Chapter 516: Destiny Weapon

In the past two or three years, Lei En hasn't been solely researching the miniaturization of the Titan Furnace; there are many other things as well, and the Bolt Gun is one of them, receiving time and effort only second to the Titan Furnace, having started even earlier and ultimately reaping abundant results.

The Bolt Gun looks like an enlarged submachine gun by two calibers, but the operating principles of the two are vastly different, and the power disparity is astronomical!

The biggest difference lies in the ammunition.

In Lei En's hand appears a massive projectile with a caliber exceeding two centimeters and a length of five centimeters, thicker than an adult's thumb and comparable to shotgun shells.

The pale‑red casing is made of fuel element, hard yet lightweight; the fuel element still serves as the fuse, but what it ignites is no longer the propellant of the previous caseless round, but a solid propellant hidden at the base of the projectile, which detonates violently and hurls the heavy projectile outward.

This is why the Bolt Gun emits a deafening report when fired.

The rear half of the projectile contains a peculiar metal propellant whose name Lei En cannot recall; it is refined from a green ore. Based on its properties, Lei En speculates it may be the "beryllium" of a previous life, which, when mixed with a catalyst, can serve as rocket fuel under high temperature and pressure, releasing massive heat to generate thrust.

Under the massive thrust, the alloy projectile made of blue iron accelerates severalfold, attaining terrifying lethality and easily piercing metal plate armor.

Moreover, the projectile's interior houses a hybrid high‑energy explosive that detonates destructively upon impact or pressure.

This is the "Octojin" that Lei En has been tinkering with for over two years and finally succeeded in producing last month; in a previous life it was the most well‑balanced explosive, its power exceeding that of the so‑called "King of Explosives" Tien Ti by half, and it also serves as an additive for the propellant—a double benefit.

Thus, Lei En created a terrifying bullet that combines high rate of fire, high penetration, and high explosive power, and named it "Explosive Shell"!

He precisely controls the charge amount; after repeated testing, one Explosive Shell's power roughly equals that of the three‑ring spell "Exploding Flame Orb".

The Exploding Flame Orb consumes as much soul energy as the three‑ring Fireball spell, but its fame is far less than that of Fireball, its damage radius is smaller, never exceeding two meters.

Nevertheless, within two meters, the flame temperature and lethality generated by the Exploding Flame Orb surpass those of the Fireball spell.

The Explosive Shell is extremely similar to the Exploding Flame Orb—one could even say identical—but the Shell's range, speed, and firing frequency far exceed those of the Orb, while its soul‑energy consumption is only a few tenths of the Orb's.

Lei En sets the Bolt Gun to "automatic" mode, aims at the nearby target, and pulls the trigger.

Boom—boom—boom…

The Bolt Gun's muzzle spews scorching crimson flame.

A series of fierce explosions echo through the Mechanical Alchemy Chamber, as if standing beside continuously firing artillery, rattling the eardrums. The Bolt Gun's recoil generates successive shockwaves that make the stone‑built walls roar and tremble, like an earthquake.

The three indoor targets are instantly shattered, deep bullet dents scar the stone wall, debris litters the floor, and clouds of smoke billow, as if the area had been bombarded by artillery.

In fact, the Bolt Gun fires a kind of miniature cannonball!

Lei En halts the test firing.

In just three seconds, he launched fifteen Explosive Shells, each matching the power of the three‑ring Exploding Flame Orb, and the surrounding temperature rose a few degrees.

The Bolt Gun itself heats up; its massive barrel remains solid, with no looseness. Engraved cooling rune sigils inside activate automatically, tempering the barrel's heat, emitting a faint sizzle, and wisps of white smoke drift from the muzzle.

"It's all money!"

Lei En lets out a light sigh; the Bolt Gun is fine in every way, but its biggest drawback is the exorbitant cost of its ammunition.

The cost of one Explosive Shell is roughly equivalent to one Gold Shield!

In automatic mode, the Bolt Gun can discharge three hundred rounds per minute, i. e., three hundred Gold Shields, each projectile exuding the scent of a Gold Shield.

Shooting is shooting money!

Even if he were rich, he couldn't sustain such expenditure; if each Extreme Warrior in a four‑company unit wielded a Bolt Gun with no restrictions, firing at will, a few hours would bankrupt him…

This doesn't even account for the Bolt Gun's own cost.

The materials to craft a Bolt Gun cost around five thousand Gold Shields, with more than half of that value tied up in its Dimensional Magazine—another of Lei En's developments. The magazine holds up to twelve thousand rounds, divided into five separate chambers that can store five different types of ammunition, selectable at will when firing.

A Dimensional Magazine loaded with ammo paired with a Bolt Gun totals nearly eighteen thousand Gold Shields, enough to purchase a relatively mediocre epic‑level weapon!

