Chapter 1452: Apocalypse_2

“So what will you do?”

“We’ll make two plans. Your elite team will directly parachute into the Seven Hills to try to destroy the Well of Ascension, while we mere mortals who cannot face the darkness will try to control the spread of the erosion.”

Speaking of this, Merlin appeared very helpless. To this day, humans still have no means to completely resist the erosion. For most mortals, once within the intensity of such erosion, life begins a countdown.

“After all, if you fail, we will face the most terrifying demon tide in history,” Merlin expressed his worry. “Don’t blame me for lacking confidence; preparing for the worst is the true nature of war.”

“We are responsible for destroying the Well of Ascension. You are responsible for controlling the spread of the erosion.”

Lorenzo repeated Merlin’s words.

Merlin nodded and then sighed.

“Actually, speaking of control, we can only try our best to hunt demons. The Sailing Dawn cannot carry too many people and weapons, and no matter how much we bombarded the ground, it would be difficult to annihilate them completely… We can only say we will do our best.”

“Have you thought about what happens if we fail?” Lorenzo suddenly asked. “If the elite team I lead, including myself, perish within Saint Nalos Cathedral, the expansion of erosion becomes unstoppable, and the war with demons reignites…”

Gradually, Lorenzo himself fell silent, recalling the apocalyptic imagery before his eyes.

Endless demons devour city after city, turning into a crimson ocean, expanding wildly.

Unbeknownst to him, everything Lawrence had prophesied is gradually becoming reality, sliding towards a nightmare.

“I haven’t thought about it, or rather I don’t dare,” Merlin seemed somewhat fatigued, then forced a stiff smile. “This kind of thing is too unfamiliar for us. Suddenly we become heroes of salvation; of course, whether we can save it, is still up in the air.”

At this point, the Armed Iron Serpent slowly came to a stop, the door opened, and the cold sea breeze rushed into the compartment, clearing away the stuffiness and silence together.

As they exited the compartment, a vast world unfolded before their eyes. The refitted Morning Glow Advance quietly floated on the sea surface; above, in the gigantic Steel Bird’s Nest, the descending shadows cut through the silhouette of the war airship, only allowing a glimpse of its fractured form.

“But we’ve come this far, there’s no turning back, is there?”

Merlin softly spoke to Lorenzo as he stood beside him.

Lorenzo did not respond, just looked ahead, where Arthur had long been waiting.

Step forward, advance, embark on the final voyage.

…

Tired, hungry, cold, his entire body was swollen with pain, numbness progressively overtaking his senses.

It’s been a long time since he had such a terrible experience; he remembers the last time it was during a mission in Ingwig, where Samuel had been hunting a fugitive Cardinal, only to encounter the mysterious Lorenzo Holmes there.

That was a dreadful encounter, successive heavy blows barely left him alive; fortunately, he possessed the Authority of immortality, robust vitality allowed Samuel to survive the ordeal.

He remembers crawling out of the cellar, as his Secret Blood calmed, his injuries gradually exposed, lying amid gentle grassland, enveloped in misty drizzle.

“That was quite a beautiful sight.”

He murmured softly in nostalgia.

Every time he used his Authority to crawl back from the brink of death, Samuel felt a sense of rebirth.

Actually, in physiological terms, he did indeed experience rebirth: the old flesh was excised, while new flesh proliferated crazily.

Leaning against a dark corner, he had a gap in front of him, through which light shone, casting a narrow beam of light on Samuel, splitting his skull, tracing from his forehead across his left eye, extending to the ground.

In a trance, he saw again in the light the misty drizzle, tender green grass, growing in the fertile soil, spreading continuously to the horizon…

Samuel reached out, trying to grasp it, then he pushed open the door, and the light suddenly brightened, enveloping him entirely; yet after the intense light faded, he did not reach that dreamland but found himself in a bright corridor, as though all was just a figment of his imagination.

Indeed, just imagination.

Samuel stumbled backwards, eventually sitting on the bed, lowering his head, his eyes filled with terror.

It had been three days since he fled the Seven Hills, during these days, the place had entirely sealed itself off, high-intensity erosion enveloping there, no one dared to approach.

People could only see the raging fires burning within the city, buildings collapsing one after another amidst the flames, and those demon-like roars.

The Holy Hall Knights stationed outside the city were already somewhat shaken by the successive nightmares; even before battle, they harbored fear in their hearts, Samuel included.

“Go away.”

He cursed bitterly, clawing at his ears, yet the gentle singing voice of a woman lingering at his ear refused to sever.

Samuel had no understanding of what she sang, but those enigmatic words seemed like some sinister curse, trapping the listener in extreme malevolence.

Under such uncanny influence, he found it impossible to sleep completely; in groggy slumber, he’d hallucinate, continuing to affect his will.

For an ordinary person, at that point they would undoubtedly be driven mad by torture, yet Samuel retained a degree of sanity, relying on his Demon Hunter capabilities, to resist against it.

He took a while to compose himself, wiping cold sweat from his forehead, then walking to open the window.

The scenery of Florence unfolded before him, under the night sky, the glaring firelight effortlessly captured Samuel’s attention; he raised his head, looking towards that familiar yet unfamiliar place.

Seven Hills.

From here, he could clearly observe the Seven Hills; even now, the city fires showed no signs of extinguishing, relentlessly burning, turning the entire city into a blazing torch within the darkness.

Nearby were stationed the Holy Hall Knights, as one looked closely, though it was night, the streets of Florence were crowded, people gathering in groups, evacuating towards more peripheral areas under the guidance of the Holy Hall Knights.

Seeing this, an unusual emotion welled inside Samuel.

He felt relieved knowing that the people of Florence did not have such fervent faith, under nightmarish invasion and intense fire, most accepted the evacuation orders; as for those affluent merchants and gentlemen, even more so, actively assisting in coordination to gain the Holy Hall Knights’ protection.

Yet within this city, many refused to leave, citing peculiar excuses, but the Holy Hall Knights had no time to attend to these people, neglecting even persuasive words.

Soldiers within the city were mobilized, wielding weapons, patrolling streets alongside some Holy Hall Knights, all on high alert, as if war were imminent.

This was from Samuel’s orders; upon arriving in Florence, he had contacted the local Holy Hall Knight Commander, commanding them to defend in the Pope’s name.

Samuel didn’t know how long the Seven Hills could hold out, but he knew that once erosion expanded to Florence, the only ones left to confront them were these mortal Holy Hall Knights.

Being the last remaining Demon Hunter, Samuel must make the most of it, living up to the Demon Hunting Order’s sacrifice, to delay the disaster’s pace to the fullest.

And then… wait for that elusive reinforcement?

Samuel thought for a moment, shaking the thought out of his mind; he didn’t believe reinforcements would arrive in such times. The apocalypse is encroaching upon this land, and all they can do is slow the onset of death.