“I have read about medical evacuations that were primarily taken care of by helicopters. Also, close-range support. If we were able to train birds, we could have medical groups on standby to rush into the fight, get the wounded, and get back out, increasing the chances of survival. We could also mimic the bombers and attack helicopters of Earth. Add in machine guns under the beast’s wings and storage rings on their stomach that can drop bombs. Even if they’re not capable of that, they can remain in the sky, feeding information back to command. Give new firing solutions to the artillery forces on the ground, even,” Glosil said.
“You know about helicopters?” Kanoa was a little shocked.
“Erik and Rugrat told us everything they knew. Same with Matt and Tanya. I thought it was crazy, but I’ve learned there are a lot crazier things around.”
“Yes, sir. We have the birds. I have been talking to the beast tamers, and there are several beasts we could raise to be insertion mounts, bombers, or quick-response medical transport.”
“Can we not use one kind of mount?”
“We could, but they would be limited. The ground unit panthers are perfect for getting in and out of an engagement. Also, they have been raised in large numbers to fill the needs of the army. The birds, although they are raised and sold to traders, are luxury items. They have not been raised in large numbers. The fastest ones have been bred the most, while other birds were left alone, the aggressive ones especially. Who wants a mount that is angry?”
“I’m guessing we do?” Glosil smiled, getting a grin from Kanoa.
“Damn right we do. We need their aggressive nature to dive at the enemy, to go into dangerous situations. If you can tame the strong-willed ones, they will be better than the docile ones.”
Glosil sat at his desk, turning it over in his mind. “Bring it up at the meeting at the end of the week with the Silaz boys. I think you might get your airborne unit.”
A whining noise filled the air. Rugrat and the rest of the testing group were in a bunker, using spells and gear to watch the test bed platform and the target.
There was a tzzing noise as the target was struck.
Everyone watched the weapon. The heat-dissipating formations pumped the heat away, their glow dimming so one could see a barrel between formation blocks with a chamber at one end.
“The power consumption is still much higher, but the barrel variables are lower,” one of the people in the room said.
“Yeah, Phil, it is much more stable than the air-enhanced weapon system, but the requirement for power and formations is too high to mass-produce it,” Rugrat said.
“Over the last couple weeks, we have come up with the enhanced air gun and a railgun. The air gun uses a modified round, an artillery shell. Once the round is fired, air formations are triggered, shooting in a massive amount of air. The artillery shell, combined with the air formations, greatly increases the overall velocity of the round. Though the timing has to be perfect or the airflow will slow the round. Or worse, it will highly pressurize the barrel, and when the round is ignited, the barrel could explode. The railgun uses metals that, when introduced to an electrical charge, create magnetic forces that shoot the round forward at great speeds. I never knew that metal could be turned into a magnet before,” Taran said.
“We have mostly fixed the issues in the enhanced air gun version. We are testing the fourteenth version, and it fired ten thousand rounds without fail already,” Julilah said.
“Though the overall power of the air gun is less than the railgun,” Rugrat said.
“You just want a science-fiction rifle in a fantasy world,” Phil said as he checked information on his clipboard.
“Yes, Phil, I want a laser gun. Can we do that?” Rugrat paused.
Phil looked up and tapped the pencil to his chin. “I don’t see why not. Though we are in atmosphere, so the power of the weapon will be greatly decreased and be even more prone to overheating than your railgun.”
“We have two issues. One, power.” Julilah guided them back on task. “The railgun takes a massive amount of power to shoot. And two, the weapon tears itself apart because of the forces acting upon it.”
“We already have charged magazines. What if we were to create cartridges that didn’t have gunpowder but mana stones?” Rugrat said.
“We would need to work that out. If we could use Earth or Sky stones, that should solve our issues, I think. Julilah?” Taran asked.
“It could be possible, though that means every round we fire is going to cost a ton.”
“We’re raking in the stones. To enhance our military, I think we’ll be happy to do so,” Rugrat said.
“Why don’t we use crystals to power all the weapons?” Phil asked.
“One, they are, as Julilah said, expensive as hell. We’d be burning money to shoot. Two, we can mass-produce a ton of gunpowder. Railguns are expensive and time-consuming to make. As our military continues to expand, we will create more rifles and rounds. They are not outdated yet. For the lower realms, there are few things that are their equal.
“Three, with formation sockets on our weapon systems, we can update them all the time, increasing the way they enhance the weapon. The systems work, and they are reliable. Adding crystals would be a waste. There is so much we can upgrade on them still,” Rugrat said.
“And we would need to build a system like the air gun or railgun for them all, which takes development and time. I think I have a solution to the second problem we have with the railgun—wear and tear. Controlled air buffers. Create a powerful air cushion in the barrel. It keeps the round in the middle of the barrel when it is fired instead of scraping along the barrel,” Julilah said.
Everyone sunk into thought.
“Normal rifles work on the use of explosive force. Railguns don’t. It doesn’t need to be a completely enclosed system,” Rugrat said.
