The guild’s shooting range was busier than usual.
However, no one was firing in the nearby booths.
Everyone seemed to have moved several meters away from the area where Liam, Lydia, Evan, and Don Rouch were standing.
And there was a very simple reason for that.
Liam’s new equipment was resting on the booth’s table.
His pistol.
The small submachine gun he had bought from Scotty’s shop.
His new gem knife made by the guild’s jeweler.
And, inside a special box, several of the bullets crafted from the gems they had obtained in the F-rank dungeon.
Lydia, meanwhile, was wearing a delicate necklace around her neck.
Don Rouch had used some of the same gems to make it.
The bluish stone rested against her chest and glowed faintly whenever Lydia moved.
"I still can’t believe you managed to make something this beautiful out of those stones."
Lydia touched the necklace with a smile.
Don Rouch shrugged.
"It’s simple work compared to what I can do."
Evan chuckled.
"Don’t be modest. You’ve spent the entire morning talking about how special those gems are."
"Because they are."
Don Rouch picked up one of the gem bullets and examined it under the light.
"But I admit I’m much more curious about this."
Liam smiled.
"So am I."
Ever since their conversation in Don Rouch’s office, the two men had been waiting to discover what would happen with their idea.
Liam had decided not to imbue the bullets with any special energy.
Not yet.
He had another plan.
And now it was time to test it.
"Are you sure about this?"
Evan asked.
"Yes."
Liam checked the magazine once more.
"I want to see if it works the way I think it will."
Don Rouch smiled, revealing his golden veneers.
"Then let’s do it."
Evan walked over to the control panel.
"What do you want?"
"Put the targets in motion."
Evan raised an eyebrow.
"All seven?"
"All seven."
"Okay."
Evan pressed a button.
Immediately, the metal structures in the shooting range began to move.
The seven targets appeared in different positions and started moving back and forth at different speeds.
Liam carefully watched their trajectories.
Then he looked at Lydia.
"Ready?"
She nodded.
"Ready."
Liam took a deep breath.
"Remember what we talked about."
"I know, darling."
Lydia raised one hand, her index finger pointing forward.
She adopted the same stance she used whenever she fired her Laser Shot.
Don Rouch leaned forward slightly.
Evan crossed his arms.
Both of them were watching expectantly.
Liam raised his pistol.
The magazine was loaded with the new gem bullets.
"When I say three, fire."
Lydia smiled.
"Got it."
Liam aimed while the targets continued moving.
"Ready?"
Don Rouch raised his eyebrows.
Evan let out a sigh.
"We’ll see..."
Liam began counting.
"One..."
Lydia tensed her finger.
"Two..."
Liam centered his sights.
"Three."
BANG!
At the same time, a red beam shot out from Lydia’s finger.
The laser struck the bullet directly.
For a fraction of a second, both seemed to disappear in an explosion of light.
Evan’s eyes widened.
"What...?"
The bullet hadn’t been destroyed.
It hadn’t exploded either.
It had absorbed the laser.
The crystalline surface of the ammunition began emitting an intense red glow.
The bullet accelerated and tore through the first target.
BOOM!
The second.
BOOM!
The third.
BOOM!
The fourth.
BOOM!
The fifth.
BOOM!
The sixth.
BOOM!
The seventh.
Everything happened in less than a second.
But the bullet didn’t stop.
It continued forward.
It pierced through the reinforced wall of the shooting range.
BOOOOM!
A huge hole appeared in the wall.
The echo of the shot reverberated throughout the entire facility.
Lydia slowly opened her mouth.
"Wow..."
Evan’s eyes were completely wide.
His jaw had dropped.
Don Rouch, on the other hand...
Started laughing.
"HAHAHAHA!"
Liam stared at the hole and scratched the back of his head.
"I think it works better than I expected."
Don Rouch began clapping.
"Magnificent!"
Liam looked at him.
"Really?"
"Kid, you’re pretty clever."
