𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟓𝟑.2: 𝐀𝐫𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 (7)
In response, Oswald utilized telecommunication magic to send Gigants to the forefront, with Tiger tanks and self-propelled artillery golems following behind.
The demons also began their advance towards Oswald and the empire’s army. The initial attack came from the self-propelled artillery golems, which were being blessed by priests right next to them. However, it was difficult to inflict significant damage on upper-level demons, let alone mid-to-lower-level ones.
At that moment, the tanks, which had been aiming their barrels between the Gigants, began firing their shells. Priests were stationed inside the tanks, blessing the tank shells on the spot, and the tanks themselves were firing armor-piercing rounds, so the effect was definitely noticeable.
Boom boom boom boom boom!
The blessed armor-piercing rounds, fired from between the Gigants, tore through the ranks of the charging demons.
Crack! Crack!
Several demons were directly hit by the shells and suffered significant damage from the holy power imbued within them. Then, a shell with a larger caliber than the ones previously fired flew in, turning a high-ranking demon into mincemeat.
It was. . . a self-propelled artillery-specific armor-piercing round that had been mass-produced to counter the Great Chaos Tank. That shell, originally designed for the 155mm howitzer to be used as a direct-fire weapon, was now demonstrating its tremendous power.
Even with just physical force, these shells were capable of inflicting damage on demons. . . but with the added blessing, dealing with demons became a breeze.
And finally, the Gigants clashed with the demons. The Gigants utilized their massive bodies to execute a physical charge, crushing the demons. Of course, thanks to body strengthening and demonic power, they barely avoided being reduced to pulp. . . but they couldn’t stop themselves from being pushed back one after another.
At that moment, the Gigants that had come to a halt swung their aura-clad great swords, slicing through the demonic power barriers and striking the demons’ flesh.
Slash!
Like logs partially split by an axe, the high-ranking demons were not properly cleaved but instead received long, deep wounds.
While the Gigants were making their mark, the Tiger tanks that had approached right behind them used the machine guns mounted on top of their turrets to mercilessly attack the enemies.
Ratatatatatatatatat!
The machine gunners, safely positioned inside the tanks, utilized telecommunication magic and video magic to control the barrels of their machine guns, mowing down the enemies. The machine gun bullets had already been blessed, so they pierced through the demonic power surrounding the demons’ bodies and lodged themselves within.
The Gigants charged in first, drawing the enemies’ attention and tanking, while the Tiger tanks played the role of ranged damage dealers from behind. However, no matter how well the Gigants tanked, they couldn’t hold back all the enemies.
As the demons gradually approached the Tiger tanks. . . the Church’s paladins appeared.
Clad in pure white holy power on their swords and other weapons, they charged towards the demons, invoking the name of God. Each one was an Expert-level knight, so they could hold their own against some high-ranking demons.
However, it wasn’t a 1:1 battle but a 1:10 battle, so the number of paladins was insufficient to handle all the demons.
That’s when the empire’s knights and musketeers stepped forward. These individuals, composed of Sword Experts and Gun Experts, joined the fray.
Within the knight order, there were quite a few who had reached the level of Sword Master, and they too participated in the battle. The same was true for the musketeer corps. In particular, a notable figure among the musketeers was André Orléans, the Orléans Pistol, who had led the civilian army during the Paris siege. Oswald had recruited him.
Furthermore, with André as the core, a large number of Gun Experts who had previously served in the regular army of the Kingdom of Britannia were enlisted. These individuals had been working as mercenaries after the Britannia regular army had crumbled and dispersed. As such, it wasn’t possible to gather a large number of them. . . but still, a total of about 1,000 people were assembled.
This newly formed unit was named the Paris Musketeer Corps, after the city of Paris. And the commander of the corps was André Orléans, appointed as a colonel.
Bang! Ratatatatatatat!
The Paris Musketeer Corps, led by André Orléans, was tasked with sniping demons using blessed silver bullets and aura while the knights engaged the enemies head-on.
Through the combined operations of the knights and musketeers, the demons were continuously forced to take damage, creating a stalemate on the frontline.
The rifles provided to the Paris Musketeer Corps were MAS-49s obtained through the Schutzstaffel, modified to accommodate the empire’s standard 5.56mm ammunition. To increase their range, the barrels were lengthened. While they were long and heavy for ordinary infantry to carry, they were intended for troops at the Gun User level or higher, so it wasn’t a concern.
The name given to this new rifle was EMP-1, or Emp 1 for short.
The attacks of the Paris Musketeer Corps members wielding the Emp 1 were fierce. They accurately targeted and struck vulnerable areas of the demons, such as their necks or armpits, which were difficult to defend. Each time, the demons’ postures would crumble, allowing the paladins and imperial knights to gain the upper hand.
And among them, the most eye-catching performance came from André Orléans. He could have sniped from the rear like other Gun Experts, but he chose to advance instead.
In his hands were a pair of pistols, the Eagle One, which were currently being produced in the Barcelona Barony’s industrial complex. These pistols possessed considerable power, rivaling the firepower of some rifles.
Moreover, having learned Gun Kata from Oswald, André weaved through the ranks of the demons, taking them down one after another.
A musketeer engaging in close-quarters combat with enemies while dual-wielding pistols – such a sight had never been seen before, so many musketeers gazed at André with admiration. Of course, the knights, feeling their positions threatened once again, could only grit their teeth and strive even harder.