Gun of Ashes

At the end of their sight, the lighthouse standing in the dark green curtain was already within reach.

Whether it was due to the nature of the dream or the effect caused by that massive source of pollution, both Eve and Red Falcon's sense of time and space warped as they approached the lighthouse. Initially, they felt they had been walking for at least an hour, but when they looked back, the Radiant was still clearly visible, as if they had been treading in place for all that time.

But immediately afterward, they found the distance between them and the lighthouse rapidly closing in. When they turned around again, the Radiant was already out of sight. Initially, Red Falcon thought it was those fleshy masses altering the terrain, but this explanation was quickly dismissed—such a significant change would have been felt by them both.

The world seemed to have plunged into madness. The hands on the pocket watch started to move backward, the sense of space became chaotic, and the vague source of pollution loomed right in front of them. Caution and gravity filled Eve's eyes.

"Actually, this is a suicidal journey. The essence of the pollution source is an unimaginably powerful demon, and we are now near it."

Large beads of sweat slid down his neck. This Upper-Rank Knight of the Purification Mechanism was enduring unimaginable pressure as the eerie erosion grew heavier with their approach. Although no hallucinations had occurred yet, Red Falcon's perceptions were already compromised.

His palm had lost all feeling, and if he couldn't still see it, Red Falcon might have thought his hand no longer existed.

Trained from a young age, Demon Hunters were specialized and armed with forbidden Secret Blood and mysterious Alchemy to battle demons. But Red Falcon had none of these; he was merely a mortal. The only training he'd undergone merely allowed him to be eroded a little more slowly.

In his hand was a cutting-edge weapon of the world—his only trump card. Like the other knights, he pressed forward with a resolve to die.

This is what the world was like; those who marched to their deaths forged a wall isolating the demons, and now Red Falcon was to become part of that wall too.

"How are you feeling?"

Beside the mental pressure, the greatest anomaly was perhaps the girl next to him.

Eve seemed to feel none of the so-called pressure. Except for looking somewhat grave, she appeared relaxed as if she were merely climbing a mountain.

Such an easy state felt as if she had undergone countless rounds of specialization.

"I'm alright."

Eve answered simply. From the beginning, she felt that strange call, which grew louder and more urgent as they drew nearer, urging her onward.

This was the center of the vortex, dragging everyone within.

Lead-grey clouds churned above the lighthouse, with shimmering green light embedded like jade. It was a biological instinct to resist, just like how animals, without any knowledge, knew not to approach fire; they warned Eve, but because of those warnings, she continued to approach.

In this dire situation, this was the only action left for her. She didn't even know how many would wake up afterward.

"This is far enough."

Red Falcon suddenly spoke. They were now very close to that lighthouse, their disarranged sense of space making it hard to pinpoint their actual location. But from this moment, no matter how large the margin of error, the lighthouse wouldn't be much further from their current position.

Taking out the flamethrower, Red Falcon raised it high.

"Can they see from here?"

Eve pondered for a moment and asked again. She too had experienced the bizarre sense of space. With communications down, they had only this primitive means to communicate.

"Whether they can or not, this is all we can do. Besides, the mission has essentially already failed at this point—I just don't want to admit it yet."

Red Falcon's voice gradually fell. The entire operation had already become a failure; even before they saw their enemy, the entire team was mired in a dreamscape. These were the backbone forces of Old Dunling, and if completely lost here, it would be a heavy blow.

He wasn't ready to concede yet, which was why he persisted this far, holding onto that slim hope that someone would wake up, witness these events, and destroy the pollution source. Even in death, it needed to matter.

Then he pulled the trigger. The white phosphorous round flew obliquely upward, leaving a burning trail in the air, before exploding into a dazzling firestorm that descended like rain, baptizing everything on the ground.

The flames persisted for several more minutes—this was their last endeavor.

Red Falcon turned to Eve and spoke to her.

"Eve, you think that's the center, don't you?"

Throughout, he followed Eve's intuition along their path, and Eve nodded confidently. She believed that the lighthouse was indeed the massive pollution source.

Red Falcon seemed to understand something and took large strides toward the lighthouse.

"Your journey ends here, Eve. Let me go on from here."

"Wait! Aren't you going to wait for them?"

Eve still held hope for those who could see the flaming bullet, but Red Falcon shook his head at this.

"No need, I'll scout the way first."

He spoke casually, but Eve didn't detect any sense of ease.

"Are you insane?"

"This is what I can do, and what you need to do is survive—someone needs to record what happened here!"

Red Falcon said seriously to Eve; he wasn't joking.

"It's not... How can this be?"

Those related to the Purification Mechanism all carried this same damn demeanor, always seeming possessed by a sacrificial resolve, as if they believed death led to an ascent to heaven.

"Because... Eve!"

Red Falcon's words seemed to be interrupted by something, and he grabbed Eve, pulling her to his side, then fired at something behind her.

The aluminothermic bomb streaked through the air in crimson lines, piercing through the charging demons—but they were many, like a tide, rendering it futile.

It seemed there would be no need for any resolve or choice here—everyone present today was destined to die.

Without much thought, as if another strange power was at play, Red Falcon pulled Eve toward that mysterious lighthouse. In Red Falcon's view, its sturdy walls were the only barrier capable of resisting the demons here.

The distance that seemed so long was covered in a flash, and the pair arrived beneath the lighthouse. The demons followed like shadows, bringing terrifying malice and bloodthirst.

Red Falcon grabbed the rusty doorknob, caring not what awaited behind the door. He only hoped it wasn't locked. To his relief, the door swung open effortlessly, and before he could see what lay beyond, he dragged Eve inside, then slammed it shut, bolting the lock. Moments later, heavy impacts reverberated from outside, accompanied by the eerie sound of gnashing teeth.

"Phew... Survived for now."

Red Falcon collapsed to the ground. Despite being ready to die, no one wants to when there's a sliver of hope.

But Eve felt differently. She looked worse than ever, glancing between Red Falcon and the surrounding darkness, as if articulating some terrible truth.

"It succeeded."

Indeed, it had succeeded.

The call that had been luring Eve to this place had succeeded.

A chilling extremity swept through both their hearts, for in the darkness, things more frightening than death awaited.