The jeweler smiled broadly.
"Now I understand why you decided not to give the bullet a specific property."
Liam nodded.
"I thought that if the gems could absorb energy, maybe they could use Lydia’s power directly."
"And you were right."
Don Rouch pointed toward the hole.
"Instead of creating a new type of energy, you used one you already understand."
Lydia hugged Liam’s arm.
"My husband is the best."
Liam smiled.
"Thanks, darling."
Then they heard a strange sound.
Evan was crying his heart out.
"E-Evan?"
Liam looked at him with concern.
The archer pointed toward the destroyed wall.
"We just reinforced these walls!"
His voice trembled.
"We reinforced them specifically so hunters could practice their abilities!"
He covered his face with both hands.
"After Lydia made that hole the first time!"
Lydia lowered her head.
"I’m sorry..."
Don Rouch burst out laughing again.
"I don’t know what you expected."
Evan looked at him desperately.
"What?"
"Weapons made from dungeon gems can considerably amplify the energy they absorb."
Don Rouch pointed toward the wall.
"It was pretty obvious this was going to be destructive."
"I didn’t expect you to combine your wife’s laser with one of those bullets!"
Liam raised a hand.
"Well..."
Everyone looked at him.
"I’m sorry for not explaining what my plan was."
He scratched the back of his head.
"But, as Don Rouch said earlier... sometimes it’s better to demonstrate than explain."
Don Rouch began laughing again.
Lydia did too.
Evan, however, was still staring at the hole.
"I’m going to have to ask them to reinforce this again..."
Liam felt a little guilty.
At least until Don Rouch looked at the remaining bullets again.
"But we still need to find out how much one of these bullets can handle."
Liam looked at the others.
"We could test that later."
Evan went pale.
"Later..."
He repeated slowly.
"Yes."
◇◆◇
Before they could continue, a phone began ringing.
Don Rouch pulled his cell phone from his pocket and looked at the screen.
"Ah."
His expression changed.
"Trouble?"
Liam asked.
"More like work."
Don Rouch replied as he put one of the bullets away again.
"Looks like I have to meet with Captain Amber’s group and Vice Captain Wayne."
Liam paid attention.
"Are you going into a dungeon?"
"Yes."
Don Rouch smiled.
"A rather important one."
Liam grew curious.
"Which one?"
Don Rouch looked directly at him.
"The famous S-rank dungeon."
Liam’s eyes widened, and he stepped forward.
"Can I come with you?"
Don Rouch let out a small laugh.
"I appreciate your enthusiasm."
Liam was expecting a positive answer, but the jeweler shook his head.
"However, you’ll only be allowed to enter an S-rank dungeon again once you’re part of a Squad."
Liam lowered his gaze slightly.
"I understand."
Don Rouch patted him on the shoulder.
"Don’t worry. The selection is coming soon."
Liam immediately remembered the reminder on his phone.
Don Rouch smiled.
"Focus on that."
A few meters away, Evan’s phone also began ringing.
The archer pulled it from his pocket and looked at the screen.
"Amber..."
He sighed.
"Looks like I have to go too."
Liam smiled.
"Feeling better already?"
Evan looked at the hole again.
"No."
Liam burst out laughing.
Evan put his phone away.
"But this isn’t the time to cry. I’ve got work to do."
Don Rouch headed toward the exit.
"See you guys."
"See you."
Lydia raised a hand.
"Thanks for the necklace."
Don Rouch smiled.
"Take care of it. It’s much more durable than it looks."
Evan also said goodbye.
"Practice carefully."
Liam looked at the wall.
"I’ll try."
Evan pointed toward the hole.
"I hope so."
The two men left the shooting range.
Liam and Lydia were left alone.
"I think we got quite a lot done today."
Liam smiled.
"Yeah."
He carefully put away his pistol.
"And we still have several days to prepare."
Lydia moved closer and rested her head against his shoulder.
"Then we’ll have to make the most of them."