Izzan finished crafting the rifle and now focused on the next step: infusing mana into the rifle's mechanism. However, when he tried, the mana evaporated immediately, leaving no trace as if it had been swallowed by the air.
Status Panel:
Mana: 15/100Rifle: Mechanism ready, ammo not optimal
Izzan gazed at his rifle with frustration. "What's wrong?" he murmured, watching his mana dwindle.
Athena: "It seems the mana evaporates due to the lack of a proper medium to contain it. It's like gunpowder without a bullet. Without the right container, mana cannot be compressed and expelled effectively."
A childhood memory suddenly flashed through his mind. Izzan recalled firing fireballs with high precision. The memory sparked an idea about how to leverage his past experiences.
"Ignite!" Izzan shouted, recalling the incident with the drunkard at the dock. "Oh yeah, remember that drunkard? Haha, he really couldn't hold his liquor!"
Athena: "Oh, the drunkard who always caused trouble at the dock? Why are you thinking of him now?"
Izzan smiled, "Haha, yes, he was really bad at managing alcohol, wasn't he?"
Athena: "I still remember the chaos he caused. But let's focus on our issue."
Izzan looked at Athena seriously. "Athena, we're in a critical situation now. Let's get serious."
Athena: "Understood. Initiating analysis and simulation… Simulation shows that compressing the fireball into a magical bullet could be effective if properly contained in a sturdy vessel."
Athena immediately displayed a diagram on the hologram, showing a compressed fireball inside a metal sphere, serving as a substitute for gunpowder. "We need to create two reinforced metal spheres, up to 4 times their normal capacity. The fireball magic will be placed inside these spheres to create the projectile effect."
Izzan nodded, understanding the explanation. "So, we need to prepare these two metal spheres and fill them with fireball magic. How do we create these spheres?"
Athena: "We need to use metal reinforced with enhancement magic. I will help you design and reinforce the metal."
With growing determination, Izzan began preparing the materials to make the metal spheres, following Athena's instructions to create effective projectile containers. Time was pressing, and each step had to be taken carefully to ensure the success of their magical sniper rifle.
Izzan started crafting the two reinforced metal spheres with intense focus. Once the spheres were completed, he inscribed magic circles around each sphere. However, as he tried to create the magic circles, a warning appeared.
Warning:
Mana: 10/100Only able to create 2 magic circles, as 1 circle consumes 4/100 mana.
Izzan sighed, feeling the pressure intensify. "Alright, we need to make the most of the remaining mana," he said, trying to calm himself.
With minimal mana left, Izzan managed to complete two magic circles and embed them into the reinforced projectiles. He loaded the first projectile into the rifle and aimed it at the black bear inside the cave.
Status Panel:
Mana: 2/100Remaining projectiles: 2
Izzan began calculating the wind and carefully checked the target, much like he would during a mission in his previous life. The tension hung in the air as he pulled the trigger.
However, the first shot missed. The rifle's accuracy was off, and the black bear was only grazed by the projectile, injuring its face. The bear roared angrily, glaring at Izzan with glowing red eyes. Its black, tough hide looked even more menacing as it stood on its hind legs.
Status Panel:
Mana: 2/100Remaining projectiles: 1
"What went wrong, Athena?" Izzan asked anxiously.
Athena: "The failure was due to inaccuracies in the casing and uneven magic compression. The projectile missed the target. You need to adjust the magic mechanism and rifle accuracy."
The black bear began to advance furiously, sensing the threat closing in. Izzan knew he didn't have much time. With quick movements, he loaded the second projectile into the rifle, preparing for the final shot. As the bear lunged at him, Izzan pulled the trigger with tension.
The second projectile flew with better precision, piercing the bear's head and causing it to fall immediately. The black bear ceased moving, and Izzan finally exhaled in relief.
Status Panel:
Mana: 2/100Remaining projectiles: 0
Athena: "Mana is critically low. It is recommended to rest immediately and restore mana before proceeding or facing further dangers."
Breathing heavily and nearly exhausted, Izzan sat down momentarily, checking on his parents on the golem. They were severely injured and needed assistance urgently. The gorilla golem stood by, guarding them from danger.
Having defeated the black bear, Izzan lay on the ground with the bear's weight on top of him. He felt a sense of relief as the bear finally lay still. Struggling, he freed himself from the bear's body and started searching for his weapon.
"I need to find my weapon," Izzan muttered, scanning the cave.
He eventually found the rifle lying beside him. With a broad smile, Izzan picked up the rifle and caressed it with pride.
"Ah, finally found it! I'm calling this weapon 'Ignite M82,'" he said cheerfully. "A combination of Ignite magic and the Barrett M82 sniper I used in my previous life."
Athena: "Actually, the name 'Ignite M82' feels rather bland. Couldn't you come up with a more creative name, like 'PyroSpectre' or 'Inferno Striker'?"
Izzan's face lit up with excitement, as if he had just found a favorite lost toy. "Oh, Athena, don't underestimate this name! It's a fitting and cool name. Besides, it reminds me of the challenging times from my past."
Athena: "Stop your annoying behavior! Besides, a simple name might not fully reflect the weapon's power or special features."
Izzan held the rifle tightly, resting its end against his cheek with a satisfied smile. "But look! This weapon feels like a part of me. It's like finding an old friend."
Athena: "I understand you're pleased, but don't let this euphoria cloud reality. You still need to recover mana and stay safe, especially in this emergency."
Izzan suppressed his laughter and nodded with a serious face. "You're right. I'll postpone the celebration. We need to move quickly. There's still much to be done, and we need to get my parents into the cave."
Stowing his new weapon in his bag, Izzan quickly checked his gear and ensured everything was ready for the next leg of the journey. He instructed the gorilla golem to carefully move his parents into the cave. Then, Izzan ordered the golem to drag the bear's corpse into the cave as well.
"Now, cover the cave entrance with your body. Position yourself to look like ordinary rocks concealing the cave," Izzan ordered firmly.
The gorilla golem followed the instructions, using its body to cover the cave entrance carefully. As the golem completed its task, the entrance blended seamlessly with the surrounding rocks, camouflaging the cave.
With everything set and concealed, Izzan turned and sat down for a moment, contemplating the next steps. He knew that time was moving on and the threats outside remained very real.