Trench Bolts and Magic

Chapter 277 Notre Dame de Paris

"Yes, you can think of it as an indestructible spear."

Lucas gestured, then continued:

"Captain Morin, I'm sorry, but I don't know how to explain the specifics to you, because I don't understand the principles those people at the Royal Academy of Magical Technology are talking about at all."

"All I know is that they mentioned that the second mode seems to be related to you, Captain. In short, neither magical shields nor physical armor can withstand it."

Morin's eyes widened immediately. How did the second mode get involved with him?

It should be noted that he had not obtained any information about this armored train beforehand, let alone the 'Gungnir' weapon, which was ahead of its time.

However, he wasn't focusing on that right now; he was even more anxious.

"Colonel, then why can't we use it? Since it can penetrate everything, wouldn't it be perfect for dealing with that tower's electric shield?"

The problem lies in the 'direct sunlight'.

Lucas gave a wry smile and explained to Maureen:
"Because it fires in a straight line, it has very strict requirements for the shooting environment, and its effective range is only 3 kilometers."

"According to those mages, there should ideally be no obstructions between our cannon muzzle and the target, otherwise it may seriously affect its accuracy and power!"

"Moreover, if we use direct fire, Captain Morin, look at the surrounding environment; we can't even aim properly."

Upon hearing this, Morin subconsciously looked around.

He then discovered that although the Gare du Gare de l'Est was relatively open, it was filled with four- to six-story Haussmannian buildings.

This is also one of the characteristics of the streets of Paris.

These buildings, which normally exude classical beauty, now resemble high walls, severing their view and the field of fire of 'Gungnir'.

The straight-line distance between Paris Gare du Gare de l'Eiffel Tower and the Eiffel Tower is more than 6 kilometers. Given the current position and height of 'Gungnir', not to mention the issue of exceeding the firing range, it is simply impossible to aim at the distant Eiffel Tower.

“I understand,” Morin murmured to himself.

"Understand?"

Major Lucas also sighed.

"So we need to find a way to get the 'Odin' to an open area with no obstructions!"

Open area.
Maureen and Lucas exchanged a glance, almost simultaneously thinking of the same place.

Without further ado, the two rushed back to the command carriage, took a huge map of Paris with railway information from the shelf, and spread it out on the ground outside the train.

When the Gauls were transferring their crystal industry, the construction of railways was one of the important and symbolic projects.

In order to demonstrate their impending superiority over the Saxons in railway engineering technology, the Gauls not only built a ring railway around Paris, but also constructed several railways and underground railways that traversed the city, as well as railway bridges spanning the Seine.

So maybe we can find a suitable firing position.

Just as the two were carefully staring at the railway lines on the map, a new message popped up in Morin's system.

[The Eiffel Tower – 'Animated Corpse' has been activated!]

Morin's breath hitched, and his finger, which was tracing the map, paused for a moment.

It's here, it's finally here!
He suddenly raised his head and looked towards the sky.

Although the sky above Paris Gare du Gare de l'Est was still clear and blue, he could almost smell the stench of death and decay spreading through the air.

The Seine River, Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral.

An elderly man, dressed in a bishop's robes, with a thin face but unusually sharp eyes, was gazing into the distance from the railing of the bell tower.

He is none other than Archbishop Maurice of Paris, the supreme pastoral leader of the Papacy in the Archdiocese of Paris.

Just now, an extremely large and malevolent wave of negative energy suddenly erupted from the depths of the earth like a raging storm, instantly sweeping across the entire city of Paris.

Although Archbishop Maurice was not a 'spellcaster' in the traditional sense, he studied for many years in the Papacy's Department of Mysteries in Rome when he was young, and he had a far more acute sense than ordinary people for recognizing and sensing this kind of power that falls into the category of 'serious blasphemy'.

He identified the source of the power almost immediately.

Necromantic spells!

Moreover, it was a necromancy spell of unimaginable scale!

As a clergyman personally appointed by the Pope, Maurice originally had no intention of interfering in this war between mortal kingdoms.

Neither he nor the Archdiocese of Paris had that capability.
But now, things are different.

When forbidden forces that blaspheme the dead and toy with the souls of the departed appear in this city under God's protection, he can no longer stand idly by.

“True,” he said without turning his head.

"Your Excellency, Archbishop."

An auxiliary bishop, also dressed in bishop's robes but much younger, quickly walked up from behind him.

Morris: "Can you feel it?"

