Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

The siege mode was the most penetrating form of attack. Even Castel rarely deployed this kind of steam rifle — its ammunition was limited, once exhausted, it was gone.

Hughes had considered producing more of them. After all, although this weapon was nominally called a rifle, its power could almost be compared with a large-caliber cannon.

But after only a little research, he had abandoned the idea.

The steam powering this rifle was mercury vapor, using high-temperature, high-pressure mercury steam to fire the shots — what kind of Zenith Star technology was this?

Not to mention Castel now, even Blue Star never had such a bizarre technology tree. It was just like that Mechanical Priest who had killed Hughes last time, belonging to completely incomprehensible technological constructs.

But hoarding good things without using them was meaningless. Though Hughes could not reproduce a mercury steam rifle, large-caliber cannons could indeed be made.

By then, this steam rifle might seem redundant. It was better to use it quickly now.

The Banshees all pulled their levers together. The compressed mercury steam inside the steam barrels traveled through the pipes into the gun barrels, then was pressed to the extreme by pistons, and under Nini’s order, they aimed it at the head of the 【Compassionate Mother】.

The 【Compassionate Mother】 seemed to sense the threat. She screamed and stretched out her limbs, trying to strike Nini and the others. But the supporting fire from the Banshees in the rear were not for nothing — they immediately swept bullets at the limb about to crash down, the dense rounds tore through flesh and bone, actually breaking the limb apart.

Nini and the others had already closed in before the 【Compassionate Mother】. The falling chunks of flesh splattered over them, producing a sizzling, eerie sound as wisps of white smoke rose.

『Fire!!』

At Nini’s order, the steam rifles boomed together in an explosive roar.

The recoil of this weapon was terrifyingly strong. Each Banshee gripped six hands full, wielding three steam rifles apiece, and even with their immense strength they were still forced a few steps backward.

At such close range, the volley naturally could not miss. The powerful mercury bullets all slammed into the black cocoon. This time the attack did not bounce off. Though the black threads were extremely tough, the cocoon was still blasted open with a hole.

『We did it!』『As expected, siege mode really has the greatest power.』『Quick, look what’s inside!』

The 【Compassionate Mother】 writhed in agony, struggling madly. The Banshees, retreating step by step, peeked inside the cocoon.

Inside the cocoon… was that a person?

This group of Banshees all came from Castel. Though they had seen Mira’s portrait in the newspapers, none had seen her in person. For a moment, they did not recognize this High Priestess of the Life Mother Church.

And within the cocoon, Mira slowly opened her eyes.

She was different from before. No longer was most of her body sunk into the 【Mother Goddess】. Now only a small part of her was still connected with the flesh below, most of her body independent, still appearing no different from before — the same thin, frail figure.

Her eyes carried a trace of confusion. She first looked at the distant shooting Banshees, then dazedly lowered her head toward her own body.

When she discovered that she was linked into the flesh of the 【Mother Goddess】, she froze as if struck by lightning, eyes wide open in shock.

“How can this be…”

Her voice was very faint, barely self-murmured.

Yet this self-murmur appeared in the ears of everyone in Blood Harbor.

Whether mortal, extraordinary, or Banshee, all heard her unconscious whisper.

Even Hughes, far away at sea, heard it.

He had not approached Blood Harbor, nor retreated. Instead, he had the Banshees of Ash’s squad, who had pulled back, protect him, staying in the sea.

After all, he could use the Banshees’ ability to move quickly in the sea, his escape ability was excellent — safer in the waters.

“Mira… that is Mira.”

For a moment, all eyes fixed on Mira. She seemed just to realize what had happened, and as she came to her senses, she immediately shouted loudly in all directions:

“Quick, leave here at once! I cannot control the 【Compassionate Mother】!”

Not far in front of her, Nini’s eyes lit up.

『Communication! She can communicate!!』

Since appearing, the 【Compassionate Mother】 seemed to act entirely on instinct. The Banshees’ perceptions were not very keen, but the Holy Guard in the distance had fought her the entire time and could clearly sense the changes.

At first, even when attacked, She gave no response. Even when attacking, She only sought the nearest target, easily kited.

After being revived by believers, She gained some rudimentary intelligence, choosing more efficient attack methods — like when She had crushed the Harbor Guard twice upon awakening.

And just now, She had howled when struck, grown furious when suppressed. All of it was more like a being with reason, with thought.

Nini fixed her gaze on Mira, dodging the 【Compassionate Mother】’s attacks while rapidly asking:

“You are Mira? We are warriors of Castel. What is going on with this 【Compassionate Mother】? Why massacre Blood Harbor?”

At the word “massacre”, Mira trembled all over. She looked at Nini in her full steel armor, her figure and appearance obviously not human, and hesitated.

『Damn it, she doesn’t believe—Where are the Holy Guard? The Moths Chasing Fire? Granny? Save me quickly!』

Nini typed furiously into the Mind Link while still dodging attacks, her guns firing, her mouth never stopping:

“We sent people to communicate with you. At first, the talks went well, but then you suddenly launched a rebellion. We had no choice but to defend ourselves. Look around you!”

At her words, Mira turned to look around. Standing atop the massive body of the 【Compassionate Mother】, her view was excellent. Most of Blood Harbor spread before her eyes.

This had once been a prosperous port. Now everywhere was broken walls and ruins. From the upper city to the slums, countless houses had been crushed. Many places still smoked black.

The corpses of the Harbor Guard, the fallen followers of the Mother Goddess, the weeping civilians — all fell into Mira’s gaze. Her lips pressed tightly.

“What… what have I done…” Mira painfully tugged at her own hair, breathing in ragged gasps until she barely calmed. She then looked at the heavily armored yet agile Nini:

“There is no time to explain. You must leave here immediately. The Mother Goddess — the 【Compassionate Mother】 — is completely beyond my control now. It will kill every living being here!”

Nini immediately replied: “Don’t worry, we came to help you control it. You only need to tell me how to defeat the 【Compassionate Mother】.”

“There is no way, no way at all! She has grown to this stage — no attack can harm Her anymore!”

Nini blinked.

“No way? Are you sure? Why don’t you look down? The 【Compassionate Mother】 is already about to be beaten to death by us.”