this lightless world. Among the shadowy silhouettes, Lorenzo could see those enormous outlines. Sinister whispers and frenzied murmurs echoed incessantly in his ears, the sounds approaching from afar, surrounding Lorenzo, as if countless invisible undead were speaking to him about the evil anomalies in the darkness.

He could feel a viscous substance entwining him, a sharp pain piercing his back, and the taste of old rusty metal... it was blood.

The existing ghost and the entity beneath Old Dunling began to have disordered exchanges of perception under this unknown power, teetering on the edge of collapse.

The pressure increased suddenly, the body’s functions sounded an alarm, and the heart pounded violently.

Far below Old Dunling, the Black Angel emitted a red glow, extending electrodes from twisted flesh and machinery, which had been pre-installed on Lorenzo’s body, and now Merlin could observe Lorenzo’s condition through them.

All indices were rising; after the Black Angel entered this bizarre state, the corrosive wave was not intense, almost imperceptible. This level wasn’t enough to corrode others, but it could tint a touch of white with some gray, sowing the passing beacon.

But none of this mattered now. Merlin was acutely aware that corrosion of this intensity couldn’t possibly cause such phenomena; Lorenzo must be experiencing something.

The nightmare continued; everything happened so quickly yet so prolonged. Those burning eyes fixated on the illusory shadow; he was locked by the new Pope, with no chance of escape, his body and mind dragged into that terrifying hell.

There was actually a misconception that Lorenzo never truly considered.

He was a Demon Hunter, a hunter bearing the Secret Blood, facing Demons as his foremost adversary the moment Lorenzo picked up the Nail Sword, not other Demon Hunters.

Lorenzo knew... or rather knew part of the Demon Hunters’ Authorities, but before the Night of the Holy Arrival, he had never truly battled other Demon Hunters to the death, and naturally couldn’t comprehend the true power of those Authorities.

It was like book knowledge versus real-world practice. Medanzo’s Authority granted armor, but under the rightful application by a Demon Hunter, this hard extension could even cover weapons, disintegrate in combat, substitute dummy bodies, and more.

After all, Authority was merely a combat tool, the true strength or weakness depending on its wielder. Shangdafeng could merely foresee a few seconds into the future, yet this enabled Lawrence to remain invincible; photographic memory allowed Heracles to control a vast information empire.

Being able to become the new Pope of the Evangelical Church as a Demon Hunter, Sainy Loter’s grasp of Authority far exceeded Lorenzo’s imagination.

A dreadful corrosion released from within him, and with the Secret Blood surging, he began to approach a demonic stance.

Regarding this phantom state, or more precisely the mystery of the Gap, the new Pope seemingly knew far more than Lorenzo. From their brief conversation earlier, it appeared he had encountered such phantom enemies more than once.

”I will not give up, absolutely not...”

The new Pope said something Lorenzo couldn’t understand, approaching once more.

Mere iron could not kill a ghost, but he evidently knew more, enough to understand how to combat a ghost like himself.

In the chaotic madness, Lorenzo couldn’t resist, yet his still clear consciousness rapidly analyzed the present situation and the known information.

Amidst ancient whispers, chillier truths revealed themselves.

Lorenzo felt as if he had returned to that desolate ice field, the ice scratched and tapped by withered hands, one by one, phantoms climbed out from the dark blue abyssal bottom, standing slowly, gazing with Lorenzo upon this world full of unknowns and mysteries.

He was not alone.

From the new Pope’s words, it could be concluded that Lorenzo was not the only phantom; there were more phantoms in this world... those who could manipulate the Gap, and they... wanted to kill the new Pope.

It’s a bleak world, with humanity curled up on mist-shrouded islands, huddling together, drawing what little warmth they had, never glancing beyond the islands, ignoring the turbulent sea, oblivious to the fog that seemed alive.

This is fine, living in ignorance, secluded from forbidden knowledge, dwelling in a self-castrated world.

But until one day, a madman raised a torch and set sail towards the unknown sea.

And so all the stories began.

Amidst extreme agony, Lorenzo laughed wildly instead, the blurred phantoms slowly raising their heads. It seemed the new Pope didn’t expect Lorenzo to recover; vicious and terrifying, too bad no one could see.

Closer, ever closer, Lorenzo got closer to the unknown, the truth of this world.

”Come... give it a try!”

Lorenzo roared, striking a heavy blow forward within twisted illusions. He couldn’t physically intervene, but he could invade the new Pope, continuing the fight in that mental realm.

He was about to succeed, the illusory beast launching a fierce attack on the new Pope, ignoring the pain and torment, everything would culminate in the final answer, but at this moment, a hand grabbed Lorenzo.