Gun of Ashes

Within the Orthodoxy, this Divine Power has already gained some recognition, and those in the know refer to it as Secret Blood. After the Night of Suffering, Lawrence announced his intention to form an army favored by God, and the informed were eager to join this divine army.

”So what? Actually, I’m not against revenge; I just think it’s a very meaningless thing. No... accurately speaking, it can ’change’ too little.”

If it weren’t for the ominous mask on his face, Lawrence at that moment could have been a priest enlightening the young.

”What will happen if you kill Lorenzo? He also has friends, and his friends will come to avenge you, and then your friends will fall into this cycle, a cycle of endless hate.”

”Are you saying I should forgive everything he’s done, allow this sinner to live on like this?”

Liya’s voice rose, and as she spoke, she couldn’t help but cry. In the past seven days, she kept dreaming of Hu ao’s death, how he clutched at Lorenzo’s feet, begging for mercy like a dog, but the devil-like figure still lowered the blade.

”No... I’m just saying that revenge can ’change’ too little. It can only quell the anger in your heart, but after that, it ’changes’ nothing.”

Lawrence spoke softly.

”I’ve always thought wielding a sword is a very solemn act. We wield swords to kill the enemy, to slaughter life, which is the most intolerable atrocity in God’s eyes. So, to defy God’s will and kill the enemy, it must be for something more significant.

For ’change.’

Liya couldn’t quite grasp Lawrence’s words, and like a bewildered student, she quietly listened to his guidance.

”Who is Lorenzo? He’s not your enemy; he’s just someone who disagrees with you. Hate is merely a facade.

You wish for me to survive, and he wishes for me to die forever. Ultimately, these painful deaths are merely conflicts of opinions and positions.”

Lawrence spoke as he picked up a handkerchief and wiped away Liya’s tears.

”We can temporarily call him a heretic, and you’ll encounter many such heretics in your future life. From minor conflicts of likes to major disputes of faith, these people are all your potential enemies, all possibly brandishing swords at you for reasons noble or ridiculous.

Indeed, endless conflict, this is humanity’s vice, humanity’s curse. We argue over different preferences for sweet and spicy, fight over which person to support, and kill over differing desires.”

”So... what should I do?”

Liya couldn’t understand; these matters were still too complicated for her.

”I don’t know.”

Lawrence unexpectedly gave such an answer.

”Actually, I also don’t know what you should do. After all, this is your problem; no one can make a decision for you, only you can. At most, I can only offer advice, and besides, no one knows the correct answer to all of this, right? Therefore, we must try to find the answer.”

Perhaps because what was coming would be one of his great journeys, Lawrence’s heart became inexplicably calm, casually discussing everything with the girl.

”Have you found the answer?” Liya asked.

”I have found it, but I don’t know whether it’s right or wrong... But it doesn’t matter. Before I truly fail, no one can say it’s wrong, just like you can seek revenge, and before you truly kill him, no one can judge the rightness or wrongness of your answer.”

Liya gradually laid down her fears, discovering that Lawrence was still very amiable, even though the dark mask was unsettling.

”What is your problem, then? What is your answer?”

Liya asked impulsively but regretted it immediately, daring to question Lawrence about such matters. But contrary to her expectation of rage, Lawrence had no major reaction; instead, he calmly replied.

”My problem is an enemy, a very powerful enemy that will kill everyone, and I must defeat it. But many people are like Lorenzo, these heretics with different ideas and interests from mine... we cannot unite. More than that, they will hinder me, trying to kill me.

I was troubled by this for a long time until I thought of a solution.”

Lawrence said.

”Force, absolute force. I need to become very powerful, so strong that I do not need help from anyone, nor fear the interference of heretics. If I become strong enough, the swords and blades of heretics will be fragile before me. If they stand in my way, then crush them; if they resist, then kill them all, until only my voice remains.”

Beneath the calm voice lay a mountain of corpses.

”Isn’t it possible... to understand each other?”

Liya innocently asked, nearly suffocated by the bloodthirsty aura beneath Lawrence’s words.

”Can you understand Lorenzo Holmes?”

Lawrence retorted.

”Do you believe in others? Remember when those people came to kill us, what you felt? Let me guess, you must have been puzzled, right? You couldn’t understand why they would do this, clearly just meeting for the first time, not even knowing each other’s names, two people with no relation, yet fighting to the death for such a ridiculous reason?

Do you believe, or even pray for understanding?”

Lawrence seemed to be questioning Liya, but in his eyes, Liya’s face overlapped with another familiar one.

Lorenzo de’ Medici, you were willing to believe, willing to understand, but you failed.

I will never walk your old path, repeat your mistakes.

”That’s my answer, what I must do, use absolute force to change everything. Your revenge is the same: the change you want to make is not just about killing Lorenzo but uprooting his friends and all related heretics, ending the cycle of hate.”

Beneath the mask, the face had long twisted with ferocity. Lawrence had waited too long for all of this, and he would never forget the burning fields in his memory, nor the demon hunters who died by his side.

”By then, there will be no so-called heretics left; everyone will heed one voice, one will. If humanity cannot unite, then I will unite them.”

At this, Lawrence asked.

”So, do you think your revenge is still important? Your enemy is not just Lorenzo, but all heretics, and these people are endless. Only absolute force can make them surrender, make them live in fear of power.”

”But then... what will you do afterward?”

Liya didn’t feel fear, only unease, great unease.

Lawrence suddenly laughed, a hint of helplessness in his voice.

”After that? I will defeat my enemy, save this world... You don’t believe it? Actually, many people don’t, but I’m tired of telling others about it. I really just want to save this world, a very simple, even somewhat naive reason.”

Looking at the warm sunlight outside the window, Lawrence felt good for some reason after sharing all this with Liya.

”No, I believe. Let me join, too.”

Liya said loudly.

Lawrence was right; her enemy wasn’t Lorenzo. Lorenzo was just one of her enemies. Even if she killed Lorenzo, many enemies would appear, destroying Liya’s happiness and repeating the tragedy of the Night of Suffering.

”Are you sure? You will kill people, make mistakes that even God cannot save us from. This is a broken path, like walking on ice, and as you advance, the ice will continue to crack... This road has only two endings, falling in the cold wind, or drowning in the icy deep sea.”

Lawrence threatened and tempted the girl.

”But in return, you will also gain a lot; you will complete what you hope for, achieve your Paradise. Perhaps you won’t enjoy it, but those you love will live upon it.”

”I am willing, Dean.”

Liya answered again, this time with unyielding determination.

”Alright, I promise you, Liya.”

As Lawrence spoke, he stood up. As he passed Liya, he suddenly said.

”But don’t call me Dean anymore.”

Liya couldn’t understand the meaning behind Lawrence’s words. She also stood up, turning to see that at some point, several Believers were waiting by the door, holding trays draped in red cloth, and Lawrence, under Liya’s gaze, placed the crown from the tray upon his head.

”You should call me Your Majesty,” Lawrence said.