I Became a Witch and Started an Industrial Revolution

On ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the pitch-black land of the main continent, tiny points of light gradually appeared. More and more lights gathered together, eventually forming three rivers of stars made of light that surged forward.

At ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍dawn the next day, Ashadron finished washing up and stood on his favorite balcony, his face gloomy as he looked at the wisps of cooking smoke rising from the endless rows of soldiers’ barracks below.

His ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍mood was far from pleasant, though it had nothing to do with those innocent soldiers.

It ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was simply that his sixth sense kept faintly warning him of something ominous, leaving him increasingly restless.

As ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in this campaign, instead of remaining in the safety of the main army’s rear, he chose to stay with the vanguard.

On ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the surface, this was presented as proof of his martial spirit.

In reality, however, the vanguard’s elite troops were the safest place to be. After all, if an elite force of this scale and quality could be annihilated, then hiding with the main army would only result in dying even faster.

Thinking of this, Ashadron could not help feeling rather pleased with himself, and his previously gloomy mood improved considerably.

However, in the not-too-distant future, he would soon regret that decision.

Huela State.

Standing atop a rapidly speeding combat vehicle while gripping a handrail, Erich looked toward the city gradually coming into view on the distant horizon. A smile slowly spread across his face as he shouted into the microphone,

“Where is the rapid maneuver force now?”

“Reporting to the Company Commander! The Airborne Division is currently capturing the railway hub behind the city!”

“Good. Immediately request another high-altitude reconnaissance flight through the radio vehicle. By the time our comrades in the Air Force arrive, the frontline should already have engaged the enemy. I need more detailed photographs of the defensive positions. The entire force will now advance at maximum speed to reinforce our allies!”

Because the operational plan Erich had submitted had been adopted, he was quickly recognized and promoted. Together with a fresh batch of tanks, assault guns, and newly arrived recruits from the rear, Erich was rapidly promoted to Company Commander and assigned command over part of the reinforcements.

A tank company consisted of twenty-three tanks.

Depending on operational requirements, its composition could be medium-and-light or heavy-and-medium.

For example, if the company commander, deputy company commander, and company sergeant major each commanded a Tiger Heavy Tank, then the subordinate tank platoons would each consist of five medium tanks.

The lighter armored elements were supplemented by light wheeled assault guns, infantry fighting vehicles, and similar equipment.

The reverse arrangement worked the same way.

Units equipped with heavy tanks did not receive heavy assault guns.

Units without heavy tanks instead received heavy 10×10 wheeled assault guns to serve as large mobile artillery platforms and provide additional firepower.

At the same time, a tank division did not consist solely of tanks.

Tanks were merely the principal equipment and primary combat force.

Artillery support units and ground forces were all present in full strength.

The tank division to which Erich belonged specialized in rapid maneuver warfare and was equipped with large numbers of medium and light tanks.

At this moment, he himself was riding inside a heavy wheeled assault gun.

Although they were all called wheeled assault guns, the light and medium models were, strictly speaking, completely different equipment from the heavy version.

The light and medium assault guns used low-pressure main guns.

Their greatest advantage was their low weight, allowing them to be easily mounted on wheeled chassis without destabilizing the vehicle when firing.

Naturally, the downside was that low-pressure guns could never achieve particularly high muzzle velocity, significantly reducing their destructive power.

Fortunately, armor-piercing and shaped-charge anti-armor rounds did not require especially high muzzle velocity.

Combined with their superior cross-country mobility compared to tanks, they remained highly practical on the battlefield.

Heavy assault guns, however, essentially followed the tank development path.

The only difference was that they used wheeled rather than tracked chassis while mounting a genuine 88 mm main gun.

Simply put, the heavy assault gun was nothing more than a wheeled platform designed specifically to carry the 88 mm tank gun.

Compared to the Tiger, it required fewer manufacturing hours, cost less to produce, and delivered identical firepower.

It was essentially a simplified Tiger.

In terms of firepower and battlefield adaptability, it was even more flexible than a Tiger equipped with the same 88 mm cannon.

Its weakness, however, was its inferior protection.

It was a specialized design emphasizing overwhelming offense at the expense of defense.

Erich did not care.

He simply liked big cannons.

Paying a certain price in protection was entirely acceptable to him.

In fact, many tank commanders shared the same obsession.

If they had a Tiger, they wanted to command a Tiger.

If they did not have one, they wanted a heavy assault gun.