"Yes, I felt it too, sir."

Auxiliary Bishop Troyes's face was also filled with solemnity and disgust. "This is... the aura of the dead, so vast, so evil... I have never seen anything like it."

The two of them simultaneously turned their gaze to the Eiffel Tower in the distance, which was flashing with electric light.

Although they didn't know exactly what had happened, even a fool could tell that the outbreak of this evil force was definitely related to that crazed iron tower.

Someone is using the power of that tower to perform necromancy, which is considered taboo by the Vatican!
“This is the most blasphemous desecration of the Lord! It is a disturbance to all the resting souls!” said the Auxiliary Bishop of Troyes indignantly. “How dare they! How dare they do such a thing in Paris!”

“Now is not the time for anger, Troyes.”

Archbishop Maurice calmed his agitated colleague, his expression serious but his eyes unusually calm.

He turned around and gave an order to one of the chief priests behind him:

"Go, gather all members of the clergy! Priests, deacons, altar servers—not one can be missing! Make them ready!"

"Ready?" The chief priest was taken aback.

"Yes, be prepared. Hopefully, we won't need to make any preparations in the end."

Although the chief priest was filled with doubt, he did not ask any further questions.

He had no choice but to obey the archbishop's orders unconditionally.

He bowed slightly to Archbishop Maurice and Auxiliary Bishop Troyes, then strode down the bell tower.

Soon, the melodious bells of Notre Dame Cathedral, with a rapid and heavy rhythm unlike any other during prayers, resounded throughout the Île de la Cité.

All the clergy who heard the bells immediately put down their work and quickly gathered from all corners of the church to the assembly square in the backyard.

Most of them looked bewildered, unaware of what had happened that prompted the chief priest to sound the highest-level alarm.

Under the command of the chief priest, several burly deacons worked together to open a long-sealed cellar in the backyard.

A smell mixed with dust and engine oil wafted from the cellar.

Then, one by one, heavy, long wooden crates were carried out of the cellar.

"Pry it open!" the chief priest ordered.

The deacons used crowbars to pry open the box lid, revealing the neatly arranged contents inside.

Those were Berthes M1892 rifles.

These standard weapons, which the Gallic army used to be equipped with and still is still equipped with, although they have now been replaced by more advanced models, are still the best weapons that the clergy in the Gallic capital can obtain in the most convenient way.

Other deacons opened a larger armory next door.

On the armory shelves hung rows of meticulously maintained chainmail and plate armor, reflecting a chilling glint in the sunlight, along with a faint, holy white glow.

On the weapon rack to the side, you can see rows of kite-shaped shields, as well as various simple-looking but heavy flails and warhammers.

Finally, the priest, accompanied by several nuns, retrieved a large quantity of holy oil and water from the sacristy.

The final blessing ceremony for these weapons that may be used begins.

The young priests gathered in the square were speechless with astonishment at the sight before them.

Many of them were learning for the first time that a small armory was hidden beneath this sacred church.

As all the preparations proceeded smoothly, Archbishop Maurice and Auxiliary Bishop Troyes descended from the bell tower and came before the crowd.

Looking at the clergy members in the square with their various expressions, Archbishop Morris's face remained expressionless.

He stood quietly until all eyes were on him and the entire square fell silent before he slowly spoke.

“I know that you are filled with doubt and confusion right now.”

“You might ask, we are servants of God, why should we take up arms? We are messengers spreading the gospel, why should we prepare for battle?”

"Because just now, an evil force that blasphemes against the gods and disturbs the souls of the dead has awakened in this city, in the land beneath our feet."

Archbishop Morris's words elicited a suppressed gasp from the square.

"Someone is trying to awaken the deceased from their slumber!"

"They want to turn this city, which is under God's protection, into a city of death!"

"This war was originally a conflict between mortal nations, and we had neither the intention nor the ability to interfere."

"But now, when the behavior of these blasphemers becomes intolerable, we can no longer remain silent!"

His voice began to rise high and become passionate.

"Our Lord taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves and to have mercy on the world, but He also wielded the whip and drove out the merchants who were doing business in the temple!"

"In the face of evil, blindly yielding and tolerating is not compassion, but indulgence!"

"Tonight may be the 'Night of the Dead' mentioned in ancient prophecies."

"When the dead rise from their graves, when darkness envelops the earth, someone must always step forward and light the torch that dispels the darkness!"

(End of this chapter)