Steam roared in chugging bursts. At that moment, the disguised Steam Tank finally revealed its ferocious form. Its camouflage cloth fell away, exposing the metal components beneath.
In the darkness, searing red light seemed to spill from every gap in the front of the Steam Tank. Great plumes of white vapor shot skyward, and the whole tank seemed to swell as it advanced amid the red glow and steam.
The temperature inside began rising instantly, climbing from deepest winter to high summer at a palpable rate. The redhead and his companion lifted a shell together and fed it into the breech.
"One, two, lift!"
"Loading complete."
"Rotate the turret fifteen degrees."
"Rotating fifteen degrees!"
The entire crew was intensely tense. While the others turned the turret, the driver had already stripped off his shirt to work bare-chested.
"Chuff, chuff, chuff, chuff."
The tank crushed the earth, shoved vegetation aside, and snapped dead branches and saplings as it emerged from the woods, bringing an overwhelming sense of menace.
The Holy Temple train approached from far behind. Its driver had already spotted the wrecked train amid the flames and thick smoke ahead and began frantically pulling the whistle cord.
"Toot, toot!"
The Holy Temple bishops aboard the approaching train also sensed the lingering magical fluctuations ahead. Someone immediately leaned out to look, and when they spotted the wrecked train, they also noticed the Steam Tank.
"Oh-holy light above, what is that?"
Some of the clergy who lived in Dierjia had never seen such a steam-powered monster. One bishop's eyes had already widened, and as the tank's gun barrel swung toward them, his sense of dread surged.
Even for those with powers beyond ordinary mortals, a powerful weapon of war could still exert immense pressure.
"That's a Steam Tank from Basman! Activate the