Twenty seconds later.
"Hiss—roar—"
"Hiss—roar—"
The Bald Giant Rat, accompanied by numerous Brown Rats, approached the locomotive again, looking ready to pounce at any moment.
Bang!
The subordinate who had gone to fetch something hurried back and placed a box over a meter long on the floor.
"Captain, Steel... Steel Fist!" the subordinate panted to Jant.
"Mm." Jant answered, then flipped open the box to reveal what was inside.
Inside was a slender black cylinder over ten centimeters in diameter and one hundred twenty centimeters long, its surface covered in densely packed magical runes.
Jant lifted it in one hand and shouted, "Energy Pillar!"
A subordinate quickly handed him several finger-sized Energy Cubes.
Jant pressed a spot at the rear of the black cylinder, exposing a honeycomb-shaped recess. He swiftly loaded more than ten Energy Cubes into it, and with a click, it snapped shut.
Then he heaved the black cylinder onto his shoulder and glanced at Bob, who was huddled in the corner of the carriage. "Locomotive Chief, technically, neither you nor I have the authority to use the cargo we're transporting. But the situation is exceptional. I used it—you don't object, do you?"
Bob forced out an ugly smile and shook his head vigorously. "How could I object? No, absolutely not!"
"Very good. Then on behalf of everyone in my squad, thank you." Jant narrowed his eyes as he spoke and looked outside the locomotive.
Outside, the Bald Giant Rat flexed all four limbs and leaped into the air.
Jant's gaze turned cold. He aimed the end of the black cylinder at the Bald Giant Rat and said softly, "Come on. Let's see how tough you are!"
Click!
Jant fiercely pulled the trigger in the middle of the black cylinder.
Boom!
Jant's whole body jolted, and he could