Scientific Wizard

"Nice, pretty swift," Lynn remarked, ruffling Lydia's head in encouragement before carefully examining the finely crafted firearm he had received.

What Lydia and the others had researched and crafted was, in fact, a flintlock gun!

Compared to earlier matchlock and wheellock firearms, the flintlock possessed several advantages: rapid firing, lightweight, smaller caliber, shorter barrel, and reduced recoil, avoiding dampness issues during rainy weather.

It was quite a perfected firearm. Invented by a clockmaker in the early 16th century, it had been highly praised and only gradually replaced by the 19th century.

While more advanced percussion guns were possible, their ammunition required primer loading, which didn't suit the current magical industrial standards of Iyeta for mass production.

The flintlock, on the other hand, fired with just lead bullets at a low cost!

"Dean Lynn, what's this? Some new alchemical apparatus?" Dennis inquired, surprised, as he couldn't sense any magical traces on it.

"No, it's a form of technological creation, yet to undergo magical modification," Lynn explained, somewhat expectantly. "Let's go and test its power!"

Under Lynn's guidance, the group swiftly arrived at the training ground, rows of wooden dummies used for magical training standing as prime targets.

"I'll do it, I'll do it!" Lydia exclaimed with excitement. Since crafting this firearm, she had experimented with it several times and had become quite adept.

Moreover, this gun was custom-sized, a bit smaller than indicated on the blueprint, to accommodate beings like her, a halfling.

Lynn, however, shook his head, passing the firearm to a nearby guard. He asked, "Ever shot arrows before?"

"Dean, sir?" The guard was both excited and anxious, stumbling over his words in excitement while barely managing to accurately hit targets within a hundred meters.

"Then, give it a try; it's straightforward!" Lynn smiled, demonstrating almost step by step.

Using the flintlock wasn't challenging; with some effort, anyone with normal intelligence could quickly grasp the basics—loading, aiming, and firing.

Due to extreme nervousness, the guard struggled for over an hour before barely grasping the usage. He then laboriously began the process, using a wooden mallet to load the bullet into the barrel, raising the gun and aiming at a nearby wooden dummy.

The onlookers watched the guard's firearm with interest, wondering why Lynn had chosen someone completely inexperienced to demonstrate.

Dennis and the others wore thoughtful expressions.

"Mind the recoil!" Lynn reminded.

The guard froze for a moment, growing even more tense. What was this recoil thing?

But he soon understood; just as he pulled the trigger, an immense force surged from the barrel, nearly toppling him.

Boom!

Simultaneously, a thunderous blast reverberated across the training ground. Accompanied by smoke billowing from the firearm, the internally loaded bullet hurtled at incredible speed...

Although there was a slight deviation due to not acclimating to the recoil, it accurately hit the target.

The upper half of the wooden dummy almost exploded the moment the gun fired.

"So fast!" Dennis couldn't help but remark. With exceptional vision and reflexes, he saw the bullet leave the barrel, hitting a target forty meters away almost instantly.

The power was astonishing; these targets were made of specialty materials, not ordinary wood, yet they were easily pierced.

The guard stood dumbfounded, unable to believe he had done that.

Kevin and the others felt a hint of worry; would such a weapon pose a threat to wizards?

After all, an ordinary person, after an hour of learning, could grasp its basics, causing them some concern.

Thinking this, Kevin volunteered, empowering himself with a second-tier spell, "Mage Shield," intending to test the firearm's might as a target.

"Lord Kevin..." The guard, holding the gun, was trembling and hesitant, unable to shoot.

"No more words, just try it; your weapon won't hurt me." Kevin impatiently urged from fifty meters away.

With continuous prompting from everyone, the guard, after a long struggle and over ten seconds of hesitation, still without any action, had the gun snatched by Lydia.

"Let me do it!" Lydia efficiently cleaned the barrel, then mischievously retrieved a specialty bullet from her pocket, asking, "Professor Kevin, may I try this bullet?"

"Of course," Kevin casually nodded.

Receiving confirmation, Lydia cheerfully loaded the special bullet into the barrel, pausing before shooting, apologetically cautioning, "Be careful, Professor Kevin!"

Kevin waved impatiently.

Lydia took a deep breath, pulled the flint, and began aiming. About three seconds later, she pulled the trigger aimed at Kevin.

Boom—a thunderous sound echoed again.

Although Kevin seemed indifferent, his pupils had turned into eagle-like sharp eyes—that was a form of shaping magic—Dynamic Vision.

Only when directly facing the barrel did he truly feel the bullet's incredible speed. At the moment the gun fired, the attack was already before him.

Across fifty meters, in just 0.2 seconds!

The lead bullet, reaching an initial velocity of 250 meters per second, quickly struck the Mage Shield, immediately forming tiny cracks. Kevin sighed in relief as the bullet disintegrated swiftly.

But at such close proximity, Kevin quickly noticed the runic inscription on the bullet's surface.

Explosion?

Kevin's knowledge of alchemy was limited, but he instantly recognized it—it was an explosive rune!

Subsequently, the specialty bullet exploded, disintegrating into fragments that rained down in a denser shower, pounding onto the Mage Shield. In less than 0.5 seconds, the robust magical barrier was instantly pierced.