Chapter 25: More Research

Joshua groaned as he sat up, rubbing his temples. His entire body felt sluggish, as if he had pulled an all-nighter cramming for finals.

"Ugh… what the hell," he muttered.

His head was pounding, and his limbs ached. Was it because of the energy overload in the game? He had pushed himself too hard, and now even his real body felt the consequences.

Too lazy to cook, he reached for his phone and scrolled through the delivery app.

As he placed his order, an idea struck him.

He tapped Vaughn's number.

Ring… Ring…

After a few moments, a groggy voice answered.

"Who the hell—"

"Sup, fatty."

"…Joshua?" Vaughn's voice was hoarse. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

Joshua checked the time. "Yeah, noon. Wake up, lazy ass."

"You woke me up at noon?! That's prime sleep time!" Vaughn groaned. "I hate you."

Joshua smirked. "Aww, is the little baby grumpy?"

"Shut up. What do you want?"

Joshua leaned back on his bed. "Wanted to see how your adventure in Wrath was going."

Silence.

Then—

"I quit."

Joshua blinked. "…Wait, what?"

"I QUIT," Vaughn repeated, his voice filled with frustration. "That game is stupid. It's too complicated. I thought it was gonna be like a regular MMORPG—leveling up, grinding, some cool loot—but nooo! Instead, I get dropped in a random-ass town with nothing! No HUD, no tutorial, just some guard giving me the side-eye like I'm a homeless idiot."

Joshua burst out laughing. "Oh my god, bro, you got the beggar start?"

"DON'T LAUGH AT MY SUFFERING, YOU BASTARD!" Vaughn shouted. "I had to clean horse shit for a single copper coin! A freaking kid stole my bread! And when I tried to chase him, I tripped and faceplanted into the mud!"

Joshua was in tears. "Dude… that's gold."

"No, that's bullshit," Vaughn snapped. "And combat? Don't get me started. I tried to punch some thug for my coin back, and my fist barely did anything! The dude just looked at me like I was a joke, then punched me so hard I woke up in a church with negative money!"

Joshua wiped his eyes. "Okay, okay, so let me get this straight—you got robbed by a kid, knocked out by a thug, and woke up in debt?"

"YES!" Vaughn shouted.

Joshua grinned. "Sounds like a skill issue."

"You—!" Vaughn took a deep breath. "You know what? I swear, if I ever find you in-game, I'm gonna punch you so hard, you'll log out."

"Yeah, yeah, good luck with that," Joshua teased. "Besides, I'm about to do something even crazier."

"…Define 'crazier.'"

Joshua smirked. "As soon as I master magic in-game—and hopefully in real life—I'll show you."

"…Hold up. What do you mean real life?" Vaughn's voice suddenly turned serious.

"Later, fatty."

"Joshua!—"

Joshua hung up before Vaughn could protest.

A little while later, his food arrived.

The scent hit him first—a mouthwatering mix of garlic, butter, and roasted spices. He opened the containers, and his stomach growled in approval.

On one side of the tray, a perfectly seared steak sat atop a bed of garlic mashed potatoes, its juices glistening under the light. A sprig of rosemary rested on top, giving off a fresh, herbal aroma. Next to it, a side of buttered corn and grilled asparagus added vibrant colors to the plate. The golden kernels glistened with melted butter, while the asparagus had just the right amount of char.

He picked up a fork and knife, cutting into the steak. The knife slid through like butter, revealing a warm pink center. Juices pooled on the plate, mixing with the creamy mashed potatoes.

Joshua took a bite—tender, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned.

"Damn," he mumbled between chews. "Maybe I should just order this every day. Hmm, on second thought, maybe once a week or once a month until I figure out how to make money from the game." Joshua groaned and savored the rich flavors.

As he ate, he pulled out his laptop and started researching firearms. If he was going to create magic-based projectiles, he needed to truly understand how bullets worked.

Firearm Specifications & Magic Adaptation

1. .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol)

Bullet Weight: 185-230 grains (12-15g)

Muzzle Velocity: 250-320 m/s

Kinetic Energy: 500-600 Joules

Effective Range: ~50 meters

Recoil Energy: ~7.5 Joules

Penetration Power: ~12-14 inches in ballistic gel, can pierce unarmored flesh but struggles against body armor.

