Gun of Ashes

The gray-black clouds converged like an inverted funnel on the horizon. After a brief respite, thunder rumbled and then came the downpour, washing over the city filled with the scent of rust.

The weather in Old Dunling was always so gloomy and unpredictable; few could foresee its course. Perhaps a massive discharge from the Furnace Pillar would lead to a tempest.

Rain streaming off the cold armor, crashing to the ground, with flashes of lightning depicting one gray-black silhouette after another.

Heavily armed Peacekeepers guarded critical junctions, sealing off the Lower City District. Black umbrellas crowded the streets as the Purification Mechanism took over, clearing and hunting down the remaining Demons.

The sun was gone, the sky gloomy, as the Iron Whale roamed above the Lower City District. Beams of light shone down, illuminating the desolate and decayed land, guiding their path.

Lorenzo and his companions stayed under the eaves at the street corner, sheltering from the rain. They were neither too close nor too far from the Lower City District. The buildings that once divided them had collapsed entirely due to the Peacekeepers’ violent advance, leaving a world of desolation beyond the ruins.

Prosperity and decay tightly intertwined until the barrier between them collapsed on this day. They were on the ruin’s inside, with the Lower City District outside.

Everywhere here, too, were people under black umbrellas, assessing the damage, aiding the injured, and someone was moving around with a Geiger Counter, measuring the intensity of erosion.

Lorenzo and his group were not much affected, with no obvious injuries, but in this emergency situation, they were left aside like students in punishment, hiding under the eaves from the rain.

Shao Liangxi and Rod were chatting and laughing, probably because Shao Liangxi saved Rod’s life, causing Rod to view her as a top-tier client and patiently answered even the strangest questions.

Eve and Red Falcon were not there. They were assisting others, overseeing control of the Lower City District, and simultaneously explaining the situation and narrating the detailed progress of events.

Shao Liangye leaned aside, possibly pondering what ”Wangchuan” really was, or perhaps just daydreaming as he watched the layers of rain curtains, gazing at the unfamiliar city.

”It’s really cold... Winter is coming again.”

Lorenzo squatted to the side, cigarette dangling, looking like a dejected loafer.

Winter arrived, Divine Birthday not far off, then a new year. How many years had he been in Old Dunling? The eighth year, or was it the ninth?

Lorenzo could barely recall all this; everything passed too quickly, making time seem so fleeting.

In such prolonged time, the essence barely fills a page, not to mention those who failed to leave their mark.

He tossed the cigarette stub into the rain; the ember staggered, landing near another’s feet. Lorenzo looked up, seeing the weary face of Red Falcon. Behind him, Eve held a black umbrella, speaking to others.

”The Lower City District has regained control. Post Peacekeeper deployment, the remaining Demons pose no threat. The only trouble now is figuring out how to cleanse them completely in this complicated environment.”

Red Falcon informed Lorenzo of the current situation.

”We’ll handle the reports from here; you can return to the Perpetual Motion Pump if you wish.”

”Is this considered overtime?” Lorenzo teased.

”Hmm, probably not,” Red Falcon sighed, ”More like a regular shift.”

”Didn’t you say Ed Delun also came? We seem to have found traces of him.” Red Falcon recalled and mentioned.

Lorenzo stood abruptly with alertness, questioning further.

”What’s going on?”

Early predictions aside, the presence of such formidable monsters in Old Dunling forced Lorenzo to remain vigilant and feel immense pressure.

”In the industrial area, after erosion erupted in the Lower City District, the area around the Mechanical Institute also witnessed equally intense erosion. But it was an abandoned region, typically used only for weapon experiments, so there was no one present, and the Geiger Counter coverage wasn’t extensive.

The Mechanical Institute first observed consecutive explosions followed by sudden erosion, as if some monsters were battling inside. They waited until everything calmed before investigating the situation.”

Red Falcon only knew this much, signaling Lorenzo to find Arthur and Merlin.

”You’ll likely get the details once you return to the Perpetual Motion Pump.”

”Am I no longer needed here?”

Lorenzo pointed to the Lower City District beyond the ruins, where beams of light descended, busy like a construction site.

”Mr. Holmes is indeed versatile, but one can’t always rely solely on you.”

Eve approached, grabbing Red Falcon.

”Leave it to us here.”

With that, Eve pulled Red Falcon back into the containment zone, armed for what seemed to be more arduous tasks ahead.

Lorenzo breathed the cold vapor, meeting Shao Liangye’s gaze.

”Sounds bad,” he said.

”Not that bad yet; it at least proves your Anti-Meme weapon was useful, doesn’t it?” Lorenzo smiled, ”Honestly, long ago, I had a thought.”

”What was that?”

”I suspected you were a bunch of frauds.”

Shao Liangye displayed confusion, not comprehending why Lorenzo thought that way.