“The air flow could also decrease the overall temperature of the weapon. First with the lack of friction and then expelling air from within the barrel,” Phil added.
“We would have to keep the system separated. With all these formations, we won’t be able to add in formation sockets to start with. The metals and materials making the weapon will melt with so much power running through them.”
“Looks like we have an idea for prototype twenty-three!” Rugrat announced.
“More damn prototypes.” Taran rolled his eyes.
“At least we have the air gun. The rounds are large enough to be stamped with formations. They can shoot faster and longer with the cooling effect of the air system, and the speed of the round has increased by ten percent compared to our regular rifles, with thirty percent less recoil,” Rugrat said.
“We are creating a new factory for them to assemble the machine guns as we speak. Should be starting production in another month.” Taran rubbed his face, feeling tired.
“How is production going on the Conqueror’s Armor?” Rugrat glanced over to Julilah.
“We replaced a regiment’s worth of armor with the new versions. It will be another month to upgrade our serving members’ armor.”
Rugrat made to speak but got a sound transmission. He listened to it before smacking his head. “How the hell didn’t I think of developing an air force. Dammit. At least Kanoa talked to Glosil. Well, damn, we could use the air gun for weapons on the birds. We might need new bombs for the bombers. I should talk to Han Wu,” Rugrat muttered to himself.
“If you two idiots start making bombs together, do it somewhere like the Metal floor. You’re likely to blow up the damn dungeon!” Taran said.
“More bombs? Do you ever get tired of explosions?”
“Tired of explosions? Pfft! Nope! The bigger the better!”
Taran, Phil, and Julilah looked at one another and shrugged.
“Since the others from Earth arrived, we have had an explosion in the areas of research and technology. They are rapidly advancing in different crafts,” Taran said.
“We just need to know
how to coax the Ten Realms into understanding our skill levels. We’re still figuring out all the rules for the Ten Realms. Healing without any aids. Using the principles of shooting and our knowledge to take out targets at a long distance, mixed with skills to take out people at close range with great accuracy. As long as we apply that knowledge within the Ten Realms’s parameters, it will give us a clearer and easier route of skill progression. Though I am not sure that is for the best,” Rugrat said.
“How so? I know we have the whole debate of application and academics going on right now, but if we find a way for people to increase their skill level faster, isn’t that good?”
“It is good for experience and egos, but it is not good for learning. In the Sixth Realm academies, they call it specialization. Someone will specialize in one area. Say healers—they will specialize in broken bones or colds. They will just do that one thing. They learn all the spells that can heal a person’s bone in the best way possible. They reach the stage where they can heal a person’s bone in one touch. They are Master-level healers because they have demonstrated to the Ten Realms their ability in that one area. Academically, that is awesome, but in reality, they are pretty damn useless. Take our medics: If we had one learn how to do one thing, then how the hell are they going to talk to one another if they are dealing with a gunshot wound? How are they going to heal them? Sure, that is fine for research—find those spells, teach others, and then they can do it as well, though you can see how in learning the system, the Ten Realms allows us to manipulate it. Look at the tech we’re coming up with!”
“As time goes on, I think that the practical applications will have a greater weight than the theoretical academic advances. Still, we should teach general principles up to Expert. Beyond that, people have to specialize. But that knowledge, when distilled into the practical, aren’t they two sides of the same coin, empowering one another?” Taran said.
“Yeah, I just hope we don’t lose our edge of taking knowledge and applying it in new and different ways. Just talking to the other military members, I’ve found there are so many things I am missing. Phil is an integral part of this team with all the ideas he has come up with,” Rugrat said.
“Well, let’s leave those questions to the council and teachers to worry about. We can just make the guns and tech,” Julilah said.
“Maybe I am thinking on it too much. Making guns and explosives is much easier!”
“Says you!” Taran shot back.
23
New Tempering Path
The weeks rushed by. There were just over five months to go until the Second Annual Fighter’s Competition in Vuzgal.
Erik and Delilah walked through the Alchemy garden as Delilah kept him up to date with everything that was happening.
“More inventions are created every day. The traders are certainly loving it, and although there are people taking a break from their academic pursuits, some of them have advanced their class with their new inventions. The Ten Realms gives Experience to everyone involved in a group project. Not only increasing one but multiple skills as people have to understand the parts they are creating and how they relate to the other components.”
“What does that mean if they make a Journeyman-level item?” Erik asked.
“Some of them might get Journeyman in their main skill, and others will get lower-ranked contributions. Whatever the level of the item is, no one can achieve a skill level higher than it,” Delilah said.
“Okay, that is interesting. I was scared it would stagnate people completely. I thought only the main people working on the item would get Experience. Like with weapons and formations, the smithy gets their Experience, and then the formation master gets theirs from the Ten Realms.”
