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Chapter 246: The Battlefield Meat Grinder
Chapter 246: The Battlefield Meat Grinder
Hermione eagerly raised her hand and answered, "Stone Axe, Professor."
She paused, then added, "From around 2 million years ago, primitive humans used it for hunting and cutting food."
"That's right," Professor Abigail said. "At that time, Muggles who used these weapons revered wizards with magical powers as gods. They knelt and prayed for the protection of wizards, offering their best food, clothing, gems, and even their children to wizards."
"Then, their weapons evolved into these..."
Spears, iron knives, and bows and arrows floated in the air, slowly rotating. Professor Abigail picked up a bow and arrow, drew the string, and effortlessly shot an arrow.
The arrow made a 'thud' sound as it embedded itself into a distant tree trunk.
From behind the trees, rustling sounds could be heard, and leaves were parted as someone stepped on the dry twigs on the ground.
Students with keen eyesight could make out the silhouettes of Centaurs through the shadows between the trees.
Two young Centaurs, holding bows and arrows, hid near the edge of the Forbidden Forest, watching the students and their teacher.
"These are bows and arrows, and Centaurs still use these weapons to this day. With bows and arrows, Muggles can hunt from a safe distance, greatly reducing the risk of facing ferocious beasts."
Professor Abigail continued, "They can also use these weapons to ambush wizards—no one can maintain the Iron Armor Charm at all times, not even me, let alone young wizards like you who can't even cast that spell."
"By then, Muggles no longer revered wizards as gods. Even the legendary mage Merlin was just King Arthur's close friend and mentor. Muggles no longer worshipped wizards as deities; they had learned to exploit the power of wizards."
"But gradually, wizards were no longer seen as prophets and companions. People began to believe that all disasters were brought about by wizards. The reason wizards had magic was because they were possessed by evil spirits."
Then, more weapons were displayed.
The cannon, which appeared in the 13th century, the matchlock rifle from the 15th century, and the flintlock rifle from the 17th century.
A gunshot rang out, and a puff of white smoke rose. The Centaurs in the Forbidden Forest were startled, and someone seemed to want to charge out but was pulled back by their companion.
Professor Abigail said, "So, from the 15th century onwards, the witch hunts began."
She pointed to the target, pierced by bullets in the distance, and asked the students, "Tell me, if several or even dozens of such weapons were aimed at you, how many of you would survive?"
Silence filled the air for a moment.
Ron muttered, "Not dozens... Even with just one, I might already be dead."
Professor Abigail said, "Your textbooks tell you that during the witch hunts, most of those killed were indeed falsely accused Muggles... That's true."
"Your books also tell you how some powerful wizards played tricks on Muggles, like the witch Wendelin, who was burned forty-seven times."
"But many of you may not realize that the Freeze Fire Charm is an extremely advanced spell, and very few wizards can master it."
"And countless young wizards like you were killed—because they had neither the ability to escape the Muggles' pursuit nor the means to avoid harm from flames or firearms!"
"Imagine if it were you tied to the stake. Could you laugh at the Muggles' stupidity like Wendelin? Could you walk away from it alive?"
The laughter among the students completely disappeared, and as they looked at the professor, imagining the cruel scene of that time, their faces turned pale, their eyes filled with unease and fear.
"Back then, children, Muggles' weapons were still crude, and they never stopped researching ways to kill each other."
"Compared to them, most wizards become helpless once they lose their wands."
"Take Nearly Headless Nick from Gryffindor House, for example. After being captured by Muggles and having his wand taken away, he was unable to escape from their dungeon. In the end, he was beheaded with a dull axe, and it took over forty strikes to sever his neck."
Previously, when students heard this story, they found it both unfortunate and amusing, but now they truly felt the horror within it.
Just then, they heard a pitiful voice:
"Why use me as an example? That's too disrespectful, Professor!"
Nick sadly floated away, with several ghosts following behind to comfort him.
It was then that everyone realized that the school's ghosts, including Peeves, were also listening in on the class. Peeves, for once, was not causing any trouble, so much so that everyone had forgotten his presence.
Professor Abigail paused for a moment, then ignored this little interruption and patted the telescope-like object beside her.
"This is the M1910 Machine Gun, an antique invented almost a hundred years ago. Who wants to come up and experience its power?"
The students were still immersed in the previous imagination, and upon hearing this, they thought Professor Abigail was asking them to face the bullets of the machine gun. Terrified, they all backed away, fearing that the professor had an incorrect perception of their abilities.
At that moment, Vold stepped forward, and everyone looked at him with the gaze of a martyr.
"Professor, I'd like to give it a try," Vold said, raising his hand.
He had never come into contact with such a battlefield meat grinder and had only seen its appearance in a military museum.
"Very well."
Professor Abigail instructed Vold to come forward and taught him how to load the canvas belt and adjust the barrel.
Then, the professor waved her wand. In the distance, on the lawn, row after row of targets stood up, resembling a crowd of people standing still.
"You may fire," she said.
Vold complied.
"Rat-a-tat-tat..."
Like a string of firecrackers exploding, the belt moved swiftly, and metal shells clattered to the ground.
Vold's arm trembled rapidly as he struggled to keep the gun steady and prevent the bullets from flying randomly.
The distant targets fell swiftly, like wheat being mowed down.
The students, relieved that Vold didn't sacrifice himself, gathered around him but then moved back in fear. A Hufflepuff student even stumbled and sat down on the ground as he backed away.
The long belt of ammunition was exhausted in less than a minute. When Vold stood up, he felt his arm muscles twitching uncontrollably.
Then they heard Professor Abigail's cold voice: "This is the reaper of life. It once killed over sixty thousand people in a single day on the battlefield."
"Sixty thousand...?" someone whispered, questioning if they had heard correctly.
"That's right," Professor Abigail said. "Theoretically, this machine gun can fire six hundred rounds per minute."
She moved the M1910 Machine Gun to the side and said, "Now, let's take a look at the others."
Special Note: During the First Wizarding War, Voldemort had not placed a curse on his name. It was only in the seventh book that he did so, and anyone who spoke his name would be found by the Death Eaters.
(End of Chapter)
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