Bullet Variations:

Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) – Standard military-grade, stable trajectory, moderate penetration.

Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP) – Expands upon impact, causing greater tissue damage but lower penetration.

Armor-Piercing (AP) – Hardened core, capable of penetrating Kevlar vests.

Magic Adaptation:

Arcane Bullet – A dense mana projectile with mid-speed, good for knockback and mid-range combat.

Spirit Fang – Hollow energy bullets that expand on impact, dealing more damage to living targets.

Void Piercer – A condensed energy projectile meant for breaking through barriers or light armor.

2. M4A1 Assault Rifle

Caliber: 5.56×45mm NATO

Bullet Weight: 55-77 grains (3.56-5.0g)

Muzzle Velocity: 880-950 m/s

Kinetic Energy: 1,300-1,800 Joules

Effective Range: ~500-600 meters

Recoil Energy: ~4 Joules

Penetration Power: Can penetrate 3-4mm of steel, pierces unarmored targets easily, struggles against reinforced body armor.

Bullet Variations:

M193 (FMJ) – Standard ball ammo, high speed, moderate penetration.

M855 (Green Tip AP) – Steel core, higher penetration, effective against light armor.

Mk262 (OTM - Open Tip Match) – Increased accuracy, optimized for long-range precision shots.

Magic Adaptation:

Mana Lance – A piercing, high-velocity magic spear, designed for rapid-fire use.

Wind Piercer – High-speed magic rounds that ignore air resistance, extending range.

Phantom Rounds – Magic bullets that temporarily phase through obstacles before solidifying upon impact.

3. Barrett .50 Cal Sniper Rifle

Caliber: .50 BMG (12.7×99mm)

Bullet Weight: 660-800 grains (42-52g)

Muzzle Velocity: 850-900 m/s

Kinetic Energy: 12,000-15,000 Joules

Effective Range: 1,800+ meters

Recoil Energy: ~80 Joules

Penetration Power: Can punch through 1-inch steel plates, concrete walls, and most body armor.

Bullet Variations:

M33 Ball (FMJ) – Standard issue, decent penetration against vehicles and unarmored targets.

M8 API (Armor-Piercing Incendiary) – Can penetrate steel and ignite fuel tanks on impact.

Raufoss Mk211 (HEIAP - High Explosive Incendiary Armor Piercing) – Explosive rounds capable of taking down aircraft and light armored vehicles.

Magic Adaptation:

Ether Cannon – A heavy, long-charge magic attack, akin to an artillery blast.

Void Annihilator – A hyper-condensed magic projectile that detonates on impact, causing massive AOE damage.

Dimensional Piercer – A round designed to phase through barriers before solidifying at a designated point, perfect for hitting enemies behind cover.

Joshua tapped his fingers on the desk.

"If I apply these specs to a magic-based spell…"

He scribbled ideas in his notebook. His imagination going wild.

This wasn't just magic—it was applied physics with energy manipulation.

Joshua looked at his notes on magic application and scrapped the idea. It looks good on paper but I only have the blank attribute and I cannot incorporate these ideas in the game world.

I just need to practice first and base the next set of experiments from there.

Now, let's see if I can do the breathing exercises here.

Joshua sat cross-legged on the floor.

He took a deep breath.

Inhale… Hold… Exhale…

His body relaxed, his mind clearing of distractions.

At first, there was nothing.

But then—

A warmth spread through his chest, a faint tingling sensation flowing into his limbs.

He focused, trying to pull the energy toward his palm.

A slow hum built in his fingertips. His skin grew warm, the sensation unlike anything he had felt before. It was subtle, like static electricity dancing on his skin.

More.

Joshua pushed the energy further, trying to concentrate it into a single point.

Then—

A flicker of light appeared, hovering just above his palm.

His eyes widened.

He clenched his fingers, and the glow faded instantly.

But it had been real.

"I… I did it," he whispered. His heart pounded with excitement.

That had been spirit energy.

One day, he'd reach the point where he could fully control this power—both in-game and in reality.

Without hesitation, he ran to the bathroom, took a quick shower. He put on his boxers, carefully placed the used clothes in the washing machine. Should be done when I get back.

He then laid down on his bed, closed his eyes, and logged in.

Connect!