The test explosion site was chosen in a flat valley within the Endless Mountains.
Surrounded by peaks, it was sparsely populated, and difficult to access from the outside without relying on tunnels or air drops. It could be said that this was a remote mountain area, very suitable for doing things that required secrecy.
It wasn't that the napalm weapon was so mysterious, but that the audience included several uncommon figures.
"Ah... the air here is really nice, I can even smell the flowers and soil in it," Celine said, emerging from a crevice in the rock, shaking her tentacles. "It's been almost two hundred years since I last saw the azure sky."
Lightning shivered. He looked at Roland, his face showing a look of panic.
Anyone who saw a huge fleshy monster emerge from the ground would inevitably feel fear. If it were in a disaster movie, this classic entrance would definitely be a climax that needed special music.
Especially with the inexplicable voice that rang in his head.
It could be said that being able to not be frightened on the spot already qualified him as an administrative officer.
This was also why Roland chose to test the weapon in the valley.
"Don't worry, they were once human, but they were transformed into what they are now because of the demons." He patted the alchemist's shoulder. "The voices you hear are them communicating through consciousness. If you want to talk to them, just say it out loud or repeat it in your mind. Like this—"
He turned to Celine, "With the original carrier's mobility, it shouldn't be difficult to take a look at the blue sky and green water, right?"
"That's because she always locks herself in the laboratory." Pasha followed, climbing out of the ground. "The God's Punishment Witches have been talking to me about what they've seen and heard in the dream world recently. You have a word to describe this phenomenon, it seems to be... otaku?"
"I seem to remember there being two adjectives before that word?" The last to appear was Elhia, who was carrying a high-ranking demon.
"Are you sure you really want me to say it?"
"Alright..."
Roland raised his eyebrows at Lightning, "How about it, they're not that scary, right?"
"Y-you're right..." the latter said with a forced smile.
"By the way, although they've lost their human appearance, they've gained near-eternal life. At the same time, the new skin has extremely high heat and corrosion resistance, which means that it can directly touch most chemical reagents; the tentacles are numerous and sensitive, so there's no problem even when operating multiple experiments. In other words, this body can be said to be the most suitable form for chemical research. How about it, are you interested in learning more?" Roland shrugged.
"Glurp," Lightning's throat moved, and after a while he replied awkwardly, "I... I'd rather not, Your Majesty."
Despite what he said, the look in his eyes when he looked at the Takhilna high-ranking witches had lessened the initial dodging, and instead had a hint of curiosity.
Roland shook his head with a smile and walked to the demon who was tied up tightly.
Even though the opponent had lost their feet, none of the necessary means of confinement were missing.
After all, this body still belonged to the God's Punishment body.
He crouched down and looked at the other party eye to eye, "I remember your name is Kabu... Lada, right?"
Without a mind connection, even if they occupied a human body, the demons wouldn't be able to understand what was being said. However, it still expressed its thoughts with its eyes—that undisguised hatred and hostility transcended racial barriers, and even if languages were not mutually intelligible, one could understand the other's thoughts.
Roland continued, unconcerned, "This is a fireworks show specially prepared for you. You committed countless crimes in the Aurora Realm, destroying most of the human kingdoms into barren land. Now it's our turn to take back this debt. Now, enjoy the show."
Then he nodded to Lightning, "Prepare for the experiment."
The alchemist glanced at the demon, adhering to the principle of "never asking more than His Majesty proactively explains", and responded loudly, "Yes... Your Majesty!"
With all preparations in place, everyone entered the bunker tunnel, leaving only the demon alone leaning against the mountain wall.
"Ignition countdown, ten, nine... one, detonate!"
A guard in charge of the operation cranked the hand-operated detonating device.
In an instant, a fiery red flame rose in the center of the valley—unlike the large-scale explosive demonstration of the previous artillery exercise, this time the fire was not very bright, and even looked a little dim. The flames were surrounded by a large amount of black smoke, which appeared heavy and thick. Neither the sound nor the level of shock was as earth-shattering as the explosives.
But everyone quickly felt the special nature of the new weapon.
Through the observation hole, everyone could clearly see that the thrown-up black smoke did not dissipate quickly, but slowly rose, like an opaque curtain. Rather than being a cloud of smoke, it was more like fiery magma—the hot air pushed the fuel into the sky, and then scattered like an opened umbrella.
When the umbrella was fully opened, the flickering red light not only did not disappear, but became more vigorous, and quickly turned the falling fuel into flowing flames!
Roland knew that it was the effect of the aluminum powder and iron oxide in the combustion-supporting layer being ignited.
The heat released by the reaction seemed to bring a second, sustained explosion—this process lasted for several seconds.
Fire rain splashed everywhere, and new fires would immediately rise wherever it touched. Even though he had left enough safe distance, he could still feel the bursts of hot wind coming at him.
Under the action of gravity, the black smoke and flames finally separated completely. The former dissipated into the sky, while the latter completely dominated the earth. The valley used to have a forest and a stream, but now only a crackling sea of fire remained. As for the experimental animals that had been placed in advance, Roland felt it was unnecessary to check them anymore.
On the other side of the tunnel, Elhia couldn't help but curl up her main tentacle.
If Takhilna had such weapons in her era, how good would that be!
Because the Red Mist feared fire, the demons' outposts were always barren. Trying to dispel the Red Mist with a few piles of firewood was no different from a fool's dream. Even if the witches tried to create a high-temperature fire source, it would be difficult to achieve anything without the maintenance of magic. But this weapon gave her hope of quickly eliminating the outposts—as long as she could get it in, it could open up a path for the subsequent army.
And her comrades wouldn't have to die helplessly in the crossfire of demons and the Red Mist in order to buy time for the mortal army.
She seemed to see the Mist Storage Tower covered in flowing fire, burning fiercely until it turned into a dazzling pillar of fire.
The mind communication that belonged only to the original carriers was rapidly transmitted in the minds of the three high-ranking witches, and they could understand each other's thoughts and emotions without even needing language.
In addition to the communication, Elhia quietly shifted her gaze to the mortal man, and secretly sighed... It was a pity that he was not born four hundred years ago.
The fire lasted for nearly four hours before gradually subsiding.
Only scorched earth remained in the valley, with nothing left to burn.
Roland walked out of the tunnel, feeling like he had suddenly gone from early spring to high summer. The hot air accumulated here in large quantities, turning the valley into a temporary greenhouse.
He looked at the demon leaning against the rock wall—since a cleaning had been done beforehand, the fire had not reached the vicinity of the bunker, and the God's Punishment Body should not have felt the scorching heat, so it should not have been harmed.
But the other party's eyes were staring straight at the scorched earth in the distance, with a hint of dark and uncertain color in its expression.
This was probably the result that Pasha and others wanted to see.
Takhilna had not considered the possibility of the other party surrendering or giving in.
They just wanted to let the other party know—
The bugs they once despised now also had the ability to destroy them.