Gun of Ashes

Under the witness of the myriad stars, the swirling cold wind swept up the snow dust, gently grazing Lorenzo’s cheeks.

”Is Lawrence really dead?”

Lorenzo questioned, simultaneously questioning himself.

Watson remained silent for a long time, leaning against the back of her chair, not in any rush to respond to Lorenzo’s words.

”It’s been a long time since I returned here... I thought you wouldn’t let me into your Gap.” Watson said.

”Why would you think that?”

Lorenzo asked. Ever since he retrieved his memory, the secrets between him and Watson had been more or less clarified.

”Because you are vulnerable in the Gap. If I killed you here, I could control everything about you. You must turn this place into the strongest fortress, Lorenzo.” Watson warned him.

”You cannot fall yet; the Sword Scabbard Treaty is still in effect, and the golden era has not yet arrived.”

The Sword Scabbard Treaty.

Lorenzo muttered the term.

Sometimes he felt as if he understood everything; other times, he sensed that Watson was still hiding something from him.

But at this moment, these things didn’t matter. Just then, Watson continued.

”More than all that, aren’t you curious about where I went after we parted?”

”Curious, but would you tell me?” Lorenzo asked in return.

Watson was similar to him, yet different. She also possessed the ability known as Gabriel, but she was far stronger than Lorenzo. On the Night of the Holy Arrival, she Ascended far more completely than Lorenzo, completely abandoning her weak body to transform into an incorporeal will.

She was a ghost, a ghost wandering the earthly world.

This time, Watson wasn’t in the mood to tease him; instead, she spoke solemnly.

”After leaving, I’ve been familiarizing myself with this power. I have eroded many, occupied many people’s bodies, peering into the deepest secrets of their minds, and in my eyes, they have no concealment.”

Watson extended her hand, observing her pale, slender palm.

”I haven’t observed myself in a long time. To be precise, I no longer have anything to speak of as a fixed form. This appearance is just what I’m most familiar with.”

As Watson spoke, her appearance rapidly changed, countless faces overlapping until they finally returned to her original appearance.

”It’s a... very peculiar feeling. Have you tried using the ability of Gabriel to erode others?”

Watson pinched her own face. Although she had been in this form for a long time, the part of her that was once human still caused her to feel uneasy and confused about all of this.

Lorenzo nodded, responding.

”I just eroded a person, invaded his Gap, crushed his will, and peeked into all his secrets.”

”How does it feel?” Watson asked.

”What do you mean?” Lorenzo was unsure of what she was asking.

”It’s just... a feeling of discomfort, feeling like you’re becoming something else, something inhuman.” Watson shared her troubles and confusion.

”Humans can’t invade others’ thoughts. Looking at it this way, the two of us have turned into some kind of inhuman monster.

It’s like yesterday you were human, and today you’ve become a fierce wolf. You still think of yourself as human, but you don’t have human-like flexible limbs, only sharp, ferocious fangs. You try to communicate with humans, but they can’t understand your howls and feel fear from it.”

Watson paused halfway, seemingly trying to think of the right way to explain this to Lorenzo.

”You’ve become a monster but still maintain human thoughts. The contradiction between the two troubles you...”

”Do you consider yourself human, or a monster, Watson?”

Hearing all this, Lorenzo’s expression did not show much change.

”I hope I am a human, but everything existing now constantly reminds me that I’ve been Ascended and have become some higher existence.”

Watson’s voice was very calm. She no longer felt hunger, nor did she feel pain. She didn’t even possess a physical form.

Listening to Watson’s confessions, Lorenzo seemed to have some thoughts but didn’t express them. Under the gray-blue eyes, there was a hint of confusion and entanglement. Sometimes he wasn’t sure about the right or wrong of it all, like a lost lamb.

”Have you encountered the remnants?” Watson asked again.

”I’ve been investigating information about the Boundary, but just like we’ve known, the information has been sealed, and the progress is slow, very slow. Sometimes I need to use certain means to get the information I need.

I’ve destroyed many people’s Gaps, taking control of their bodies and peeking into secrets.”

Watson’s expression showed some distress.

”This is the price of power, Lorenzo. The remnants are accumulating more and more, and I can feel it affecting me little by little.”

Countless fragmented souls, countless wills, interwoven together, mixing together.

”This feeling is like a personality split.”

Watson was somewhat helpless; this is the price of power, just like Secret Blood, over-relying on this Forbidden Power, the price is turning into the same ferocious Demon.

”I’m still fine, the remnants I’ve accumulated are not much yet, but as long as I continue pursuing like this, it will always accumulate.”

Lorenzo was very clear about the current situation, he continued talking.

”Me too. Actually, sometimes I also have an illusion that I’ve changed...”