I only wanted to retire, but I ended up becoming an extremely popular character.

The artillery crew commander waved the command flag.

The thick steam pipes hissed as they transmitted power to the robotic arm.

The steel claw steadily lifted the 9-ton giant shell from the ammunition car and sent it along the rails into the depths of the fully tilted barrel of the Gustav cannon.

Subsequently, several propellant charges were pushed in one after another.

The heavy wedge-shaped breechblock slammed shut and locked itself in place, driven by a steam piston.

With a slight groan from the gears and hydraulics, the cannon barrel made its final angle adjustment, pointing firmly toward the Arc de Triomphe square.

"emission!"

The firing mechanism is activated.

First came a muffled boom from the cannon barrel, then the muzzle brake spewed out a hundred-meter-long stream of orange-white flames, carrying superheated steam that turned the position a ghastly white.

The massive cannon recoiled violently from its chassis, causing the earth to tremble.

The shell left the barrel, transforming into a rapidly spinning point of light with a fiery trail, tearing through the night sky and flying towards its target.

……

……

Under Colonel Xavier's command, the three Imperial legions—the main attacking "Imperial Blade" and the cooperating 56th and 39th Legions—are gradually eroding the third line of defense built by the Holy Kingdom's "Black Sheep Holy Head" division from different directions.

Although the Imperial army successfully broke through and penetrated the Holy Defense Line at several key points.

For example, Major Steele on the left wing, Major Winonae harassing from the rear, and the 39th Corps breaking in on the right wing.

However, with the full deployment of the elite "Black Sheep Holy Chief" division, every breakthrough was met with strong countermeasures as soon as it was made.

Major Steele's advance was fiercely resisted by Major Wellington, who had transformed into "Owl Bear," and his men.

Major Winona's operations behind enemy lines were precisely intercepted by Major Byron;

On the right flank, the 39th Corps' offensive ran head-on into a solid defensive line personally overseen by Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Wright;

The Imperial Army lacked effective means to quickly and efficiently crush the defenses of this Holy Kingdom Elite Division.

Progress was clearly not as smooth as when they broke through the first two lines of defense.

The siege of Sarlöm thus turned into a brutal and arduous war of attrition.

The Empire's artillery continued to roar, shells raining down on the Holy Defense Line and its depths, each explosion sending up a plume of smoke mixed with dirt and debris.

The Holy Kingdom's artillery did not fall silent either, launching increasingly fierce counterattacks from time to time. Shells landed in the Empire's attacking formation, causing widespread damage as well.

In the smoke-filled open fields and streets, the rifle fire between the infantry on both sides was almost non-stop. Bullets whistled sharply through the air, and soldiers fell to the ground one after another, while the soldiers behind them silently moved forward, continuously filling the gaps in the battle line.

The struggle for every inch of land was accompanied by bloodshed and loss of life.

Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate.

A massive cannonball, originating from the northeast of the city of Sallom, tore through the smoke-filled night sky, trailing a dull whistle as it flew straight toward the "Arc de Triomphe" square area.

Just as the worried Holy Land gunner feared.

Due to the inherent systemic errors of the Gustav Gun, coupled with the complex disturbances caused by temperature, wind speed, and wind direction during the long flight of the shells.

Its landing point was fatally deviated.

Instead of falling deep into the rear of the Imperial army as expected, it deviated from its trajectory and crashed straight into the area where the Holy Defense Line was located.

The massive projectile, carrying destructive power, was hurtling toward the rear of the Holy Defense Line at an alarming speed.

The giant shell was about to explode behind the Holy Land defense line.

A figure suddenly leaped into the air from the Holy Kingdom's position.

That was Captain Grant from the Holy Kingdom.

His face was covered by a mask, and his hands were covered by specially made military gloves, as if he were trying to stand in front of this creation of steel and fire with his flesh and blood.

Immediately afterwards, he made a peculiar hand gesture, waving his arms like a conductor of a symphony orchestra, his hands tracing complex and swift trajectories in the air.

An unbelievable scene unfolded.

The giant cannonball, which was originally falling straight down, seemed to be moved in mid-air by an invisible giant hand, and its flight trajectory suddenly took a sharp turn.

It drew a sharp, illogical arc across the night sky, then paused briefly.

Then the cannonballs changed direction, their speed undiminished, and flew straight toward the crowd of people behind the Imperial army.

This is Captain Grant's ability from the "Egg of Berklein"—"Conductor," which allows him to manipulate several flying physical targets simultaneously without altering their flight speed.

He can easily change the direction of bullets or shells, directing them in the desired trajectory and direction.

All of this happened so fast that no one had time to react or anticipate it.

The giant shell first pierced through the paved square and then sank deep into the ground.

After a brief period of deathly silence, unimaginable power erupted from the depths.

The ground was completely ripped up and shattered, like a fragile eggshell.

A massive pillar of fire, mixed with rocks, mud, and debris, shot into the sky, followed by a visible, solidified shockwave of destruction, like a torrent of steel, which instantly flattened the surrounding buildings.

The explosion's light engulfed all other light sources on the battlefield, along with the Imperial soldiers who were like dust.

A mushroom cloud, filled with thick smoke, dust, and a large amount of white steam, slowly rose amidst a deafening roar, becoming the sole ruler of the night sky.

When the giant cannonball exploded near the Imperial army, the battlefield of Sarlöm seemed to freeze for a moment in an eerie stillness.

Soldiers from both the Holy Kingdom and the Empire were stunned by the unprecedented and overwhelming scene of destruction so close at hand.

He involuntarily stopped fighting, his gaze turning in horror to the billowing smoke and flames.

Especially the Imperial soldiers.

This wasn't their first time experiencing artillery fire, but witnessing firsthand the devastating destructive effects of a strategic weapon like the "Gustav Gun" was truly a shock.

A primal fear instantly shattered their will to fight.

Ordinary shells destroy bunkers and kill personnel, but this thing seems to be rewriting the terrain and existence of that area.

Its power transcends the tactical level, rising to a pure, despairing display of violence.

The oppressive force of that intimidation was enough to leave an indelible shadow on the heart of any Imperial soldier.

The Gustav Cannon inflicted more damage on the fighting spirit of Imperial soldiers than on their physical destruction.

Because no one knows whether the next giant shell will fall on their head, or whether they will be annihilated like dust in the explosion.

That Gustav Cannon was like a Damocles' sword hanging over everyone's heads.

Now, only 27 minutes remain before that sword falls again.

When that moment arrives, whether the Empire can withstand another Gustav Cannon shot will be a big question.

While the physical kill radius of the Gustav Cannon could be estimated, the fear and trauma it inflicted on Imperial soldiers was immeasurable.