Beatrice grasps my hand, and in the distance, I observe Alsten diligently overseeing the artillery soldiers as they undertake the task of lowering the cannons.
The scene manifests as a display of meticulous organization and efficiency, with Crusch's team harmoniously working together to deploy the magical cannon components.
These cannons possess a distinctive appearance, blending medieval elements with modern touches, standing out with luminous red accents and an almost futuristic allure.
In contrast, my cannons are of larger stature, perhaps not as graceful as Crusch's magical counterparts, yet our military artillery does not lag behind. They may lack certain aesthetic nuances, but their explosive power takes precedence.
Approaching Alsten, he executes a military salute with a solemn expression.
"General! The transport has been a success—five cannons and the special version are ready for deployment," he reports.
My gaze fixes upon the three dragons accompanying the carriages.
Formidable quadruped creatures, adapted to bear substantial loads. The carriages, extensively modified with wheels and metallic bases to withstand the weight, signify a laborious process.
Although the soldiers set out long before us, departing in the early hours of the morning, it is evident that everything has unfolded with remarkable efficiency and effectiveness.
"Those carriages..." Wilhelm directs his gaze towards the carriages with a hint of surprise. After a few moments of analysis, he adds, "Three dragons are the appropriate choice."
"The wood wouldn't withstand the weight," I continue explaining, "that's why dismantling them was necessary in their case. Unfortunately, we can't do that so easily at the moment.
Disassembling the cannons would render them practically unusable for a while, making maintenance exceptionally complicated. The best solution was the one we chose, adapting the carriages with metal structures and adding more dragons to distribute the load.
For now, it's the most practical option. Perhaps in the future, with advancements like a more compact and lightweight steam engine, we can reconsider."
Time progresses, and we proceed to position everything. The magical cannons are strategically placed to avoid any interference with conventional ones. Now everything is ready; all that remains is to wait.
The healers have established their camp, and I see Emilia alongside Beatrice and Felix. Crusch and I are on our respective dragons, prepared and expectant.
Tension hangs in the air as we wait.
I direct my gaze towards Crusch, silently delving into my thoughts.
I don't know if the confrontation will happen today or what its outcome will be. But there are things that cannot be avoided and that, regardless of our desires, must unfold.
The knights stand formed behind us, maintaining the appropriate distance. We all stand tall, ready for action.
The whale is a formidable foe, and the plan we have is risky.
The introduction of gunpowder has been a valuable element, but without the combination with the lamicta fire crystals, its utility would be limited. In this world, there are individuals capable of surpassing the speed of sound.
Monster like the whale can withstand explosions of gigantic proportions.
Although the giant tree managed to bring down the whale, this is not necessarily the only way to eliminate it.
There is a more practical tactic to defeat it, although it does not solely involve gunpowder.
The whale is vulnerable to physical damage, after all, it remains a living creature. Internal injuries are more devastating than external ones, suggesting that projectiles with lamicta fire crystals inside could prove effective.
The same crystals used in Crusch's cannons can be leveraged for this strategy, large fire crystals capable of releasing an intense burst of mana. The main challenge lies in the precision required to reach the whale's vulnerable point.
From my perspective, the attacks carried out in the novel don't seem to have significantly affected the whale, due to the sequence in which they were executed.
The most significant damage was achieved when Wilhelm managed to inflict internal wounds, allowing him to emerge from the beast's interior, or when they tore out its eye. Wilhelm's strength is undoubtedly exceptional, but it will hardly surpass the explosive power of several kilograms of these projectiles.
Even on land, it poses an overwhelming challenge, considering the reach of the explosion. Of course, I won't delve into the details of modern bombs, let alone mention nuclear devices or beyond.
I have no intention of engaging in a prolonged battle; it is crucial to end the whale through a meticulous plan. Facing it in any other way would be imprudent.
Indeed, I have contingency plans in mind.
My perception shifted after Wilhelm evaded that shot. It is evident that I need to adjust various aspects of the current gunpowder. Now, in view of the imminent confrontation with the whale, this need becomes even more urgent.
Holding onto weapons that are not up to the circumstances is a mistake.
Stagnating in the technological resources of my own world is unwise. Many individuals in this world have the ability to evade certain types of projectiles. The average speed of sound is 344 meters per second, while a 9 mm bullet from a common pistol can reach 360 meters per second.
While not many can surpass that speed, it implies that there are people capable of doing so, either through divine blessings or exceptional physical abilities.
This doesn't necessarily mean that a bullet is ineffective against these individuals.