“I think it might be how everything is assembled. The one smithing item to one formation is simple. With these new inventions, there can be multiple parts, and they can be altered and refined and then combined with other components to create a complete device. It lines up with the Experience gain; there is a burst when creating the parts and a larger one when all the parts are put together and function. It can increase with time as components are changed and the overall design becomes better. Then, all the parts contained within will send Experience to the original creators as their parts were able to create an item with a higher level of ability!” Delilah couldn’t hold back her excitement.
“There are new things happening every week across Alva’s lands.” Erik chuckled as he continued down a path out of the Alchemy garden.
“It only seems to speed up as things go on,” Delilah muttered.
“Well, you have new helpers as well. Lord Aditya is under your direct command, and I heard that he is helping out where he can.”
“He and Lord Chonglu have helped out a lot. With them both being controllers over lands and people, they’re a great resource. Though, what are your plans for them?” Delilah asked.
“Well, Hiao Xen is on loan to us by the Blue Lotus. That time will come up eventually. Chonglu has had a front-row seat to the operations within Vuzgal, kept in the loop by Elan, and attends the meetings with Hiao Xen.”
“You’re grooming him to take over the position?” Delilah nodded. “He is well suited. He has been training and tempering his mana and body. He is one of the strongest fighters we have in Vuzgal. He has been training with the Alva army based there to increase his capabilities. His wife’s position lends him strength as well.”
“Aditya will join Alva completely to train as he wants and do what he wants. We have a lot of people filling in positions. Leaders are hard to find.” Erik sighed as they passed through the formations that contained the Alchemy garden.
“There is always more happening in Alva than what one can see on the surface.” Delilah admired the sights around her as they walked.
“How is the integration with the Earthers to Alva going?” Erik asked.
“Mixed reactions. Most of the military members have joined in one way or another. The civilians are a mixed bag. Some see Alva as their new home, opening up new fields of research, delving into the secrets of the Ten Realms that were seen as grounded facts previously. Others…” Delilah had a complicated look on her face.
“We’re from the same planet. It doesn’t mean that we’re alike. In fact, you would be surprised how different most of us are from one another,” Erik reassured her.
“Some of them don’t really understand. They complain about the Alvan system. They are trying to create protests, asking people to stand for a democratic system. Only three of them. Saying that what we have now is akin to socialism or communism or slavery—whatever that means. Police have been called a few times, but then the protestors go wild and say they are going against their right for free speech.”
Erik felt a headache coming on. “What’s the Alvan response been?”
“Don’t care for it, think that they’re idiots, more pissed off than the police. Tell them to get the hell out and go see what the Ten Realms is really like.” Delilah shrugged.
“If they don’t have jobs and aren’t doing anything to help Alva and are living off of our supplies, the law is clear. They are no different from any other intern citizen.”
“Thank you. I was going to press that we treat them the same as everyone else as well.”
They reached a large house. People were talking and laughing inside.
Delilah walked up to the gate.
“So, any boys or girls you’re interested in?” Erik asked.
“Boys! And not really.” Delilah sighed. “My job kind of keeps everyone at a distance from me. Though I am happy that I have my position and not Aditya’s or Chonglu’s.”
“Oh, why?”
“Well, although there are a lot of people in Alva, they are all our people. We can walk around freely. We don’t have to care about our outside appearances, no matter one’s station—well, other than between military members of different rank in the same chain of command. For Chonglu and Aditya, people are always tal
king up to them. They have to cultivate a certain personality to deal with the outside world.”
“What if there comes a time when you have to talk to people who aren’t Alvans?” Erik asked.
“Then I hope my teacher is there to back me up.” Delilah grinned.
Erik rolled his eyes and mussed up her hair, making her scowl as she pushed away the offending hand.
The door to the house opened. Amelia Ryan, Delilah’s mother, stood there. “Erik! What are you two doing out there?”
“Mrs. Ryan, we were just discussing a few things. How are you? I am sorry I haven’t been around to check in on you and your family.” Erik put on an apologetic expression. He felt that time was constantly slipping through his fingers as he trained or went off to level up and reach higher realms.
“We’ve got dinner set out. It would be great to have you join us.” Amelia turned her head into the house. “Erik will join us for dinner too. Add another place at the table!”
“I—” Erik thought about the training that lay ahead of him, the research he wanted to do in the library, and how he wanted to search out an Earth doctor who was steadily marching upward through the skill ranks now that they knew one needed to heal their patients with just mana in order to increase their skill.
“You don’t have any set meetings. Come on. You might have great meals in your storage ring, but you can’t have famous Ryan company!” Delilah grabbed his arm and pulled.
“Hey, aren’t you supposed to honor your teacher?!” Erik laughed as he was pulled forward.
“Erik!” Joseph, Delilah’s dad and Amelia’s husband, appeared behind his wife with a wide smile. He had that hard-worked tan of a man who spent his days working in the fields. There was an earthly presence to him as he reached out a hand.
Sixth Realm Part 2: A litRPG Fantasy series (The Ten Realms Book 7) Page 24
