Gun of Ashes

”Ah! Ah! Ah!”

In the almost ruined underground, Red Falcon screamed while fiercely smashing the demon corpses with his folding blade, breaking their bones and twisting the flesh into bloody pulp.

He was already exhausted, yet he continued to roar, venting his anger.

Gradually, he was completely out of strength, throwing his bent folding blade aside. He turned his head and asked Galahad, who was still dealing with the demon corpses.

”So, is this it?”

Red Falcon asked weakly.

For him, this was a terrible day, his mood fluctuating constantly, and his life hanging in the balance between life and death.

This feeling was worse than facing death itself. Faced with death, Red Falcon could at least face it calmly, but it gave him a sliver of hope, leading him to struggle.

”It should be over.”

Galahad gasped. As a Returnee, his body was deeply eroded, and high-intensity exercise was quite a burden for him.

”You should have heard it too, right? That screeching from the soul.”

On his scarred face was an echo of horror. In a moment earlier, they all felt the expanding erosion swiftly passing by, bringing the chill of death.

The slaughter continued, as Watson, like an invisible ghost, swiftly invaded every ”Gap” she captured, completely eradicating all demons in Old Dunling.

”So that was the signal for the end of the operation?” Red Falcon leaned over, ”It was really tough...”

He looked around, demon corpses lay everywhere, with almost all underground facilities reduced to ruins, except for the Furnace Pillar, still operating, gobbling up the street’s accumulated water and converting it into steam infused with anti-meme substances.

With the death of the formidable enemy, the erosion intensity in all of Old Dunling steadily decreased under the effect of the Furnace Pillar. Perhaps it would take days, or maybe weeks or months, but Old Dunling would eventually return to normal, as if none of this had ever happened.

”Can we rest now?” Red Falcon wiped the blood off his face, ”This time I really want a long vacation.”

If given the chance, Red Falcon really wanted to write an autobiography to complain about these heartless bosses.

He went over, reaching out to support Merlin. This old man had also joined the recent battle, showcasing what it meant to be an Alchemy Sword Saint to everyone; unfortunately, Merlin was somewhat too old, and seemed to have twisted his back while slashing, leaning against one side and sucking in cold air.

Probably because the battle was over, Red Falcon looked at Merlin’s pathetic state and couldn’t help but want to laugh, until he finally laughed out loud.

Merlin had an expression of helplessness. In such circumstances, only guys like Red Falcon could laugh.

”They will bring you back to the surface.”

Galahad waved his hand, and another group of Cleaners along with Mr. Cai came over, positioning the two in the middle of the team, and in the ruins opened the elevator door. The machinery slowly operated, wobbling and elevating the group.

”Everything is destroyed...”

Galahad turned to look at this desolate underground world.

The Perpetual Motion Pump was fortunate; it only suffered from demon invasion without experiencing overly intense combat, so the facilities remained fairly complete. Unfortunately, the Mechanical Institute had turned into ruins, and the passing Furnace Pillar also suffered partial damage.

But most serious was the Cleaners’ base, the Land of Sorrow. As an unknown area completely isolated from outsiders’ sight, it was designated as the battlefield for the final showdown. Even without looking, Galahad knew it should have been completely devastated by Roger and Ed, and due to their battle, the remaining erosion there seemed to condense into a river of toxins.

This toxic river is hidden beneath Old Dunling, which can’t possibly be safe, especially with the external warfare raging on; this time the demons have truly made their presence known to the world.

The more Galahad thought, the more his head ached. As a Cleaner, this was exactly their duty, but this time it was far more troublesome than before.

However... it’s fine.

As long as this long war could end, then these dark underground facilities wouldn’t need reconstruction.

What lies in shadow shall remain in shadow.

...

The elevator slowly ascended, echoing with damp steam and the smell of blood in the dark vertical shaft. Red Falcon and Merlin were covered in blood, as if they were butchers who had just slaughtered a dozen bleeding lambs.

”I can’t believe I actually survived.”

Merlin spoke intermittently, his stiff, expressionless face trying hard to pull out a disconcerting smile.

”What? You’re really planning to retire here?” Red Falcon asked, ”I don’t get you folks, holding strange death wishes one after another... isn’t living well enough?”

Listening to Red Falcon’s complaint, Merlin only emitted hoarse laughter.

”Red Falcon, Red Falcon.”

Merlin softly spoke Red Falcon’s name, with a sense of helplessness, making Red Falcon feel goosebumps all over. If it weren’t Merlin, Red Falcon would have been ready to throw him away, far away.

”What’s now?”

”Nothing really, just thinking that you’re quite interesting.”

Merlin sincerely admired him, though Red Falcon didn’t quite want to accept the compliment.

”Alright, alright, stop talking,” Red Falcon shouted, ”Last time Arthur said the same thing, and I was played to the brink of death by him; almost died there, you guys are really all heartless.”

Red Falcon seemed to have opened a stream of complaints. Like a stand-up comedian during the elevator ride, he complained about the Purification Mechanism from weekly work hours to employee benefits.

Merlin simply maintained that stiff smile, not refuting anything, quietly listening to Red Falcon’s words.

Such complaints were good, at least there was still a chance to hear these complaints.

The elevator reached the ground level, the door slowly opening, but it got stuck halfway through. Red Falcon cursed and forcefully kicked it open.

The Mechanical Institute had already turned into a pile of ruins, the shaky dome beneath protected burning flames and rolling molten iron.

Red Falcon helped Merlin, crossing over layers of corpses, bypassing those pools of iron not yet cooled, and finally emerging from the shattered building, standing amidst the misty rain.

Radiant golden light descended.

It evenly spread across the puddles on the ground, as if plating everything with a layer of splendid gold: a golden earth, a golden water surface, golden buildings, golden sky...

Everything transformed into brilliance, emanating heavy rays of light.

”Hey! Merlin, get up and see Heaven!”

Red Falcon continued hollering, forcefully propping Merlin up so that this old fellow could also appreciate this beautiful vista.

Like a consolation to the world, amidst the ruined destruction, all the corpses transformed as if into golden statues, their eyes closed as if not dead, merely plunged into endless sleep.

The golden light was stirred, shimmering like waves, as someone walked towards them, moving against the light. Red Falcon could hardly see their faces.

But soon enough, they were close enough.

It was the Cleaners and Mr. Cai, who, as the site of the final battle, swiftly arrived here at the fight’s end, controlling the scene.

Many did not linger, directly bypassing Red Falcon and Merlin, entering the shadows behind.

”Doctor! Doctor!”

Red Falcon shouted, but no one paid him any attention. The intense battle had nearly paralyzed the medical system, and now doctors were rarer than surviving demons.

Soon Red Falcon noticed something, among the crowd in movement, there was one person who wasn’t moving, standing not too far away, seemingly observing Red Falcon. He looked over and saw a slightly unfamiliar yet familiar face.

”Oh... oooooooh!”

Red Falcon cried out in amazement, cawing like a rooster.

The other shook his head slightly in resignation, thinking the reunion would be somewhat emotional, but forgot the opponent was Red Falcon.

”Long time no see, Red Falcon!”

”Joe! E!”

Red Falcon shouted his old friend’s name, pushing away the bothersome Merlin, causing a miserable shout from the old man, as Red Falcon splashed through the water, darting over.