But the heavy machine guns were only a solution to the problem of having none. The most effective means of dealing with airborne enemies was always another airborne weapon.
In the age of the Association, this responsibility usually fell to the witches.
A small number of ability users capable of soaring through the skies, coupled with an even smaller number of extraordinary witches equipped with flying magic stones, were the most elite combat force of the Association. Although this unit belonged to the Holy Salvation Army, they held a higher status than other combat witches. According to Pasha, the three chief leaders of the Association in each era came from this unit.
For humans with ordinary talents, who possessed neither abilities nor the means to use magic stones, the only thing they could rely on was their own brains and hands—using machines to replace wings, escaping the shackles of gravity, and lifting heavy bodies into the blue sky was the correct direction to move forward.
To seize air supremacy, Neverwinter had to form its own air force.
He needed to build real airplanes.
However, Roland was also aware that he had several difficulties to overcome before reaching that goal. Even an old World War I biplane was a complex contraption for him—not like the simple and straightforward power output and braking system of a train, the several movable control surfaces of an aircraft alone were enough to give him a headache. More importantly, he had no experience piloting an aircraft, so he couldn't be sure if those mechanical devices would work.
Fortunately, the glider project could fill this gap to some extent.
Wendy, who could accurately sense changes in wind direction and force, was undoubtedly the best test pilot. With the protection of Lightning and Maisie, he wouldn't have to fill out a control manual with human lives, at least.
"Your Majesty," the reply from Scholar Misanshing pulled him from his thoughts. "I have received your order. The Arithmetic Institute will rush to make this observation instrument for you as soon as possible."
"Very good." Roland nodded with satisfaction, thinking that packing up the entire Astrology Society and bringing them to the Western Region was indeed the right choice. He only needed to explain the principles once, and they could understand exactly what he wanted.
Even more reassuring was that the astrologers' hands-on skills were no less impressive than their mathematical abilities. After all, a blacksmith wouldn't know how to build a perfect astronomical telescope; most of the equipment was ordered as parts and assembled by themselves. It seemed that as a sage's discipline, the Astrology Society was not much inferior to the Alchemy Association.
As he was about to leave, Scholar Misanshing seemed to hesitate.
"Is there anything else?" Roland asked proactively.
"Well, Your Majesty," the scholar coughed twice, "there's been something I've been unclear about... On the cover of this *Analytic Geometry*, and also in the mathematics you gave me, why is the word 'Grade' marked everywhere?"
He couldn't help but chuckle, "You want to ask about that?"
"If it's inconvenient to reveal, please forgive my presumption." Unlike Keimo Strale, Misanshing, who was born and raised in the royal capital and had served several kings, was obviously much more disciplined. But from his eyes, one could see that his curiosity about this matter was no less than that of the Chief Alchemist.
Roland couldn't help but laugh as he thought about how he had bound Keimo to the Neverwinter chariot with a copy of *Elementary Chemistry*, appointing him as a disciple and lecturer, as well as Minister of Chemical Industry. However, there was no need to keep a well-mannered person like Scholar Misanshing in suspense.
"Because before this, there is a subject called Advanced Mathematics. It's not just simple geometry or arithmetic, but a collective term for all advanced mathematical theories. If you consider the elementary and grade-level materials I gave you as the trunk of a tree, then Advanced Mathematics is the spreading branches and leaves. But this subject is too difficult... so it has another name."
"What... is it?"
"From Introduction to Abandonment." Roland spread his hands.
Misanshing's eyes widened, clearly not understanding the humor in these words, "Your... Your Majesty... I will never give up! Even if I dedicate the rest of my life! Could you let me take a look..."
For some reason, seeing his appearance, Roland suddenly felt a little guilty for dozing off in his past advanced math classes. He cleared his throat, "Of course, after you complete this task, come to the castle to receive the book."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Misanshing knelt down excitedly.
……
Leaving the Arithmetic Institute, Roland turned around and went to the backyard behind the North Slope Mountain.
In addition to the heavy machine guns, he planned to finalize the equipment for the God's Punishment Witches as well.
After these past few months of getting along with them, he had determined just how strong the Taquila survivors' desire for revenge against the demons was. If Neverwinter was determined to fight against the demons because they would die if they didn't resist, then their obsession had already exceeded the scope of survival. In the ancient witches' hearts, demons were the root of their centuries of pain, the enemies of their loved ones and friends, and a nightmare they wanted to eliminate as soon as possible.
And letting such a group of warriors with strange strength use swords and spears to compete with demons was really too wasteful—they could carry weapons that ordinary soldiers could hardly bear with them, which meant that the combat efficiency of the God's Punishment Witches was several times that of ordinary people, making them the most ideal individual heavy firepower support unit.
Roland's initial idea was to design a portable Mark I heavy machine gun, using a backpack-style ammunition box, turning the God's Punishment Witches into mobile turrets, blasting hundreds of rounds of bullets at any demon they encountered.
But now he had changed his mind.
Now, some of the heavy machine guns needed to be used as anti-aircraft machine guns, plus the newly produced Mark I models, it was foreseeable that the speed of bullet consumption in the future would definitely be like running water. With Neverwinter's current production capacity, he simply couldn't afford to distribute bullets as if they were free. If he were to prepare three hundred guns for the God's Punishment Witches, it was estimated that even the corresponding ammunition would be difficult to replenish. If they had to stop and save bullets after firing a few shots, it would be equivalent to losing the meaning of a mobile turret.
Therefore, the new weapon should be a large firearm with high power, low consumption, simple structure, and easy maintenance.
Roland quickly drew its prototype on paper.
A 40mm automatic grenade launcher with a gas-operated recoil system.
The advantages of the grenade launcher were very obvious: it didn't require precise shooting, had a wide range of damage, a large caliber to effectively increase the shooting distance, and automatic firing further strengthened the characteristic of fierce firepower. It could be used as a supplement to revolver and bolt-action rifles to quickly eliminate enemies who broke through the artillery blockade, and it could also be used in surprise attacks to actively approach the targets to be ambushed.
At least during the Second Battle of Divine Will, close combat was still the demons' main method of combat. Even in encounters, the Mad Demons would most likely not choose to throw bone spears, but would rely on melee combat to determine the outcome.
At that time, the God's Punishment Witches equipped with automatic grenade launchers would definitely make their opponents suffer.
……
Five days later, Sylvie once again discovered traces of the Terror Beasts.
And this time, the number of enemies had doubled. Twelve Terror Beasts, like a drifting dark cloud, were attacking in the direction of Neverwinter.
8)
()