Industrial Revolution of the Mage Lords

Chapter 566: The Transformation of Magic

"With the Union's reputation, recruiting low- and mid-level mages shouldn't be difficult." Dawson pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded in agreement. "Aside from spellcasters already holding specific positions within the Union, there are nearly ten thousand low- and mid-level mages registered with the Union in the entire Southern Territory... However, they may not be willing to serve you."

He paused, looking at Harvey meaningfully. "They are different from the commoners you recruited with generous salaries and houses and land. Worldly wealth and status can't easily impress these people. Even the Federation can only provide nominal control and management."

This is also why the conservative faction in the Federation chose to secretly cooperate with the Church to suppress spellcasters, and actively monopolize the trading channels of magic stones and spellcasting materials in the southern region... If these control measures were not implemented in this way, these spellcasters with paranoid or fanatical personalities and individual strength beyond that of ordinary people would definitely cause countless chaos in the secular kingdom.

Harvey shrugged nonchalantly and said calmly, "I'm only responsible for offering favorable conditions, but I won't force them to join. Among the large number of mid- and low-level spellcasters in the Southern Territory, there will always be some who are tempted and choose to join."

If the route through the Federation doesn't work, he can always turn around and find Mr. "Earth-Favoured One" and start with the High Wizard Council... High-level battle mages are indeed rare and precious, but low-level two-legged ones are everywhere.

"Why are you so obsessed with using spellcasters to form an aerial battle group?" Dawson asked, regaining his composure. "Those airships you provided us with, as long as there's enough of that special liquid magic energy... even mortals without any spellcasting ability can use them to soar high into the sky."

Harvey chuckled and pointed at a pile of disassembled firearm parts in front of the lab bench. "This is why I've been stuck in the lab all this time—a mass-produced version of the Magic Barrett, usable only by spellcasters!"

Dawson quickly approached, bent down, and looked at the pile of weapon parts that had obviously just been cast. He muttered, "What's the difference between this and a magic gun?"

Weapons that can be equipped in large numbers by mortal soldiers are definitely the most practical and conducive to mass production and popularization... Weapons that strictly limit their applicability will lose their greatest advantage in firepower coverage.

"This is a decapitation weapon. It was developed and trial-produced a long time ago and has been successfully put into actual combat." Harvey skillfully assembled the Barrett and introduced it to Dawson in a torrent of words.

The alchemical sight, with an ultra-long-range shooting range of nearly three thousand meters, can only be used with the caster's strong mental talent... Most importantly, when using it in battle, there is no need to carry magic bullets with you. The magic power stored in the caster himself is a natural "ammunition depot". As long as the magic power is guided and infused into the energy conversion core of the gun, the target can be sniped without any gaps in casting spells.

Hearing this, Dawson couldn't help but breathe slightly faster. He asked in astonishment, "Doesn't that mean... this is a gun of annihilation with an extremely long range and nearly unlimited ammunition?"

Harvey handed the somewhat heavy Barrett to the Chief and said with a smile, "If the user is a Legend like you... it can indeed be said to be infinite. Ordinary low-level users still need to stop and rest after completing a few shots, replenishing their magic power with magic stones or meditating."

Without saying anything, Dawson followed Harvey's instructions and fired a test shot at the wall, instantly shattering the solid obsidian target two hundred meters away. "This alchemical sight attached to the gun uses... a modified positioning rune? No! It even contains some ancient inscriptional symbols. What a genius idea!"

The Legendary Chief suddenly realized that with this incredibly simple and brutal magical weapon, the ingenious techniques that spellcasters had painstakingly refined, along with all the complex and lengthy pre-casting and ritual preparations, would likely be completely obsolete and discarded. Individual combat between spellcasters was inherently about the ultimate pursuit of speed... but the weapon in Harvey's hands seemed to elevate this truth to its extreme.

"I never imagined that with the development of magic to this day, the main research and training direction of the new era's spellcasters would completely evolve into how to store and contain more magic power and achieve incredibly accurate shooting skills..."

The magical weapons in Harvey's hands almost completely drag the spellcaster down from the extraordinary realm. Now this customized weapon called Barrett will directly make the spellcasting level dispensable... After operating it himself, Dawson is completely sure that even if a low-level spellcaster can only fire one shot, he can cause near-fatal damage to an unsuspecting high-level spellcaster.

The order and glory of the Magic Tower will be completely disrupted. There will no longer be any difference between spellcasters and mortals. The rank titles among mages that represent ability and wisdom will no longer have any practical meaning.

Dawson's fingers gripping the spear twitched unconsciously - McCaughlin, Chris and the others were left on the first floor of the castle so as not to disturb their private conversation... Right now, there were only him and Harvey in the laboratory, and there were dozens of alchemical creations parked sluggishly by the wall. The only assembled Barrett was in his hand, and Harvey was only three meters away.

A wave of disgust ran through the legendary wizard's heart. This sudden and terrible thought was just like the chaotic whispers from the magic network and the depths of the alien space that disturbed his mind when he was promoted to legendary status... No matter what alien enemy or what united front, they were no match for the intense sense of crisis and oppression brought to him by the pale, weak and thin young man in front of him!
Magical freak! A voice suddenly sounded in Dawson's mind. Perhaps he had a chance to reverse this wrong development path. He only needed to raise his gun, aim, and gently pull the trigger...

Harvey suddenly sighed and said softly, "Sir, the one standing before you is just a puppet..."

Dawson snapped back to his senses and slammed Barrett onto the metal lab table. He angrily yelled at Harvey, somewhat embarrassed, "Are you testing me?"

Harvey spread his hands. "My attitude depends on what you think. After all, besides you, Lord Sarath will also be arriving soon."

Two legendary chiefs descended on Spark City at the same time. Harvey couldn't help but be well prepared and treat it with caution... If they really got carried away, they might choose to retreat in the face of tens of thousands of Northern Army soldiers equipped with magic weapons, but it wouldn't be difficult for them to crush him to death before retreating.

Even though they are called legends, they still have human emotions and desires, and are also influenced by stubbornness and prejudice. Behind each of them is a huge family and organizational force. The conflicts of interest and ideas cannot be smoothed over by Harvey's light-hearted slogan of "united front" or the cooperation agreement signed by the two parties.

The heart of defense is indispensable!

(End of this chapter)