Gun of Ashes

Smoothly landing, blood gushed out, splattering on Shao Liangxi’s body, dyeing her red and bringing a slight warmth.

Like dancing, Shao Liangxi lowered her body, easily dodging a fatal swing.

The demon’s head had already been destroyed by her, its cervical vertebrae severed in the slash, and now only its heart still beat intensely, the flesh protecting the heart long since cut open by her.

With an expressionless face, she swiftly rose, thrusting the folding blade towards the upper diagonal, the metal drawing a straight and bright trajectory, precisely penetrating the demon’s heart, forcefully twisting the handle to completely stir it into pieces.

The demon’s movements stalled for a second, then collapsed heavily as if losing all its strength, blood spilling without restraint, turning the water under Shao Liangxi’s feet entirely dark red.

"Beautiful!"

Oscar stood at the entrance cheering for Shao Liangxi, he raised the long sword and hand axe, striking them together forcefully, emitting a crisp sound.

Shao Liangxi glanced back, before she could speak, another person suddenly rushed out of the house, it was Buscalo, with a face full of anger, holding firearms acquired from Heracles, clumsily running into the rain and mist.

"Do you have a death wish!" Oscar shouted.

Buscalo ignored him, running through the heavy rain, he looked at Shao Liangxi, the two briefly exchanged glances, then Shao Liangxi let him pass her, running into the rain and mist.

"Stop him!" Oscar yelled.

Shao Liangxi paused for a moment, gripping the folding blade tightly, "I’ll take care of him."

Saying this, she followed Buscalo, Shao Liangxi knew very well what Buscalo intended to do, after the terror, he finally summoned the courage, though the timing was off, it wasn’t too late.

"Damn it, Heracles, can you hold this place?"

Oscar shouted at Heracles.

"It’s fine, the safe house can accommodate these people."

Heracles was calling citizens to withdraw into the house and distributing weapons to those sane and brave enough to face the demons.

"That’s good."

Oscar said, turning around, also plunging into the rain and mist, trying to chase the two, his movements were fast, not at all like a drunk, the long sword and hand axe in his hands moved with incredible lightness.

Rod glanced around, the sudden change left him a bit off guard, his gaze filled with fear, darting back and forth.

Heracles also stopped what he was doing, looking at Rod.

"Don’t hesitate, my friend, at least don’t regret it."

Listening to Heracles, Rod looked into the depths of the rain and mist, where there was only murky darkness, accompanied by the roars of demons.

No need, he was just a clerical officer, getting here was already plenty.

Yes, this was enough.

He tried to comfort himself, but just then the clamor of electric currents sounded, followed by various shouts.

"Demons are gathering in the East City District, we need reinforcements!"

Following the sound, Rod looked over to see the communicator laid on the table, forgotten by Shao Liangxi in her charge.

"I guess you might need this."

Heracles said, tossing over a backpack filled with some medical supplies and some ammunition.

"I... I don’t know how to use this." Rod said.

"But they do."

Heracles smiled at him.

Rod’s hands trembled, he donned the backpack, picked up the communicator, his gaze wandered ceaselessly, finally cursing.

"Damn it!"

Rod said no more, clutching the weapon in hand, charging out of the tavern, entering the rain and mist.

...

The rain was heavy, beating on the body, gradually a blur of pain could be felt.

Buscalo’s clothes were completely soaked, he panted heavily, inhaling nothing but cold air, sharp pain emanated from his lungs as if steel nails were stirring around.

He was an old man, also a drunkard, months of binge drinking had ravaged his already unhealthy body further, even without demons to hunt him, just this short run almost claimed half his life.

The heart beat violently as if about to explode, pain surged through his limbs, soon these pains would become numb from the cold.

It was a vast expanse of whiteness, Buscalo didn’t know how far he had run, nor was he clear how far the hotel where his wife resided was, the heavy rain blurred his vision, he could barely open his eyes.

In his peripheral vision, he could only see a muddy world, under the pouring rain everything donned a layer of cold sternness.

Heat was continuously lost, strength slowly dwindled, the rage was nearly extinguished by this cold rain, now he wasn’t even considered to be rescuing his wife, rather just courting death.

Yes, courting death.

Buscalo gasped for breath, his body became increasingly heavy, every raindrop felt like a heavy punch hitting his body, he attempted to shed a few pieces of clothing, relieving him only slightly.

He was a doctor, he knew his condition well, forget demons, he couldn’t even dismantle a hooligan.

But just then, Buscalo heard the sound of labored breathing in the rain and mist, the noise so intense, like factory fans exhaling cold and hot air.

Buscalo’s eyes widened, another blurry shadow gradually approached him... not just one.

"De... demon."

Buscalo held his breath, slowly raising the gun he was leaning on, he tried to resist, yet suddenly realized he had no idea how to use it.