A precise shot to the head can be decisive. The epidermis remains thinner than the energy released by a bullet, at least in the case of humans. I cannot assert with certainty regarding demihumans, but for humans, that seems unlikely.
Even if someone were to survive a heart impact, the absence of brain activity would prove fatal.
Undoubtedly, moving at such high speeds doesn't make evasion an impossible task, but it certainly poses a significant challenge. In close combat, it would undeniably be difficult to face someone capable of moving at great speeds, such as Wilhelm.
Cannons may become useless if one has the ability to detect them, but that doesn't necessarily nullify the effectiveness of the weapons entirely. As an engineer, improving and adapting objects based on knowledge is an intrinsic part of my approach.
Magic can undoubtedly subvert the effectiveness of physical objects, but by combining both approaches, limitations can be compensated.
The new prototype of gunpowder is an example of this process; through lamicta crystals, I manage to access firepower levels that conventional black powder cannot provide.
My pursuit of obtaining steel is a key component of this strategy, as reinforcing weapons would allow me to manufacture more advanced calibers and even faster bullets than the rifles in my world, without sacrificing energy efficiency.
According to my recollections, the fastest bullet propelled by gunpowder in my world reaches speeds close to 1000 meters per second.
This highlights that gunpowder remains a limiting factor, despite improvements in its formulation. Magnetic rails are a possibility to overcome this barrier, but for now, that is an unattainable option.
I am confident that in this world, there are individuals capable of surpassing Match 4.
Magic allows the elimination of air friction, making it plausible to surpass even a Match 5, where air resistance becomes a significant obstacle.
In comparison, my bullets are currently below Match 1, as iron evidently cannot withstand the high concentration of lamicta fire. That's why the development of more advanced weapons, capable of resisting such power, is crucial.
If successful, I could have bullets capable of facing opponents like Wilhelm. Or at least, that is what I hope to achieve.
The battle presents itself as a monumental challenge, and I am fully aware of the importance of overcoming it.
There is no room for doubt in my mind; the success of this plan is vital for the lives of many people, and a single uncertainty could trigger a series of disastrous events.
The weight that Crusch and I carry on our shoulders is overwhelming, but strangely, I find comfort in the fact that she shares this burden with me.
With her by my side, I know she understands my situation and emotions. A smile forms on my face, capturing her attention. As I speak, her gaze turns towards me.
"If the plan doesn't work, there's always a fail-safe plan that never fails. If the situation demands it, we simply execute it," I say.
She smiles but sighs with a hint of concern.
"It's madness, destroying a historical monument," she remarks.
"Better that than allowing a historical enemy to continue living," I respond.
This experience in the capital has revealed many truths. There are a series of tasks I must address, and though the burden is significant, I have the necessary confidence to face it.
My confidence also lies in the possibility of having Crusch by my side in the future; her involvement would greatly facilitate the plan's development. If we have her on our side, we could access internal information, understand the dynamics at play in the background.
Even if we were to lose the battle, the alliance we could form might give us opportunities to lead in other aspects: economic, military, political.
The idea of finally living a peaceful life, after so many dark moments, motivates me deeply.
However, an unsettling silence begins to loom over us, accompanied by a strange sensation in my chest.
Gradually, we notice how the clouds begin to cover the once clear sky. The shift from a sunny atmosphere to one laden with rain becomes palpable.
"The rain would be an issue," I confess, as Crusch appears to display a certain concern on her face. The magical fog of the whale is something I only knew from animated representations, so I cannot directly compare it to what I am witnessing.
The height at which we find ourselves makes it challenging to sense the mana accurately.
"The fog is the whale's mana. If these clouds are its origin, that implies that..." Crusch fails to finish her sentence before a shout interrupts our dialogue.
A strange sound, similar to what I've heard through my headphones, resonates in the air. It is a deep roar that pierces the hearts of everyone like a sharp sword. Without warning, we realize that we are being observed.
The sound, undoubtedly, is the distinctive call of a whale.
Expectant gazes turn towards the sky, and a dense fog begins to descend from the clouds, transforming the once beautiful day into a despairing darkness.
Tension seizes the air, and an order slips between my lips.
"Prepare your weapons!" we shout in unison, my eyes fixed on the darkened sky, aware that confrontation is imminent.
Our formation consists of thirteen magical cannons and six physical cannons. Although we have a powerful arsenal, the certainty is that our weapons will not be enough to cause real damage.
My hypothesis suggests that the reason behind the whale's survival is that the previous physical damage was not intense enough to complement its magical vulnerability.
Therefore, my plan is for the combination of gunpowder and lamicta to do its job by causing internal damage, while Crusch's projectiles will inflict simultaneous physical and magical damage.