Either way, they insisted on staying beside an 88 mm cannon.

To them,

Offense was the best defense.

A wheeled assault gun that could both run and fight while being easier to maintain than a Tiger...

They liked it even more.

“Boom!!!”

Amid a dense rain of magical projectiles, shells mixed into the barrage as they crashed down around the Alliance paratroopers, triggering one violent explosion after another.

Above the Magic Tower, which stood over ten meters tall, the elements surged densely through the air.

Strings of spells continuously formed before being launched in every direction.

Surrounding the tower were fortified gun emplacements constructed from numerous artillery towers.

Further behind lay a railway transfer hub crisscrossed by countless rail lines.

“Ptooey... Ptooey...”

Taking cover behind a reverse slope, Sergey spat out the dirt that had flown into his mouth, wiped his face, and roared at the radio operator fiddling with the communications equipment beside him,

“When the hell is the fire support getting here?! We’re about to get buried under these shells!”

The Crown Prince of Suria had not been careless.

Every city had been assigned a complete defensive garrison.

Critical locations such as railway transfer hubs were especially heavily defended.

That was also why Bratt had managed to hold out for so long.

The Crown Prince of Suria had come fully intending that even if he failed to overthrow Bratt, he would at least divide the kingdom with him.

The radio operator wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“Almost here! The tank units will arrive in five minutes, and two dive bombers should also reach the battlefield in about five minutes. We need to designate targets for the bombers!”

Sergey shouted,

“What nonsense! Of course the target is that Magic Tower! Hurry up! Illuminate it!”

The Magic Tower’s rapid-fire attacks inflicted heavy casualties upon the Airborne Division soldiers caught in open terrain.

Several gunships surrounding the tower poured relentless fire into it.

Yet the dense stream of large-caliber bullets merely produced ripples across its surface.

Left with no alternative, the airship crews shifted their fire toward the artillery emplacements surrounding the tower, carrying out precision suppression.

In simple terms, the thing had been constructed upon an enormous Magic Crystal foundation.

Perhaps other aspects were debatable.

But its magical power reserves were simply overflowing.

It could both endure punishment and strike back.

The gunships’ machine guns simply could not penetrate it in a short period of time, much less inflict meaningful damage.

Fortunately, the Alliance’s tank company soon bypassed the city and reached the rear battlefield.

Guided by the infrared designators carried by the paratroopers, two brightly illuminated priority targets appeared within the main gun sights.

The light tanks relied on their superior mobility to rapidly maneuver toward the battlefield, reaching effective firing range ahead of the others.

“Magic Tower! Load HEAT rounds! Range seven hundred yards! Ten o’clock!”

“Loaded!”

“Trajectory confirmed!”

“Fire!”

The 75 mm main gun erupted with brilliant muzzle flash and smoke as a HEAT round streaked toward the Magic Tower, slamming heavily into its outer protective barrier.

The metal jet punched a small hole through the barrier.

However, the barrier immediately erupted with brilliant light.

The opening rapidly sealed itself.

“No good! The barrier contains too much stored mana! We can’t break it!”

【Switch to tungsten-core armor-piercing rounds. Entire company, prepare for a synchronized volley in ten seconds.】

Erich’s calm voice reached everyone’s ears.

The soldiers immediately found their pillar of support and obediently switched to tungsten-core armor-piercing ammunition.

The heavy assault gun mounted on its 10×10 chassis smashed through a haystack before coming to a halt.

Its slightly lowered wedge-shaped turret slowly rotated, bringing the long 88 mm cannon to bear upon the Magic Tower, which continued launching attacks in the distance.

“Three—two—one... Fire!”

“Boom! Boom...”

Dozens of pure kinetic-energy tungsten penetrators shot toward the Magic Tower’s protective barrier at tremendous speed.

Five or six rounds instantly exceeded the barrier’s peak defensive capacity.

The remaining dozen or so tungsten penetrators violently drilled straight into the Magic Tower itself.

After slamming into the unknown metal composing the tower’s structure, their tremendous penetrating kinetic energy crushed everything blocking their path.

At the same time, shattered fragments of the tower were transformed into high-pressure streams of metallic shrapnel, ricocheting chaotically throughout the interior.

The bodies of the dozens of mages controlling the Magic Tower were repeatedly pierced by the high-speed metal fragments engulfing them.

They exploded on the spot into a grotesque scattering of shredded flesh, like rag dolls torn apart.