In a distant realm where magic thrives, ferocious beasts shake mountains and rivers with their mighty roars, and individuals wield superhuman strength capable of reshaping their surroundings. It is a magical world where the strong rules.
But rampant...
At that moment, the sound of a doorknob turning echoed through the conference room, and a man entered, flanked by two guards, carrying a strange-looking rifle.
“Are you the Director of the Weapons Engineering Department?” one of the politicians inquired.
“Indeed I am,” the man replied, placing the rifle on the table. “And I’m here to introduce you to something new.”
“The prototype is out?” Maximo asked, his interest piqued.
“Oh yes,” the director said with a cheerful nod. “This is the new weapon we’ve developed.” He gestured to the rifle, crafted from local wood and metal stamping. He worked the bolt, pulling it back before handing the rifle to Maximo, who inspected the chamber with keen interest.
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“We've named it the Arcane Facilier Model 1, or the AF-1 rifle,” the director announced proudly. “This cutting-edge firearm integrates traditional gunpowder with arcane energy derived from powdered mana stones. This unique blend significantly enhances the weapon’s performance, making it more powerful, accurate, and versatile than conventional guns.”
He held up a bullet cartridge with a pointed tip. “These bullets are similar in size to the 8.25mm rounds used by the MK Mark III rifles of the Black Armored Division, but they are crafted from a newly discovered metal known as Mithril. Mithril is renowned for its lightweight nature, magical conductivity, and durability. Thanks to these properties, each bullet can channel and retain the energy from the mana-infused gunpowder, making every shot not only physically lethal but also imbued with magical effects.”
“Could you explain more about how the gunpowder mixes with powdered mana stones?” one of the officials asked.
The director chuckled. “The gunpowder used in the AF-1 is a hybrid of traditional black powder and finely-ground substance derived from mana stones. As we know, mana stones can store vast amounts of magical energy. When ground into powder and mixed with gunpowder, they create an explosive compound that's 60% far more powerful than standard rifles. This mixture produces a brilliant, arcane-infused muzzle flash and propels the mithril bullet with greater velocity and precision,” he explained. “Upon firing, the mana-infused gunpowder ignites, releasing both a physical explosion and a burst of arcane energy. This dual force propels the mithril bullet at extraordinary speeds and allows it to penetrate armor that would normally deflect standard rounds. The arcane energy also enables the bullet to bypass certain magical barriers or defenses.”
“Additionally, the AF-1 features a specialized chamber designed to handle the volatile nature of the mana-powder mix,” the director continued. “Reloading requires careful handling, as the combination is highly reactive. The bolt mechanism extracts the spent cartridge from the chamber and, when pushed forward, loads a new round from the 10-round box magazine. Once the bolt is locked in place, squeezing the trigger will activate the electronic circuit inside the bolt and fire the round.” He then used a pair of pliers to remove the butt pad from the rifle butt, revealing the internal components to Maximo.