The anticipation is palpable, but Grímnir, in her impatience, snorts and tears a chunk of grass with her paw. It is obvious that she is also ready to act. However, in my case, I have decided to reserve my ability to fly.
Flying is a power that I don't want to reveal so soon.
Even in Irlam, this ability is shrouded in secrecy. Very few can fly, so it is essential that I keep this gift anonymous. I showed that I can control weight, but I haven't hinted at my flying ability. I doubt that many people have accurate conjectures about it, and that's something I prefer to maintain.
In the midst of tension, a sharp cry grabs our attention. We all instinctively turn, our eyes locking in the indicated direction.
It was in that moment that I saw her for the first time. An absolute terror seized my heart, and from the expression on Crusch's face, I know she is also shocked by what we are facing.
The creature rises into the air, performing an aerial dance accompanied by deafening screams that seem to cut through the air with their intensity. We remain stunned, not uttering a single word, as fear begins to envelop the surroundings.
The whale we face surpasses in size any I have ever seen. Large whales typically measure between twenty and thirty meters, but this abomination seems to exceed fifty meters.
My throat tightens, and I swallow hard as I close my eyes for a moment, trying to assimilate the magnitude of the situation. The harsh truth becomes evident: I underestimated the threat. This will not be an easy task. I made a grave mistake thinking I could face it without consequences.
"Artillery!" My voice rises in a shout, snapping my soldiers out of their terror-induced stupor. "Prepare the damn cannons!"
My fierce gaze locks onto them, and they act with urgency. My hands tremble, and my heart beats with an intensity that seems to want to escape from my chest. I loathe myself for succumbing to cowardice, for underestimating this threat so blatantly.
We are only a hundred and ten people against this monstrosity. It's even possible that, in history, the whale has only been defeated thanks to circumstances created by the script itself.
Calculating the precise trajectory of a falling tree, inflicting the necessary damage for it to fall in the right direction—these are nearly impossible calculations to make in a moment like this.
My last resort is a risky plan, but it is not without flaws.
I lack the weight of the tree, cannot estimate the speed of its fall, or the proper angle to bring it down.
The explosion caused by the impact of the tree could also have catastrophic consequences. This is my last ace up my sleeve against her, but I still have a lingering concern: what if the Whale is stronger than I imagined?
Fuck.
"Knights!" Crusch's roar resonates with determination, her sword raised in the air. "Attack!"
Crusch charges her sword with mana, a blue light surrounds the blade as she takes a combat stance. The colossal whale continues in the air, toying with us in some twisted way.
Crusch looks to the sky with resolved eyes, and with the swift movement of her sword, a sharp crack cuts through the air. The blow slips through the dense fog, and in an instant, the whale emits a groan of pain.
A torrent of blood spurts from its abdomen, and the creature bends under the powerful impact.
The confrontation has begun, and though we are surpassed in size and strength, Crusch's determination guides us forward.
"The attacks won't cause her much damage, but if we want a chance, we need to weaken her enough for her to descend," I direct my gaze towards Crusch, whose expression seems loaded with tension.
Her eyes are fixed on the whale, and I can sense that she is thinking the same as me: facing a creature of this magnitude is not something to be taken lightly.
"Yes, we have to overcome this," she responds, her voice firm.
The knights start shouting and advancing as they penetrate the fog. The preparations unfold as planned, with a group moving forward first, ready to sacrifice their lives if necessary.
The plan must work.
As the fog spreads, mages use anti-mana crystals to dispel it. My hands tremble. So far, I have mainly fought against more or less human beings, and even magical beasts don't compare to this monstrosity.
The fog envelops the surroundings, greatly reducing the field of vision, all the while mages work diligently to clear it.
The crystal array surrounds artillery and the healing field, a point that must be clear at all times, but a few meters away, nothing can be seen. Upwards, the fog is less dense, allowing a view of the whale, but from below, it would be impossible.
I have to find strength within myself; I cannot afford to show weakness at this crucial moment.
"Hey, Crusch," I interrupt her advance, drawing her attention to me. "If we manage to survive this, I'd like to celebrate with a good drink with you." It's a promise I offer her, a way to strengthen each other. She opens her eyes in surprise and then smiles spontaneously.
She knows that my intention is to ease the tension around us.
The lives of everyone depend on our actions, so we must maintain calm and determination in the midst of adversity.
"Of course, if we get through this, make sure to keep that promise," she says, extending her hand in a determined fist.
With a smile, I bump my fist with hers. In that moment, I pull on the reins of Grímnir, who snorts with strength, ready to spring into action at the right moment.