"Okay, okay. We've got: Brass, some crude gun powder, lead, and a fair amount of steel. You're sure this will work?"
A night of nonstop business went by as fast as the azure light of the moon could shine. Sun had once again shined on the castle, under such light did the Holy Knights gather within a small room on the first floor, the armory. There the Great Sage inspected the materials presented to him. He observed each part of the bullet he was provided by Lieutenant Patterson, as Captain Thompson was sitting in bed, ill. Laying on a small wooden table were the items that PFC Simon listed off. Each object was needed for what the Sage intended to do, yet the Holy Knights remained skeptical; their faith in the old man, especially Richard who recalled how violent he handled the man when they first met, was miniscule at best and non-existent at worst.
Laying in several-large wooden bowls, were a black substance that was provided by the military, gunpowder. Made from volatile mana crystals and shards, gunpowder was invented by several minds in the Navy alongside their new 'cannon' armaments that remained classified to even the king himself.
The Sage's eyes lingered on the powder as he helped himself to a single bowl. The powder was more than sufficient in naval warfare to set off chain reactions in hostile boats, and as a propellant it was decently suited for creating small, yet controlled chambers of pressure
Though when compared to the smokeless powder used by the bullet he had in his hand, the Sage truly wondered if he could replicate this new and unfamiliar advance technology. Sure, the gunpowder they had now was suitable for dealing with the monsters sent by the Demon Lord, yet the bullets used by the Holy Knights proved that their main target was an ordinary human, not one of magic, but a magicless soul.
"This will be enough for this trial." The Sage said nervously as he placed the brass bullet back on the table, only to be swiftly grabbed by Patterson. "Comparatively, the science of your world far exceeds our own, so I please ask you to bear with me if the desired results are not gained immediately."
"As long as we can get our ammo, our services can be provided." Patterson said clasping his hands together.
Years of experimenting with different kinds of chemicals to create the black gun powder in the bowl was the majority of the Great Sage's career. It was his personal ambition to create a world where magic isn't relied on, yet in an ironic way he turned into one of the world's most powerful mages. That alone made the old man frown as he extended his arms towards the ingredients laid neatly together on the table.
"Please stand back." He warned making the Holy Knights scurry back behind a collection of wooden boxes.
Several of the knights cooed and gasped from their cover as a spark of electricity pooled down the man's covered arms. A large casting circle appeared on the table, and above the ingredients, a small purple orb began to withdraw the items from their locations where they once waited to be combined.
Mike watched the display with indifference. He had accepted this new reality, this new magical world and everything that came along with it. He missed his home. He missed his family. Yet ever since he was pulled out of the shithole that was Peshawar, it seemed that this new world would be enough to keep his mind in the right place even if there were things he had yet to understand. All he knew was that he had his team. Even with their new addition being the First-Born Princess, it had seemed that she even belonged amongst him and the other Rangers. They are all people without a home, but at least they were by each other's sides.
Being shaken out of his thoughts, the Great Sage let out a noise as the light intensified. At this point the spell had been casted without issue, but now there was an unforeseen variable. Letting out a groan the Sage held firm, unwilling to let himself or the Holy Knights down. Though small, securing the ammunition used by the knights was imperative to the kingdom's survival, as it was a sure way for the knights to fight, as well as it being a way to develop new technologies.
"You okay, sir!?" Green called out alarmed by the man's sudden flinch to his voice. Not answering, the Sage reached his hand towards the purple orb as he groaned in pain. For anyone watching the sight before them would be unacceptable and hazardous. It was obvious how caught up the man was in his thoughts, such a state of mind was dangerous, and it seemed that the Private First Class's voice kept him aware of the world around him as the orb began to slowly fade, as branches of energy seemed into the ground or escaped through the small window within the armory.
Alarmed by the abnormal growth on the man's arm, Sergeant Malkovich called out in a calmed, yet booming voice. "Stop touching the orb!"
Flinching once more, the Great Sage fell to the ground and the remaining light the orb gave off suddenly disappeared as what appeared to be hundreds of bullets landed in the large tray that was set aside for collection. Jolting out of cover, Mike grabbed the trauma kit he had brought along. Beside him the other Rangers moved quickly to pull the man away from ground zero, with Simon pushing the tray of bullets aside. Over the next few minutes, both Mike and Staff Sergeant Baker checked over the man, as Simon and Green interacted with several guards that came to investigate strange noises that echoed throughout the nearby hallways.
"Did it work?" Leaning against the wall with the help of the two Ranger's that provided medical aide to him, the Great Sage sighed as he looked upon his creation. Seeing a steel bullet that was made right next to him, the Sage cupped it into his burnt hand as he looked at it with surprised-wide eyes.
"Stop touching things, sir." Baker said calmly as he swatted the bullet out of his hand.
With gloved hands, Malkovich and Richard gathered the bullets and moved them to the other side of the room under the carful supervision of Lieutenant Patterson. It was the best choice to move a possible hazardous material, or object out of the way. Examining the bullets from a distance, Patterson somehow gained the stupid idea of picking up the bullet that Baker swatted away. His reflection was muted on the magically transformed metal, he when taking out a bullet from a magazine, he found that the two were identical other than the lackluster shine on the one he already had.