Gun of Ashes

Chapter 863

The moment of sacrifice has arrived.

Hu ao gripped the twisted steel firmly, his silhouette swaying unsteadily. With each step forward, the wound in his abdomen was pulled, as shards of broken metal dug deeper into his flesh.

This pain warned him that continuing forward was a path to death.

In the past, Hu ao would have retreated in fear, but now things were different. Hu ao had no choice; he couldn't keep compromising. Behind him were Miguel and Liya, his sacred beliefs, his light.

More footsteps rose around him, as the warriors of the Choir rapidly closed in. Miguel looked towards the figures in the blaze, his smile growing increasingly wild.

Yes, exactly like this. As long as Hu ao could buy him even a little time, that was enough. Miguel understood well the strength of the Choir; though they could not rival Demon Hunters, they were beings beyond ordinary men, empowered by Secret Blood.

"Hurry, act! Eve!"

Red Falcon caught sight of Miguel leaning against the side. This guy truly was not dead — though his energy was waning, recalling that Plague Doctor fellow, Red Falcon thought it best to deliver a few more stabs to Miguel just in case.

"I saw him!"

Eve said, raising the gun from her bosom. Meteor was slung across her back, but she felt no need to use it at such close range.

With chaotic, dim light, she could only rely on the intermittent flames to judge position. Eve hastened her steps in to approach, pulling the trigger.

Gunshots rang out one after the other.

Bullets fell near Miguel, kicking up dust, and soon hit his ankle, sweeping past his arm.

He scarcely had strength left for a howl, nor did he feel any so-called fear.

Miguel was a poor soul seduced by the temptation of power, yet for all of this, he feared nothing, willing even to gamble with his life.

Just gamble, no need for any preconditions. Miguel was betting whether he could survive, whether a chance for a turnaround might appear.

"Stop!"

Hu ao roared, feeling his enraged soul about to tear through his chest.

He swung the twisted steel towards the approaching Red Falcon and Eve — this was Hu ao's first time killing someone, without a hint of hesitation.

At this moment, even the ordinary timid soul went mad, just like this twisted world.

Noise erupted before him; under the dim light, Red Falcon couldn't identify this familiar guy, though he seemed vaguely recognized…

But it didn't matter anymore; Red Falcon intended to kill Miguel. Anyone in the way would feel a blade—or two—depending on whether they lay obediently or stood against him.

Red Falcon wielded the folding blade with one hand; the icy edge illuminated his frenzied face.

When all was said and done, Hu ao was merely a sailor; he hadn't been in war, nor killed anyone. On this infernal battlefield, he was as pure as white paper.

He was one of few who remained innocent.

The folding blade met the steel, effortlessly parrying, then bent it off in another direction with the force.

It was a simple swordplay technique, so simple that Red Falcon hadn't used it in ages because no enemies he faced could be easily misled by such tricks.

In the slaughter among mortals, Red Falcon was practically the master of the field.

Hu ao only felt his strike redirected, unable to halt his all-out effort, stumbling in the other direction, narrowly brushing past Red Falcon.

A vicious wound ripped open along Hu ao's arm as Red Falcon parried the attack, simultaneously countering, like crushing a bug without even glancing at Hu ao, continuing onward.

Hu ao fell heavily to the ground. After a brief gasp, excruciating pain struck.

His consciousness gradually blurred, as if slipping off the fishing boat into the sea, with icy water nibbling at him, a voice seems to say to him, "Just sleep, sleep, suffering vanishes when you do."

"No..."

Hu ao growled softly.

He recalled past times; once, their fishing boat encountered a storm. The world turned gray, with winds and the sea howling in rage, everyone enveloped in despair, some even abandoning hope for survival, only wishing the death would be less painful.

It was amidst this hopelessness that Hu ao alone did not give up.

He remembered someone once told him, as long as you live, there's always a chance to turn it around, to see the world's beauty, find the meaning of your existence.

Hu ao lived for this intangible promise.

Now he found it.

His figure rose stubbornly, growling and charging towards Red Falcon.

He felt like a hero from stories, at the last moment recognizing himself, rescuing everything from calamity, making everything beautiful once more.

But this wasn't a story, it was cold and harsh reality.

Eve swung Meteor's stock, knocking the unsteady figure down once more, effortlessly and casually. Hu ao fell to the ground, unable to rise again.

No one cared about him. He could only watch as Eve and Red Falcon closed in on Miguel, then killed him, shattering all beauty completely.

"Why... it shouldn't be this way?"

No one could answer his question.

The surrounding footsteps grew clearer, icy blades tearing through dust and sparks.