Gun of Ashes

The abrupt sound of the wind shattered the calm, the sharp glint of the sword slicing through the rain, as the Demon Hunter descended from the sky, bringing the immense force of a thousand burdens pressed onto the Nail Sword, falling like a guillotine.

The body tilted backward, this fierce strike slashed the ground, splashing water everywhere. Lorenzo’s counterattack followed closely, the Folding Blade drawing a semicircle, raising both blood and rainwater, forcing the Demon Hunter back.

”A Demon Hunter from the New Order?”

Lorenzo asked, but the Demon Hunter seemed uninterested in responding. Instead, he maintained his silence, raising the Nail Sword, poised like a fierce tiger, confronting Lorenzo.

The heavy rain poured down, ignoring Hig’s life or death. Compared to a demonized Demon Hunter, his threat was pitifully small.

Yet, Lorenzo also harbored doubts. Could this be part of Moriarty’s game? But what’s the point? Sending a Demon Hunter to ambush him... Lorenzo was fully armed. If he wanted, he could blow up the entire street.

A single Demon Hunter alone posed little threat to him, perhaps...

Thinking this, at almost the same moment the Demon Hunter made his move, Lorenzo drew a shotgun from beneath his coat, firing in another direction. The dazzling flame disappeared instantly in the rain curtain, yet that splendid light lingered briefly, forming a burning fire serpent.

The Demon Hunter’s sword swung into emptiness. Lorenzo was faster. Ripples erupted on the water, and under the cover of the fire serpent, the Folding Blade penetrated through the white rain, intersecting with the Nail Sword, and then stabbing into another Demon Hunter’s chest.

There was a hint of confusion on the rain-drenched face, seemingly not understanding how Lorenzo discovered him.

”Erosion... the rise of Secret Blood is accompanied by erosion, and that exposed you.”

Lorenzo whispered in his ear, then twisted the Folding Blade to widen the wound further. During this time, he inserted the shotgun back under his coat, grabbing the Demon Hunter he had stabbed, like embracing a close friend, he crashed him into the corner of a wall, using his body as a shield to protect in front of Lorenzo.

Back against the corner of the wall, using this unfortunate Demon Hunter as a shield, Lorenzo held his head, restricting his sight only to the corner, unable to see what was behind.

”Don’t move. If you continue to unleash Secret Blood, trust me, my blade is swift.”

Lorenzo warned, hoping the threat of death could contain this Demon Hunter. Otherwise, if he recklessly ignited Secret Blood, Lorenzo wasn’t confident he could incapacitate him in a short time under the current circumstances.

The rain was eerily quiet until the faint flow of erosion exposed everything. As Lorenzo uncovered it all, the Demon Hunters no longer hid themselves. Countless eroded shadows spread out in the rain, chaos intertwined everywhere, with gray-black figures slowly emerging from behind the rain, like the dead dug from graves.

Lorenzo refrained from acting rashly, instead quickly analyzing the situation.

The game had begun, or rather, the hunt for Lorenzo Holmes had commenced.

This was Old Dunling, and the Demon Hunters unabashedly appeared before his eyes. Were they no longer afraid of the Purification Mechanism? Or had the Purification Mechanism made a deal with them, and Lorenzo was a part of that deal?

Indeed, these dogs couldn’t be trusted. After all, they all worked for that mysterious Queen Victoria.

Everyone stood on the same front due to different desires, but when that desire diverged, unity would collapse.

Was this Moriarty’s goal? He thought the time was ripe, thus acted now.

Lorenzo’s heart sank. If the Purification Mechanism sided with the New Order, fighting them alone seemed hopeless, at least for now. Lorenzo knew all too well the terrifying control the Purification Mechanism had over this city and was aware of those mass-produced Third Generation Armor of Original Sin.

Suddenly, the Demon Hunter held by Lorenzo struggled violently. Without hesitation, Lorenzo prepared to draw his blade and kill him, but the Folding Blade was tightly bound within the flesh.

During Lorenzo’s contemplation, the Demon Hunter’s formidable regenerative ability took effect. Flesh and blade entwined, leading to a slight delay in Lorenzo’s draw.

This brief delay proved fatal. The held Demon Hunter broke free from Lorenzo’s grip forcefully, clutching the Folding Blade embedded in his chest, and at that moment, the surrounding Demon Hunters, wielding Nail Swords, swiftly charged.

Lorenzo immediately released the Folding Blade, kicking the Demon Hunter aside while raising the shotgun to fire. He had only loaded one Dragon Breath Bullet beforehand, followed by ordinary buckshot. The pellets pierced the rain, but had minimal effect on the Demon Hunters.

As the sword blades crossed, sparks flew. They reached Lorenzo in an instant, while Lorenzo pressed against the corner behind him, avoiding being attacked from both sides.

The clash between old and new Demon Hunters erupted in an instant.

Lorenzo had a good habit; combat with demons was always intense, and weapons wore out quickly. He carried several Folding Blades with him, directly wielding two, unleashing the glint of the blades.

The dual blades met the edge of the Nail Swords. Meanwhile, the Secret Blood surged, and dense Iron Armor formed along the skin’s surface, covering Lorenzo’s body, protecting him.

Like a dark beast, breaking through the rain, blood trailing behind.

The Demon Hunters seemed surprised at Lorenzo’s intense reaction, directly unleashing Authority, with a corresponding blazing white light rising in their eyes.

The ferocious power circulated within their bodies. If not stopped, the entire district might be reduced to ruins.

The loud steam whistle sounded, something racing in the rain, bright lights like sword blades, cutting through all barriers.

The Iron Serpent roared into the battlefield, not a regular Iron Serpent, but a reinforced armored Iron Serpent. The Iron Armor rose one by one, accompanied by surging steam, Fr. Anthony shouted loudly.

”Stop everyone!”

The Demon Hunters recognized this voice, stopping the fight at Fr. Anthony’s cry. The furious beast also ceased its swinging blades, cautiously watching everything.

All that transpired here could not be concealed from the Purification Mechanism. Countless large Geiger Counters covered the city. Lorenzo thought it would be Arthur who arrived, but it was Fr. Anthony.

Everything was clear now; the Purification Mechanism had reached a deal with the New Order. Another person stepped down from the Iron Serpent, Arthur opened a black umbrella, and his gaze was heavy as he looked at Lorenzo.

”We need to talk, Lorenzo Holmes.” Arthur said, his expression serious.

Having mentally prepared earlier, Lorenzo wasn’t surprised by this. The Iron Armor peeled away, revealing his calm face.

”About what?”

”Many things, regarding what’s on you... the handling of the Pseudo Holy Grail.” Anthony interjected at this moment.

”So this is your solution?”

The Folding Blade pointed to those Demon Hunters, the fiery white in Lorenzo’s eyes quietly burning, showing no signs of calming.

”If I say this is a misunderstanding, it would be quite laughable, right? So there’s no need to dress words,” Anthony said directly. ”Yes, this is our solution. You are an extremely dangerous Demon Hunter, familiar with all hunting methods, not to mention still carrying the Pseudo Holy Grail.”

Anthony wanted to say more, but at that moment, Arthur quickly walked over. He showed no fear of the current Lorenzo, simply pressing his head down, whispering in his ear.

”I’m sorry, Lorenzo. These are the Queen’s orders.”

As he said this, more Iron Serpents arrived, personnel of the Purification Mechanism appearing. The sound of steam surged under the rain, mingling with the sound of steel, a menacing gray silhouette standing not far away.