After two full days of intensive study, Arya realized that using Alchemy to craft bullets was not as complicated as it initially seemed.
Albert had once told her that the three most fundamental and unchanging steps of Alchemy were Comprehension, Decomposition, and Reconstruction.
Comprehension was essentially learning and understanding. It involved recognizing the relationships between materials and knowing precisely how to manipulate them.
Decomposition was even simpler in principle. Whether boiling herbs in a crucible or crushing dried snakes, insects, rats, or ants in a mortar, the goal was always to break things down to release their magical or medicinal properties.
Reconstruction was the final step: forming a usable product from the raw materials.
Arya carefully sketched an Alchemy Array, placed a piece of iron ore in the center, and initiated the process. Using the Array, she decomposed the ore into fragments and then meticulously recombined the iron molecules into a block of pure iron.
While the concept seemed straightforward, executing it required precision. Sweat formed on Arya's forehead as she pressed her hands against the glowing Array. Only she could sense the subtle feedback of magic, indicating what was happening inside.
A few minutes later, the light faded, and a triumphant smile spread across her face. Two distinct items now rested on the Alchemy Array: a pile of circular gray ash around the outer ring, and a silver-white, thumb-sized object in the small circle at the center.
Arya examined it with her Appraisal Glasses and grinned. Ninety percent pure iron was usable. Her Alchemy Array was indeed functional.
Sweeping away the shattered stone slabs scattered around her, Arya turned to the lead, copper, and other minerals Roy had provided. She began refining them in batches. Once complete, she moved on to shaping bullet casings and heads.
Due to differences in manufacturing standards, Arya's casings were thicker than Roy's sample, reducing the internal space for gunpowder. But she had expected this and considered it acceptable.
Next came the real challenge: gunpowder. Arya had very little knowledge of the substance, having never studied it in depth. But she had a workaround. She labeled each casing with a number and carefully added varying amounts of her Exploding Potion, designed to detonate under strong impact.
The potion mimicked the thrust effect of gunpowder perfectly, making it an excellent substitute.
[Exploding Bullet (E-)]
Effect: Has a chance of causing a small-scale explosion upon impact.
Description: A 7.62mm bullet with extra power at no extra cost. Using it on your enemies should be a very satisfying experience.
Arya blinked at the description panel. Could her Appraisal Glasses be malfunctioning? No—it had to be the potion inside the casings giving the bullets their explosive properties. She chuckled at the thought that this world already recognized 7.62mm bullets, evidence of frequent cross-dimensional knowledge exchange with Blue Star.
Deciding to experiment, she produced ten bullets, each with incrementally larger charges, and sent them to Roy.
Arya: "Each bullet is numbered. Try them and tell me which one works best."
Roy: "Got it."
Roy immediately sent them to Eile Ell for testing. Meanwhile, Arya took a fresh batch of iron ore and refined it into plates. Her goal was to craft Alchemy bases from iron, eliminating the need to rely on Natasha to supply stone slabs or to clean up debris after every experiment.
Unfortunately, Arya soon realized it was not so simple. Iron-based Alchemy Array foundations were proving much more difficult to create than expected. Even her Appraisal Glasses couldn't identify the issue. For now, she had no choice but to set this task aside.
Not one to remain idle, Arya turned her attention to a newly acquired crossbow. She had always felt that being airborne was her best defense. However, observing Roy's firearms, the crossbow in her hand, and the basic longbows and shortbows she had encountered previously, she recognized the potential danger even at a distance.
The current weapons seemed weak, but what of future upgrades? These were all low-level E-rank equipment. Who knew how far the range and power of D- or C-rank weaponry could extend?
Just then, a message arrived from Roy:
Roy: "The gun exploded."
Arya froze. "What happened? Explain everything."
Roy: "Bullet number nine caused the barrel to blow up."
Arya tried to suppress a grin. "And the others?"
Roy: "Number eight worked best, even triggering an explosion effect."
Arya raised an eyebrow. "You can't blame me. Alchemy bullets are supposed to explode. You have Appraisal Glasses too, right?"
Roy could only groan in frustration. Initially, he had thought that crafting bullets would be straightforward for an Alchemist. But it was now painfully clear that Arya had outsmarted him. She had ensured that testing her bullets would be hazardous, effectively guaranteeing her own safety.
Did Roy actually possess Appraisal Glasses? No. He had sold them to Arya for profit, seeing no practical need for them himself. His small-screen identification device gave him enough information to feel confident, but it had proven useless when Arya's bullets caused Eile Ell's gun to explode.
From Roy's perspective, Arya's actions were deliberate. She had intentionally made testing her bullets dangerous, a fact she had indeed considered. Her goal was simple: eliminate threats and protect herself from harm.
As the day wore on, Arya resumed her work. She refined more iron, tested shaping techniques, and continued experimenting with Alchemy Arrays. She combined focus with careful observation, aware that any misstep could ruin hours of painstaking work.
Despite setbacks, she remained undeterred. Each experiment brought new insight, and each small success strengthened her confidence. The thrill of creation, combined with the knowledge that she had the upper hand against potential threats, energized her.
By nightfall, the refined iron plates gleamed under the faint light of the Shelter. Arya took a deep breath, surveying her work. Each piece represented not just raw material, but progress toward independence and mastery.
She also reflected on her bullets. Bullet number eight's controlled explosion had validated her method, while number nine had provided a harsh but informative failure. Each result was a step toward perfecting her craft.
Arya allowed herself a small smile. She had achieved something extraordinary: merging Alchemy with projectile weaponry. Though rudimentary now, her knowledge and skill would only improve. Soon, E-rank explosives would become second nature, and she would no longer rely on others to test or refine her creations.
The future was uncertain, yes, but Arya felt a growing sense of empowerment. She was not just surviving; she was evolving. Each experiment, each refinement, each failure and success was a lesson, and she intended to master them all.
Outside, the world remained chaotic, full of dangers and unknowns. But Arya's gaze was steady, her mind sharp. With her refined iron, crossbow, and experimental bullets, she was ready for whatever came next. And if anyone underestimated her, they would learn the hard way that even an E-level talent could wield extraordinary power when paired with determination, intelligence, and a touch of Alchemy.
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