Gun of Ashes

”What... what happened?”

Eve curled up in the corner, looking up at the ceiling at the flickering lights swaying from the tremor.

What happened?

Everyone felt the tremor just now, and in this fairly spacious safe house, some patients started to scream in panic.

Not long ago, although it was unclear why, for reasons of value, some patients who were extremely valuable for research were brought here first, among them were Eve and her friends with mental disorders.

Those mentally disturbed individuals were now tied to their beds, screaming, some yelling ”Earthquake!”, and others calling for their mom.

The medical staff tried their best to calm the patients, while soldiers with guns guarded the perimeter.

Something bad had happened...

The medical staff comforted the patients, saying this time there wouldn’t be injections, just a spring outing. Hearing this, those mentally disturbed individuals laughed joyfully.

Sometimes Eve envied those guys. For fools, life needs not much thought, but Eve wasn’t a fool, nor could she become one. Among these patients, she was the only one with normal reason, and she vaguely understood what was happening.

This is Black Mountain Hospital, a heavy guarded place by the Purification Mechanism, and from the violent tremor just now, it seemed only two things could happen here.

An experimental accident, or an enemy attack.

Unclear about the specifics, but from this speculation, whatever it was, it was undoubtedly not good. But then Eve felt it, that familiar feeling.

A weird, eerie chill pierced her heart like a sharp sword, her pupils slightly dilated, cold sweat dripping down her nose.

”Demon...”

Suddenly, the whole safe house fell silent, those noisy patients seemed to have lost their ability to speak, just staring wide-eyed at the void.

The medical staff was startled by this sudden anomaly, but then a low murmuring sound arose.

”Demon...”

”Demon...”

”Demon...”

Every patient was now muttering about that strange demon. Some were scared, some were angry, and some had already lost consciousness, fainting.

Eve stared blankly at all this, and only then did she react.

These patients weren’t ordinary patients; they were all soldiers of the Purification Mechanism, admitted to Black Mountain Hospital due to demon corrosion. Some recovered and retired, while others went completely mad.

They sacrificed everything for the Purification Mechanism, which is why they were prioritized for protection.

But now it seemed a faint sanity was awakening from that madness, these madmen were keenly aware of their mortal enemy, falling again into the nightmare.

”The enemy is coming! Soldiers!”

The long calm was broken. Old Cole, tied to his bed, shouted fiercely, while Soldier Gavin seemed to see some terrible nightmare, clutching his head, trembling violently.

...

Above the ground, gun barrels continuously spewed fire, illuminating those iron-walled Armor of Original Sin. Pouring rain soaked the cold armor, reflecting the dreadful demons on the gleaming mirror surface.

The sound of breathing mixed with the noisy electric current, echoing in the birdcage. No one expected this sudden change; some had vaguely anticipated it, but never imagined it would happen so quickly.

Participants Blue Jade and Swift drew their weapons, while the others were dispatched to other sections of the research area. Only the two of them could be considered as combat strength here.

”Arthur should give the order now.” Merlin said.

In the previous plan, they considered what to do if the new Order attacked, but now, Lawrence’s remnants joined in, with significant scale and unclear purpose, completely disrupting the preparations of the Purification Mechanism.

According to Arthur’s previous estimation, fighting against Demon Hunters would not cause large-scale damage; as long as the birdcage was defended, it would be fine. But now came the chaotic demons; no one knew where these damned things would appear or kill from, yet everyone knew that all demons must die here, not one should be left alive.

”We should evacuate; gathering together will only lead to a concentrated decapitation.” Merlin said again.

He had witnessed Lorenzo’s power; these Demon Hunters all had extremely strong individual combat capabilities, and at present, they could not resist a Demon Hunter undergoing Secret Blood Awakening.

”Should... should we terminate the experiment?”

Abigail asked, never having experienced such a battlefield firsthand; everything now was unfamiliar to her. She didn’t know what to do, so she could only hand over decision power to these battle-hardened guys.

After a brief silence, Arthur finally spoke.

”Merlin, Abigail, you two prioritize evacuation. Blue Jade, Swift, you take them away, find a way to escape Black Mountain Hospital. I’ll go meet up with Gawain, command the battle.”

As key scholars of the Purification Mechanism, Merlin and Abigail’s lives were evidently more important than the soldiers. As long as they left alive, the Purification Mechanism had the possibility of continuing forward. If they were killed, this would be a severe blow to the Purification Mechanism.

”No, Arthur, regardless of who comes, we are only secondary targets for them. Their real target is Lorenzo... the Pseudo Holy Grail.”

Merlin vetoed Arthur’s proposal.

”Lorenzo must evacuate first. Once they know Lorenzo is not here, they have no reason to continue the attack.”