Industrial Cthulhu, starting from the island lord

Chapter 773 The Charging Banshee, the Tolling Death Knell

Ash brought two squads of banshees, each thirty people long. These weren't exploration teams; they were proper combat units.

Because the distance between the Rhine and Blood Harbor is too far, the Banshees set up a relay node in the middle, where a large number of Banshees reside permanently.

Monica brought reinforcements from the Banshees' relay point—although no battle had taken place yet, Ash still ordered everyone to set off, carrying a large amount of heavy firepower.

At that moment, Nini was pleasantly surprised to find that Ash and the others who came to provide support were fully armored and well-equipped—almost everyone carried several dragon breath cannons, and Gatling gun barrels were lined up in a dense row.

This can be considered Castel's most elite fighting force. The Banshees are physically powerful, and each of their six hands can wield a weapon. Don't be fooled by the fact that there are only two squads; their firepower density on the battlefield is equivalent to ten companies of the Guardians of the Faith!

There is no other force in the entire North that could withstand a frontal attack from ten companies of the Guardians of the Faith.

Not to mention that giant that has to bend over to stand up; even if it's not a dedicated war machine, its sheer size makes it immune to light weapons attacks!

Nini was completely relieved and looked across the room.

The Candlelight Vigil's priestly corps consisted of more than forty people, but they were all ordinary people who somehow managed to take up the heavy steam rifles.

Besides them, there were a few scattered investigators, only a handful in total.

Then came Jules and his choir.

Nini's gaze fell on Jules. This strange man was very strong in combat; he had almost killed her instantly.

The key point is that Ash can also kill her instantly.

It now appears that the main enemy is still Pope Hughes.

Nini narrowed her eyes and quickly shared information with Ash via telepathy.

The banshees began to line up in preparation for the charge, removing weapons from their armor buckles, loading bullets, and preparing ammunition belts.

The Vatican, on the other hand, remained silent, simply watching quietly.

Nini frowned. They were waiting to charge, but what were the other side waiting for?
Ash, who was standing to the side, had already raised her weapon. Without hesitation, she slightly raised her hand.

The banshees stretched out their hands and closed their visors, leaving no part of their bodies exposed on the front; they were all covered in menacing black steel armor.

They themselves are the most powerful war machines, their cold eyes gleaming with an eerie light, appearing and disappearing through the gaps in their visors.

"Prepare."

The banshees lowered their bodies and shrank back in unison, their snake tails like taut springs, ready to burst at any moment.

Ash drew two longswords from her side; the sharp sound of the blades slicing against their sheaths was so keen it seemed to cut an ear.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment, and people stared wide-eyed at the battlefield.

"kill."

Ash's voice was as steady as steel, but the banshees' response was passionate and furious!
In an instant, more than thirty banshees charged forward; they were thirty grim reapers forged from steel!

Banshees are born to kill. Castel Heavy Industries has plated their bodies with steel, making their blades burst with fire!
The priests frantically opened fire, barely managing to get the overloaded steam rifles to fire again in the short time it took.

But this time the priests' shooting was much more scattered, and many of them were pale-faced, praying incessantly as they watched the demons charging in orderly formation before them—that was all they could do.

Their prayers toward the candlelight did not protect their weapons and flesh; the banshees did not dodge at all, letting the bullets hit their armor.

Ash even dragged her longsword directly to meet the bullet, a spark flashed, and she quickly flung it behind her.

The banshees charged with incredible speed; to the priests, it looked like a massive lump of steel crashing down on them.

The eyes beneath the mask, gleaming with an eerie light, rapidly magnified in the terrified eyes of the priests.

They only had time to fire one shot before the banshees were already in front of them. Rows of dark cannon muzzles were pressed against them—

boom!
A torrent of blazing flames surged through the crowd, painting their pale faces with color. The volley of dragon breath cannons swept across the land like an all-encompassing wave, and the banshees rode the waves, tolling the death knell for their enemies.

None of the priests fled, not because they were fearless, but because they simply didn't have time to move their trembling legs.

The banshees charged too fast; they didn't even have time to retreat!

The Dragon Breath Cannon was used to its fullest potential by the Banshee; its short range was compensated for by the swarm charge, and its powerful force directly tore through the enemy lines.

No, it wasn't a tearing apart. When the banshees stopped, all they saw was a patch of crimson lava; the entire priesthood had evaporated.

This was only the first strike from the banshees.

Castel's military technology, combined with that of a superhuman race, achieved a terrifyingly overwhelming effect, even a sacred artifact like the steam rifle was powerless against it.

"Is it that simple? If this is the only kind of enemy, we might have been able to reclaim Rhine by today." Nini looked at the Dragon Breath Cannon in her hand with some disbelief.

If it were just her and Una, they might be suppressed by Jules, but the harbingers of death here are an entire army.

Does the Vatican have such an army?

Even if Jules is strong, he is still only one person.

Speaking of which, where did Jules go?

Nini looked up in confusion. Jules hadn't made a move yet; Ash had been on high alert, ready to counter Jules's attack at any moment.

But no.

Did you escape?
As the steam from the lava jets gradually dissipated, the banshees turned their gaze forward.

Jules stood leisurely on a stone step, quietly watching this side.

Beside him
"Entertainers? Is this what you call a choir?" Ash tilted her head.

Jules was surrounded by a group of young men who carried neither weapons nor armor. Instead, each wore a long, white robe that made it seem rather inconvenient for them to move around.

Faced with the menacing harbinger of death, they remained unmoved, simply chanting poetry softly.

It must be said that they sang very well. Their voices were melodious and beautiful, and their skills were also very high. The layers of harmony were not abrupt at all, but rather had a perfect sense of unity.

“It seems to be just ordinary singing, without any psychological attack.” Nini frowned.

Banshees are a race of the mind, and are very perceptive in this regard.

"Let's start with a barrage of fire," Ash said without the slightest hesitation.

The situation was somewhat strange. She didn't choose to rush forward rashly, but the bullets didn't hesitate.

The banshees raised their Gatling guns, while the ones in front raised their Dragon Breath Cannons again.

"Fire."

boom!
Another shield appeared out of thin air, bullets clanged as they hit it, and the jets of dragon breath cannons scattered along the shield's surface.

“That’s quite impressive power. Castel’s potential far exceeds my expectations,” Jules, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.

"Then, let's listen to a hymn."

(End of this chapter)