Yin Zidian

Is Magic really just a wish machine?
No! In a universe where Magic truly exists, the ultimate nature of Magic must be as simple and aesthetically pleasing as the laws of physics.
This is the story of a mass-produced magical war tool who learned the ultimate nature of Magic.
But what of it?
Just as birds can fly without understanding aerodynamics, magicians can use Magic without grasping its ultimate nature.
Learning the ultimate nature of Magic doesn't mean the tool can instantly transform into a great magician.
But yearning for knowledge is a human instinct, and curiosity is the primary driving force of human civilization. Even for Magic, which should seemingly defy explanation, humans hope to understand its inherent operational laws.
The pursuit of Magic's ultimate nature requires no reason!
The story in this book takes place in an era where steel and gunpowder dance together.
Here, firearms are on the rise; armor remains the main character; military theory is changing rapidly, with endless innovations in systems and techniques. And this world has something more than ours: Magic.
The world is undergoing a profound transformation, and no one can remain detached from it...

Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Twenty-six years ago, on a sweltering summer afternoon.


In the grand auditorium of the Army Officer Academy, an old soldier was lecturing.


The auditorium, theoretically able to accommodate all the cadets and faculty, was packed to the brim. It wasn't just the entire Land Academy that had gathered together; many commissioned officers had also rushed to attend the lecture.


The identity of the old soldier was self-evident. It was Ned Smith—the Marshal of the Allied Army, the creator of the Allied Army, and the principal of the Army Officer Academy.


"...People today think that decimation is a barbaric military law. But in the Ancient Empire, decimation was just severe, not barbaric." Principal Ned paused for a moment, "In different eras and societies, the moral standards of war vary. We cannot judge the past by today's standards, nor can we use the moral standards of the past to excuse today's actions."


Chapter 73: Weakening