Prince Wilander pressed himself against the observation window, his gaze tracing the savage steel silhouette inch by inch. He repeatedly checked the features of its barrel and base, seemingly comparing them with something from his memory.
"That's the 'Purger'..." Only after a long while did the prince speak, his voice low and dry.
"The Imperial Royal Alchemists Association's latest masterpiece from last year. Eight and a half meters long, with a core built using the latest 'Composite Rune Circuit' technology. Not only does it correct the previous-generation 'Judgment-Bearer's' poor heat dissipation, it also improves energy conversion efficiency by forty percent. Most frightening of all, it drastically lowers the requirements for use-siege firepower of this caliber once needed at least a level-five mage to guide it. Now, just five mages of level three or above can power it together..."
"I never imagined... they would deploy it in battle so soon."
He turned, leaning against the cold window frame. His eyes swept over Veylin, Diana, Caroline, and the other nobles, a bitter smile forming on his lips.
"This is the Empire's 'heavy hammer,' designed specifically to pulverize fortresses. Every shot carries power equivalent to fifth-circle evocation magic. Smashing our magic shield will take it only a few breaths."
"Mortals scheme, but the gods decide..." Wilander sighed. "I never expected the Empire to be so generous as to lend them to Hector. It seems our Winter Veil Festival plan will be far more difficult than we anticipated."
"F-fifth circle?!"
The nobles turned ashen. Most stared despairingly at the shield overhead, as though they could already see the fortress falling and everyone inside being slaughtered. In the Haiti Duchy, a third-circle mage was already an honored guest of any minor family. Fifth circle? That was the legendary power to destroy entire towns!
Veylin said