"Prepare!"

Haver heard the captain's roar, and although he felt his heart pounding ready to leap out of his chest, his hands instinctively started the standard procedure.

Haver took the Holy Gun off his shoulder, placed the gunstock on his foot, with the gun muzzle pointed toward the sky.

He pulled a small wooden rod from his waist, pushing the firing rod in the gun barrel back to its original position.

Then, from the lead pouch at his waist, he fetched a round lead shot, stuffed it into the muzzle, and pressed it down with the wooden rod.

Gripping the gun barrel, he lifted the Holy Gun and rested the improved gunstock against his shoulder.

He inserted the Z-shaped spring key into the spring box; unlike before, it didn't require turning, just a shake to wind it up.

Once wound, he pressed the buckle and released the spring key.

Haver then experienced a brief blur in vision, a typical reaction when using the spring gun.

Fortunately, he didn't topple over like he did in the boot camp; he remained steady on his feet.

He reverently repositioned the spring gun against his shoulder, indicating readiness.

The spring gun against his shoulder emitted a faint warmth, especially from the spring box.

Veterans said that during the previous Kanni Di Type-1 era, firing one shot could make a person dizzy, and the gunstock could extend past the shoulder to accommodate the firing rod.

But now, most battle groups had transitioned to the Kanni Di Type-3, utilizing a "special alloy" (Mithril) firing rod.

This alloy significantly reduced the rod's length and weight, thus the over-shoulder gunstock faded into history.

As for the one Haver used now, it was the most advanced Kanni Di 1449.

Designed by the renowned gun designer Haimodin, the 1449 isn't complex.

Soldiers previously used electro-gold pendants, but mana dissipated excessively.

Hence, Haimodin embedded electro-gold into the spring box and utilized a terracotta spring box.

Thus, the entire spring box became an alchemical reaction vessel, greatly reducing mana dissipation, thereby increasing the spring gun's ammunition by about thirty percent.

Haver originally could fire five shots, but with the Kanni Di 1449, he could shoot six or even seven.

This was only the Kanni Di 1449 Type-1; the Vanguard Corps had a special Type-2 that could be equipped with a bayonet at the muzzle.

"Are you daydreaming?" A bundled wooden stick struck heavily upon his helmet, "Aim, didn't you hear?"

Haver blushed, hurriedly raising his spring gun to aim at the incoming knights alongside his comrades.

The dust kicked up by hooves, the black smoke from burning stalks by the Knight Order, twisting hot air all blended together, veiling the view.

Suddenly, it seemed hundreds of knights appeared within everyone's sight.

Four hundred Border Knights formed a diamond formation, with each hundred forming smaller diamonds, coalescing into a larger diamond.

Unlike the Imperial Knights, who roared from start to finish in attacking battles, these Border Knights were unusually silent.

They were even quieter than the Close Guard Cultivators behind the breastworks, until visible.

Battle cries and shouts swept alongside the rolling heat waves, plastering the soldiers' faces.

"May the Holy Father grant me courage!"

"Glory!"

Before them lay only a flimsy wooden breastwork and fragile pine chevaux de frise.

Yet, these Close Guard Cultivators showed no fear, their training included confronting Holy Grail Knight charges at their base.

They weren't panicked, only tense.

Training wouldn't make soldiers fearless or calm; it just let them remain stationed when fear seized them.

"Three-line shooting!"

The officer beside them drew his military saber, raising it high.

The blade, as bright as a mirror's surface, reflected the midday sun's rays, causing a pain in Haver's left eye corner. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Behind him, gun barrels extended from shoulders, aimed toward the advancing Border Knights.

Since spring guns don't require the match cords close enough to ignite, they could stand incredibly densely and shoot interchangeably.

The ground trembled, grass leaves quivered.

The Dog Knights approached, Haver could make out the colors of their plumes.

"Praise the Holy Wind." As the sunlight reflected, the military saber lowered concurrently.

Haver pulled the trigger, the Holy wind blowing from the shoulder lifted his hair.

Almost instantly, the previous hoofbeats and war shouts were overwhelmed by the piercing "swish" sounds.

Countless lead shots punched holes in the floating smoke, traces visible by naked eye.

In the crackling and the sound of metal twisting, dozens of knights in front rows tilted their heads uniformly.

Lead shots scraped against armor, sending flying dark red sparks, quenched by the fresh red blood.

The massive diamond phalanx halted noticeably, seemingly pondering with some self-awareness.

Soon after, the gigantic diamond phalanx began splitting into four sections scattering in all directions.

Contrary to Mengse's expectations, they didn't slow much, charging ahead.

Their target remained the unfinished No. 4 breastwork.

This breastwork stood central to the defensive line, breaking through would sever the Imperial Guard on both sides.

Mengse instantly deciphered their intent.

"Have they gone mad? These knights, these knights..." Mengse gripped the binoculars; veins stood on his hands.

Indeed, he didn't expect the Border Knights to attack so early.

"Lord Mengse, what shall we do?"

Mengse's gaze shifted several times within a second; he glanced at the Staff Monk nearby: "Ready the Spring Cannon, use canister shots! Prepare for close combat."

...

Haver didn't wait for a second loading chance; after the six rows of Holy Gunmen fired, they immediately retreated instead.

Long Spear Cultivators on both sides swiftly filled their gaps.

In turning moment, Haver spotted beasts advancing urged by Service Soldiers and artillerymen.

He glanced sideways at the advancing—

It was a six-pound Sand Sculpture cannon.

Behind the breastwork lay dozens of pre-piled earth mounds at knee height, enough for a six-pound Spring Cannon.

"Halt! About face!"

Like marionettes, Haver followed the battalion, turning around.

They stood like guards of the Spring Cannon, positioned among the earth mounds.

Side-glancing, Service Soldiers stuffed iron sand and lead shots wrapped in paper into the cannon barrel.

Behind them, Service Soldiers carefully clamped the spring warehouse behind the barrel, installing the firing rod.

The Spring Cannon's firing rod extended from the arc-shaped breech; once the spring warehouse drove the rod, it was danger closing in.

Haver had witnessed a Service Soldier inattentively lose a chunk of flesh off their forearm to the firing rod.

Ahead, before the wooden breastwork, countless long spears closely packed, shoulder to shoulder.

Three rows of spears erected like enraged porcupine quills, staring fiercely at the charging Border Knights.

"Watch for canister shots!"

"Praise the Holy Thunder!"

The firing rod's impact on the cannon's breech roared louder than a muzzle blast beside the ear, yet the muzzle expelling canister shots was denser than speeding bullets.

At the cannon's roar, time froze for a second before resuming flow.

Lead shots smashed into ground, kicking up dust clouds mixed with hoof-raised dust, akin to smoke bombs.

Seemingly grey clouds descended from above, blood and horse whinnies weighted down the yellow-gray.

Chaotic cries, horses' mournful whinnies.

The cacophony overloaded ears, nearly causing tinnitus.

Through smokey-sliced holes, Haver saw knights wailing and falling, others gulping potions, and divine art brilliance rising from knights' hands.

Those Extraordinary Monks joined in the knightly charge?

"Alert! They've breached!" Sharp-eyed soldiers shouted behind the smoke.

"Hawk Talon Cannon!" Mengse shouted again, but the artillery team was unprepared.

Who'd anticipate the Border Knights still charging through canister fire maintaining morale!?

Counting losses, they'd reduced by a quarter, fewer than three hundred knights remained.

Yet, they pressed on charging?