Hughes took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions.
He had been developing at a steady pace, but now it seemed he had to speed things up.
For example, the research on artillery might have to be temporarily set aside—he needed methods that would yield results more quickly.
Directly using explosive charges was a simple and effective solution. The banshees possessed extraordinary strength, capable of easily hurling explosive charges hundreds of meters away. Compared to mortars, they were just as powerful—if not superior. Even if he developed artillery, it would be difficult to surpass the banshees’ ability to throw explosive charges in the short term.
But... this actually circled back to the theory of extraordinary beings determining outcomes. The strength did not lie in the explosive charges but in the banshees who could throw them. At first glance, there seemed to be no difference, but over time, the distinction was vast.
Turning one cannon into ten thousand only required building a few more factories. Increasing the number of banshees from one hundred to one hundred and one, however, was incredibly difficult.
Unfortunately, there was no time left for slow development now.
The airship soon returned, and Chloe and Nini stepped down from the cockpit. Both of their expressions were grim—they knew very well what the rising seawater meant.
Hughes went straight to Chloe. "Chloe, we need to shift the direction of our research."
Hughes seemed to be trying to construct a technological framework completely independent of extraordinary beings. Chloe didn’t quite understand why, but she found it interesting and aligned with her own inclinations. She had no objections to helping Hughes impose his will upon this world.
But now, there was no time for Castel to progress gradually. Both of them knew what needed to be done—turn fully toward the extraordinary!
Extraordinary beings were the true force capable of changing everything. Hughes had previously downplayed their importance, but now, they were the key to breaking through this crisis!
"Pause the research on artillery, fuses, and other technologies. I need a set of armor designed as quickly as possible—for the banshees to wear. This armor must be completely impervious to gunfire, resistant to explosive shrapnel, and must include slots for steam rifles. And—mount Gatling guns!"
Hughes turned to Nini. "Nini, work with them."
Nini nodded without hesitation.
This was the first step in Hughes’ plan. If the banshees were to go to war, their advantages needed to be maximized. Their immense strength was naturally suited for heavy firepower assaults. Even the weighty Gatling guns could be wielded effortlessly by them!
Not to mention, they had six arms, allowing them to fire multiple heavy machine guns simultaneously!
Imagine this: armored banshees wielding Gatling guns, advancing rapidly on the battlefield. Their thick armor made them impervious to enemy ranged attacks, their continuous firepower kept enemy melee troops at bay, and the explosive charges they carried could demolish fortifications head-on.
And when the enemy, having endured the relentless barrage, finally struggled to reach them—
The banshees would draw their long swords with all six hands.
Banshees were born for battle. Anyone who understood their abilities would come to this conclusion. Their suitability for the battlefield was simply absurd.
Hughes had merely been trying to avoid dependency on a single approach. But now, with the crisis at hand, the banshees were Castel’s sharpest blade.
Chloe had clearly thought of the same thing—her eyes were glowing with excitement.
"One more thing, Chloe." Hughes’ expression turned serious. "We had an agreement. I would not force the extraordinary beings of the Moths Chasing Fire to participate in external wars, but defending our homeland is an exception. Do you remember?"
Chloe nodded. This had been established from the beginning.
"Now, I need your strength. I need the extraordinary perspectives that the Chrysalis can provide to organize the battle—we must defend Castel. All of us must fight for our home. By the pact we established together, I summon all extraordinary beings of the Moths Chasing Fire, including you, to the battlefield to defend our last stronghold. Do you accept?"
The girl chuckled, her short orange-red hair trembling like flames.
"You don’t think all we can do is run away, do you, my Lord?" She crossed her arms, her eyes glowing like a furnace. "We have studied these abilities for hundreds of years. Every extraordinary being of the Moths Chasing Fire is an exceptional battlefield commander—you’ll see soon enough."
After she finished speaking, she put away her smile and waved at the gathered crowd.
This was the Eastern Test Site, where most of the Moths Chasing Fire were stationed. They had long since received the news and had been waiting here.
"You all heard that, didn’t you? This battle is no longer just a skirmish. Show me what you’re capable of! Let’s see if your time spent in comfort has dulled your edge!" Chloe shouted loudly to those around her.
The Moths Chasing Fire said nothing. In silent unison, they extended their hands and pulled up their hoods.
They all wore red robes, which seemed unremarkable at first. But when they raised their hoods, hiding their faces within the wide fabric, their entire aura changed.
They were no longer harmless researchers causing random accidents. Instead, they exuded a cult-like eeriness and fanaticism.
Hughes suddenly recalled the day they summoned the Heretical God. Even in the face of an Outer God, they had remained disciplined, swiftly altering their formation and secretly conducting a ritual to seal its vessel.
This group possessed an astonishing level of organization. No wonder they were considered the most dangerous cult on the continent.
Madmen were plentiful, but these were madmen who could fight. A group that could thrive in the Church of Candlelight’s territory and still contend fiercely with them was no ordinary organization.
"I will coordinate specific battle plans with Alexei. Additionally, all factory production will be redirected toward military supplies. If you have weapon or equipment needs, submit them as soon as possible."
Hughes licked his lips. Time was short, but Castel had never been more united. Faced with this crisis, they had no retreat. Without him saying a word, everyone would fight with all they had.
A voice called from the distance. Hughes turned to see a tall Northlander striding toward him—it was Alexei.
"My Lord, I heard the details from Ash." He glanced at the neatly assembled Moths Chasing Fire and grinned. "Looks like we’ll have plenty of battles ahead."
"Alexei, we must mobilize completely. I know you’ve trained militias before—now we need their strength. This time, we will expand the Holy Guard tenfold in one go."