Gun of Ashes

It's like an endless chase, like wolves charging and slaughtering, crossing mountains built of flesh and blood, severing layers of troublesome steel, the blazing white flames burning wildly, figures vanishing in an instant like colliding meteors.

Ed's sword carried explosive flames, collided heavily with Lorenzo in swift movements, and then, like a wild bull, brutally sent him flying.

He stopped in place, his body changing grotesquely, tattoos similar to Lorenzo's wandered on the surface of his skin, muscles began to swell, becoming increasingly powerful.

"What are you waiting for, Demon Hunter? If you don't unleash the Secret Blood, you'll be killed by me."

The burning Nail Sword pointed at Lorenzo, Ed's expression was furious, as if being toyed with, from beginning to end, Lorenzo hadn't revealed his true strength.

Lorenzo didn't speak, merely stared at the tattoos on Ed's body, seemingly seeing something within them.

"You're... part of Michael's squad."

How familiar the arrangement was; Lorenzo initially thought he was the only survivor of the Night of the Holy Arrival, now it seemed otherwise.

"Recognized me? Is it that you are afraid I will recognize you so you refuse to employ the Secret Blood?"

Ed tore off his collar, fully revealing the roaming tattoos, which looked like tattoos but were actually Alchemy inscriptions, Alchemy engraved based on the human body.

To perfectly control the Secret Blood and prevent its erosion of the Demon Hunter's will, every Demon Hunter's ritual of absorbing Secret Blood includes engravings of Alchemy. The Demon Hunter's body is the container sealing Secret Blood, and Alchemists etch inscriptions onto flesh, strengthening the seal as if praying in sanctity.

Lorenzo was not an Alchemist, nor were there many Alchemists left in this world, but he was familiar with these weird inscriptions. When Secret Blood is activated, they come alive, and the Order divided different squads based on engraved patterns; judging by Ed's inscriptions, he was a member of Michael's.

"I just don't want to recall the past, it's long forgotten anyway."

Lorenzo replied coldly, swiftly forcing Ed to retreat with his sword.

Feeling the heaviness transferred from the sword's blade, Ed revealed a fierce smile, Lorenzo's Secret Blood was awakening, something he couldn't control at will.

Secret Blood originates from Demons, and its strength is directly related to the mother Demon's power; it can be said the stronger the Demon Hunter, his Secret Blood comes from a more powerful Demon.

But the price of acquiring power is heavy, after consuming the Secret Blood, the erosion by the Demon continues day and night, the Demon tries to conquer the Demon Hunter's humanity, many cannot resist and get completely consumed.

The Demon Hunter's body becomes the best nursery; the once-dead powerful Demon resurrects within, so for safety, every Demon Hunter is implanted with a Silver Binding Bolt.

Lorenzo perpetually refused to unveil his deeper Secret Blood, but the erosion inherent in the Secret Blood compelled him to unwittingly activate it; after all, the relationship between Secret Blood and Demon Hunter is a twisted symbiotic one, with only the position of dominance in question.

"Can't we just have a proper conversation?"

Two layers of white flames collided, Lorenzo steadily blocked Ed's strike, their eyes met, carrying calmness and madness.

"You probably refuse me, don't you? I want to know what the Order actually went through, will you tell me?"

Ed asked hoarsely, not expecting Lorenzo to tell him, from the start, this Demon Hunter never intended to disclose any secrets, even keeping his name unspoken.

Lorenzo fell silent again, as Ed had said, Lorenzo wouldn't reveal anything about it.

"So all I can do is subdue you and interrogate you."

Ed angrily accused, once again swinging the heavy sword, violently flinging Lorenzo away.

Since the battle began, both sides have been constantly changing positions, accompanied by clanging sword sounds and flames, cutting through solid flesh, blazing fire burning atop.

"Looks like you haven't had it easy all these years either."

Lorenzo looked at Ed, that mad meaning now felt somewhat familiar, just like when he first arrived at Old Dunling.

"Do you want to say something?"

Perhaps Lorenzo spoke too little, hearing this guy rarely speak, Ed surprisingly slowed down his attack.

"Like myself initially, we Demon Hunters have fought for the Order all our lives, battled Demons, but suddenly one day we aren't needed anymore, we can retire."

Lorenzo laughed as he reminisced about the time when he first arrived at Old Dunling.

"I felt this way at first too, as if life had lost motivation, after all, wasn't I living for this? Just like those Minstrels in the stories, with the convenience of communication, they, like us, became relics of the old times, mercilessly thrown into the trash."

Lorenzo shifted his words and continued.

"But hey, Ed, everyone needs dreams, right? Constantly fighting day after day is too meaningless, isn't it?"

"Everything you're doing now is just to find yourself a reason to live, a reason to keep wielding your sword."

"Whether it's the Night of the Holy Arrival or the Thirteenth Secret Order, or something else, it's merely your reason."

Looking at him with pity, Lorenzo said.

"Living like this is too sad."

Everything seemed to fall into silence, the two of them gazing at each other from afar.

Ed was another survivor besides Lorenzo, it's like meeting another person stranded on a deserted island, Lorenzo didn't want to be an enemy, nor did he want to reveal those ominous stories, those were the darkest in the Church's history, and knowing alone sufficed, no need to make others the sacrifices of evil.

"So are you just using your dream as a reason to escape all this time, Demon Hunter?"

Ed lifted his head again, the flames burning fiercely.

He wasn't moved by Lorenzo's heartfelt words; he was full of anger.

"You have no idea what we've been through, after that Night of the Holy Arrival!"

No one can understand each other, just as he doesn't understand why Lorenzo refuses to tell those stories, just as Lorenzo doesn't understand his fury.

Secret Blood rose again, breaking the critical threshold.

Blazing white flames roared and burned, scorching blood and flesh into Spirit Body flames. Ed stood proudly at a higher place, his body transforming towards Demon, the Nail Sword in hand melting, liquid metal fused completely with his palm, and then more silvery-white metal spikes protruded beneath his skin, like countless swords, armoring him completely.

"You all are traitors."

Ed reproached at last.