Gun of Ashes

With the death of the Iron Armor Demon, this lengthy battle seemed to have reached a conclusion, as the majority of demons were slain in that suffocating skirmish. Only a few demons remained, gasping in the corners, but given their current numbers, they were unlikely to change the tide of battle.

The Purification Mechanism had won, though it was a rather bitter victory.

Percival’s armor was completely immobilized, with sparks flickering through the gaps in the steel. Ensuring safety, command was handed over to Red Falcon, who darted out and forcefully pried at the deformed plate armor with a Folding Blade.

”Give me a hand!”

Red Falcon’s face turned red from exertion, but no matter how hard he tried, the steel remained unmoved.

”Let me do it.”

A muffled voice sounded, and Lancelot stood up again. During the explosion just now, both he and Percival were at the center, with the slender armor covered in sharp metal spikes, resembling the scales of Iron Armor. In the explosion, they hit him like speeding bullets.

Fortunately, the first-generation Armor of Original Sin was strong enough. Even though it didn’t cover much armor, it had good extensibility due to incorporating parts of demon flesh, allowing the metal fragments to become embedded within the flesh.

The entire armor looked as if it had been smashed, shattered and in tatters, carrying a scorched scent.

Red Falcon stepped aside as the faltering Lancelot picked up a long sword full of gaps and thrust it into the opening, using the strength of the Armor of Original Sin to forcefully pry open the cockpit.

”Be careful.”

Red Falcon stood by, watching everything as he spoke.

If Lancelot wasn’t careful, he could potentially kill Percival with a single sword thrust... Of course, Percival might have already been dead. After the explosion, she lost consciousness, and the Armor of Original Sin ceased any reaction.

When the driver loses consciousness, it’s an extremely dangerous signal.

Armor technology originates from Jiuxia in the Far East. Essentially, this technology combines demons with steel machinery, treating demons themselves as a kind of engineering material used in the armor. To achieve strong controllability, most of the neural conduction is retained, except the brain is replaced by the driver.

Human will dominates the demon’s body, and similarly, when the driver controls the armor, the demon’s power also erodes the driver, mutually influencing each other.

When the driver loses consciousness and is severely affected by erosion, as people are well aware, the driver will be eroded into a demon, or possibly even combine with the Armor of Original Sin, transforming into another even more horrifying demon.

One could say they were saving Percival, but it could also be understood as them trying to eradicate the birth of another demon.

With force, Lancelot’s damaged armor pried open the twisted plate armor, with foul-smelling blood and rising heat gushing out. Red Falcon climbed directly on top, nearly vomiting thereafter.

The entire interior of the armor was completely covered in crimson flesh, growing wantonly over the steel like vines. Beneath it, there was a vague human shape. Red Falcon endured the stench, using the Folding Blade to cut through this weed-like flesh, slowly extracting Percival from it.

Her condition was dire, having lost consciousness entirely, her body covered in wounds. During the dragging, most of her body had already adhered to the demon flesh. Red Falcon could only crudely cut it open with the Folding Blade. It was uncertain whether the blood belonged to the demon or Percival, but half of Red Falcon’s body was stained red.

”There’s still breath!”

Swift examined Percival’s injuries briefly. As an Upper-Rank Knight employed at Black Mountain Hospital, her medical knowledge was superior to the others.

”What’s the extent of the erosion?” Red Falcon asked anxiously.

”I’m not sure; there’s absolutely no way to examine her right now… the Geiger Counter, give me the Geiger Counter.”

At Swift’s shout, Bluebird approached and handed her the Geiger Counter.

After this hellish fierce battle, the demons within the lift area were basically defeated. At the same time, the burning fire rain also ceased. Perhaps reinforcements would soon arrive here, whereas now, Bluebird and others were vigilantly guarding the surroundings.

Swift pressed the Geiger Counter against Percival, judging her status from the high-frequency noises it made.

”It truly was a bitter win...”

Heavy rain continued to pour over this land. Under the shelter, Eve surveyed the desolate scene, sighing emotionlessly.

After going through all of this, the girl’s spirit was now unable to stir any more emotions. She even felt as though during the peak of the demon’s attacks, she had already died, and what she possessed now was a new life snatched from the hands of the Death God.

Her tense thoughts finally relaxed a bit, and Eve, somewhat drained, leaned against the wall and slowly sat down, submerged in the dark red pool of water.

She had no energy left to think about anything else. She slowly lifted her hand, her palm pale, with a deep red imprint from gripping the knife handle too tightly.

How is Arthur’s condition? How many people are still alive? What should be done next?

Eve tried her best not to think about those things. Right now, she seemed like an extremely exhausted husk, her gaze becoming slightly vacant, until someone walked over, splashing through the pooled water.