The labor cost Lei En himself incurs hasn't been counted yet.

He finished the Bolt Gun's design over a month ago, but hasn't yet field‑tested it on Extreme Warriors, as he's still pondering how to cut costs.

Moreover, the Explosive Shell's structure is complex, making its production labor‑intensive and time‑consuming.

Lei En and Reslin, both their primary forms and avatars, employ Activated Metal around the clock, and at most can produce three thousand Explosive Shells per day—enough for only ten minutes of continuous fire from a Bolt Gun.

The submachine gun also consumes caseless rounds; with over twelve hundred Gunwing Knights each wielding one, daily training alone expends over ten thousand rounds. In the past two years, Reslin, aside from meditation and constructing spell models, has spent all remaining time manufacturing ammunition and repairing the submachine gun, becoming a pure tool.

This is why Lei En changed his mind and decided to cooperate with the Mechanical Guild to produce the submachine gun.

First, to prevent outsiders from coveting the submachine gun; second, to lessen his own manufacturing burden; third, to make money.

Earlier, when discussing with Akaland, Lei En didn't reveal his entire plan; he intends to design a production line that can mass‑produce ammunition with minimal labor, but the problem lies in controlling the fuel element to form casings.

Currently only Activated Metal can achieve this, and he hasn't found an alternative; he only has vague clues and cannot yet confirm success.

If taken further, handing the synthesized propellant to the Mechanical Guild will eventually lead someone to produce pure gunpowder rounds, which could spread among common folk and disrupt the balance of the supernal world.

"This problem is hard to solve!"

Lei En furrows his brows, finding it quite tricky.

As his forces grow, he cannot single‑handedly supply logistics; the entire military‑industrial system rests on him alone. Beyond exhaustion, if something happens to him and he cannot act, Gelamogen's supernal legion would collapse overnight.

Yet this issue's difficulty is no less than that of the Titan Engine, and there is no answer for the time being.

"The road ahead is long…"

After pondering for a long while, Lei En was about to put away the Bolt Gun when he saw Xikalius peeking at the doorway of the Mechanical Alchemy Chamber, shouting, "Boss, is something wrong?"

"Nothing, just testing the new gun."

Lei En instantly saw that Xikalius was asking knowingly.

Every symbiont can constantly sense the state of the primary body; the Mechanical Alchemy Chamber is fitted with a sound‑dampening sigil, so only the vibration from a gunshot escapes. Xikalius, stationed in the castle, immediately seized the opportunity.

Since seeing the prototype of the Bolt Gun three years ago, he has never forgotten it.

"New gun!"

Xikalius's eyes lit up; spotting the Bolt Gun in Lei En's hand, he immediately removed his helmet and rushed in, his face full of anticipation, asking, "Boss, this is the Bolt Gun you mentioned before, is it ready for use?"

Seeing his insatiable curiosity, Lei En couldn't take his eyes off him and smiled, "You came at the perfect time; come over and give it a try."

He handed the Bolt Gun over.

The moment Xikalius grasped it, he sensed its uniqueness; the heavy barrel matched his strength, and even if it couldn't fire, it could be used to smash people.

The grip at the rear of the barrel fit perfectly, offering superb feel; when held, a strange sensation arose, as if the weapon were custom‑made for him, becoming part of his body, as if the Extreme Warrior existed to one day wield it in perfect harmony.

This is the Extreme Warrior's destiny weapon!

He didn't rush to fire, carefully admiring the Bolt Gun in his hand, his eyes full of rapture.

The barrel, less than a meter long, weighed a hundred pounds, could be held with one hand, forged as a single piece of magical alloy like Lambo's Gun, and the only detachable part was the curved magazine.

The barrel is large and thick, which means formidable firepower!

The silver‑gray barrel's sides are engraved with the Augustus family's golden crest, surrounded by red runes and energy lines that penetrate deep into the weapon, exceedingly remarkable.

The new gun's design is both domineering and fierce, and Xikalius fell in love with it instantly.

He suddenly felt an inexplicable excitement, his blood surging, raised the Bolt Gun toward the already shattered target wall and pulled the trigger.

Clack!

A faint mechanical sound, yet no bullet was fired.

Xikalius blinked, pulled the trigger several more times, the "clack clack clack" produced no response. He turned back, puzzled, and asked gloomily, "Boss, is it broken?"

"It shouldn't be broken; I just forgot something."

Lei En took back the Bolt Gun, smiling, "It can only be used by the person I designate; even if it falls into someone else's hands, without my permission it won't fire a bullet."

"That's unbelievably magical!"

Xikalius widened his eyes, completely not understanding how the boss did it.

Lei En gave no explanation, saying that Xikalius wouldn't understand anyway.

This secret lock is his original technology: a "Soul Engraving Stone" that records soul wave frequencies is embedded inside the Dimensional Magazine, linked to the magazine's rune sigil, forming a key‑like function reminiscent of a past life. When the holder of the Bolt Gun pulls the trigger, a strand of soul energy is drawn to unlock the Dimensional Magazine, releasing a bullet.

That strand of soul energy is small; it must match the pre‑recorded soul wave frequency in the Soul Engraving Stone for the Bolt Gun to work.

If the soul wave frequency doesn't match, pulling the trigger any number of times is useless.

Even destroying the Dimensional Magazine won't produce a bullet.

One Soul Engraving Stone can record up to twenty different soul wave frequencies, and the permission to record a new frequency belongs only to the first soul wave; this is set when the Dimensional Magazine is made, i. e., Lei En himself, and no one else can add, delete, or replace them.

The Soul Engraving Stone is also a type of soul stone, just not commonly used, of moderate value.

Regarding the Soul Engraving Stone's function and the secret of soul wave frequencies, unless someone also possesses the Soul Eye, the Bolt Gun and Dimensional Magazine cannot be deciphered.

Lei En is extremely confident about this, not fearing the Bolt Gun falling into outsiders' hands at all.

He held the Bolt Gun in one hand, pressed it against Xikalius's body with the other, and recorded Xikalius's soul wave frequency onto the Soul Engraving Stone inside the magazine, completing it in just a few seconds.

"Try it again," Lei En said with a smile.

Xikalius, half‑believing, half‑doubting, gripped the Bolt Gun and fired at the target wall; this time it finally responded.

Boom!

The thunderous gunshot startled Xikalius, and the massive recoil nearly made him drop the gun; he stepped back two paces before stopping.

"Jiliman on high!"

"This… this is literally a divine artifact!"

Xikalius stared dumbfounded, glanced at the crater on the opposite wall and at the Bolt Gun in his hand, scarcely believing it all. He had been a Legendary Warrior for three years, only recently promoted to level eleven, his Element at level eight, and almost couldn't grip the gun when he fired!

The power of this shot was many times greater than Lambo's Gun, beyond count.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Xikalius impatiently fired several shots in succession; the deafening gunfire didn't discomfort him, but instead set his blood boiling.

Having used firearms for years, he also knew much about them: the Bolt Gun's projectile speed, recoil, explosive power, and each round's soul‑energy consumption was slightly lower than Lambo's Gun's—this completely shocked him.

Without Lei En's prompting, he switched to burst mode.

In an instant, the massive gunfire grew even fiercer, like thunder exploding beside his ears.

The Bolt Gun spewed a flame over a meter long, the surrounding temperature surged, heat waves rolled, and the recoil from the barrel persisted; Xikalius had to grip with his right hand at full strength to keep the muzzle steady, lest he be knocked back.

Boom—

After firing for over ten seconds, the stone wall more than three meters thick opposite the range was pierced, half the wall collapsed, startling the Extreme Warriors on guard outside, who rushed in en masse.

"That's enough."

Lei En told Xikalius to stop, waving his hand to signal the Extreme Warriors at the doorway to go out.

However, these Extreme Warriors were discerning; the moment they saw the Bolt Gun in Xikalius's hand and the blasted stone wall, their eyes widened, and they stared at Lei En with eager looks, their faces saying "I want to try too."

"Hahaha…" Xikalius shouted joyfully, "Boss, when can you equip me with a Bolt Gun? With it, I'd dare to slay a dragon alone!"

Lei En could only laugh and cry at that.

Xikalius was being overly confident; confronting a dragon beyond Legendary with the Bolt Gun's power could pose a considerable threat, but breaking through dragon scales and hide remains difficult—one would need to fire four or five consecutive shots at the same spot to have a chance.

"I've already made a Bolt Gun," Lei En said to the hungry‑looking Extreme Warriors, "Each round costs a Gold Shield, and I can't produce many; you'll have to wait a bit longer."

"That's so expensive!"

Xikalius turned pale with shock.

His rapid barrage had expended at least fifty rounds—that's fifty Gold Shields, enough for the tribe to buy plenty of food and supplies; he winced with guilt, shrank his neck, hurriedly returned the Bolt Gun to Lei En, and forced a laugh, "Boss, I didn't mean to."

The other Extreme Warriors were also startled, and their craving for the Bolt Gun waned considerably.

"Don't worry, I won't make you pay; sooner or later each brother will get one," Lei En said, putting away the Bolt Gun with a smile.

"Long live the boss!"

The Extreme Warriors shouted in unison, with Xikalius yelling the loudest, his face full of eagerness and anticipation.

(End of Chapter)