Successful Copy

Astonoroph stared at the disassembled rifle parts, and formulated a plan inside his head. Replicating these human weapons was unlike anything he'd done before. It wasn't just about reshaping metal with dark magic or inscribing runes for power. This required precision, exact measurements, and an understanding of the mechanical workings.

He moved to the far side of his chamber, where tools and materials were neatly arranged on various shelves. In place of magical runes and spells, he would need to create something purely mechanical, yet imbued with enough dark energy to make it more powerful. If he could integrate magic into the firing mechanisms without relying on it to power the rifle, they would have something new-something powerful.

He began by collecting metals, some native to the dark realm and others he had taken from raids on human lands. He sorted through them, choosing the strongest and most malleable metals he could find. They would serve as the basis for the frame of the rifle. He set them on a forge, manipulating the heat with his hands, which glowed faintly as he controlled the temperature through his magic. Though he couldn't fully rely on magic for the rifles, it still had its uses in speeding up the process.

As the metals began to soften, he brought out a set of tools he had designed specifically for crafting. These were not for simple enchanted swords or axes; they were for the delicate inner workings of machinery.

He shaped the frame of the first rifle with utmost care, hammering the softened metal into the right size and form. The barrel, chamber, and magazine housing were crafted meticulously, each part measured to match the original rifle. He knew that even a small error would render the entire weapon useless, and failure wasn't an option.

Once the basic frame of the rifle was complete, Astonoroph focused on the inner components. He needed to replicate the firing mechanism exactly as it had been in the original M4 Carbine. He pulled the bolt carrier group from his workbench and analyzed it again.

"This piece is vital," he muttered to himself, turning it over in his hands. "It drives the entire firing process."

Using a lathe and his own custom tools, he began crafting the bolt carrier group out of the same metals he had used for the rifle frame. His hands moved swiftly, cutting and shaping each piece. Once complete, he placed it inside the rifle frame and tested the movement. It clicked into place, sliding smoothly just as it had in the original.

Next was the firing pin. It had to be strong yet small enough to strike the primer of the cartridge with enough force to ignite the powder. Using a special hammer, he carefully forged the firing pin from a harder metal, shaping it into the exact dimensions required.

Once the pin was complete, he moved on to the spring that would reset the firing pin after each shot. This was trickier to replicate, as the spring needed to have the perfect amount of tension to function properly. Using a coil of fine wire, Astonoroph wound the spring himself, testing its resilience as he worked. After several failed attempts, he finally produced one that worked as intended.

Satisfied with the core mechanisms of the rifle, he focused on the magazine. Astonoroph had never seen anything like the metal box that held the cartridges, feeding them into the chamber one at a time. It was a marvel of human ingenuity, and he needed to replicate it perfectly. He took thin sheets of metal, cutting and bending them into the shape of the magazine, ensuring that the cartridges would feed properly when placed inside.

After assembling the rifle, he examined it from end to end. It looked like the human weapon, but now he needed to test it.

He stepped to the testing chamber once again, holding the newly created rifle in his hands. It felt different from any weapon he had ever crafted. He loaded a magazine and pulled the trigger. A loud crack echoed through the room, and the bullet struck the enchanted stone, chipping off more dust and fragments.

Astonoroph smiled. "It works."

But one rifle wasn't enough. He needed more.

He returned to his workbench and began the process again, this time crafting the parts in bulk. He forged multiple barrels, frames, and firing pins simultaneously, using his dark magic to manipulate the tools and metal as he worked. This allowed him to speed up the process, creating multiple rifles at once.

Each rifle was assembled with the same care as the first, each part fitted together perfectly. Astonoroph didn't cut corners-he knew that even one malfunction could result in failure, and the Demon King would not tolerate such mistakes.

After several hours of continuous work, he had completed ten rifles. They were all identical to the first one, each capable of firing the deadly projectiles that the humans had designed. Astonoroph inspected each weapon carefully, checking for any flaws or imperfections. Satisfied, he placed them on a rack and stepped back.

The process had been exhausting, even with his use of magic to assist him. But the result was worth it-ten human rifles, replicated using the resources of the dark realm, each one just as powerful as the original.

He wasn't finished yet, though. The next step was integrating dark magic into these rifles. He wanted to see if he could enhance the weapons, not by relying on magic to power them, but by adding spells that would amplify their destructive force.

Astonoroph reached for a piece of enchanted stone and placed it inside a crucible, heating it with a controlled flame. As the stone melted down, he infused it with dark energy, creating a molten substance that glowed faintly with an ominous light. He carefully dipped the barrels of the rifles into the substance, coating them with the enchanted liquid.

"This should strengthen the barrel," he said to himself. "Allowing it to withstand even more powerful rounds."

Once the barrels were coated, he added small runes to the exterior of the rifles, marking them with symbols of power that would enhance the bullets' penetration and damage. These runes wouldn't interfere with the firing mechanism, but they would ensure that the rifles could deal more damage to magical enemies and barriers.

When the runes were complete, he held up one of the rifles and admired his work. It was no longer just a human weapon-it was something more. It was a fusion of human ingenuity and dark magic, capable of turning the tide of battle in their favor.

Astonoroph felt a surge of pride as he looked at the ten completed rifles. He had done what the Demon King had asked, and now they had weapons that could rival anything the humans or the elves could throw at them.

The rifles would need to be tested in the field, of course, but Astonoroph was confident in their power. He had taken the knowledge of human technology and combined it with the dark forces that ruled their realm. These rifles were no longer just tools-they were instruments of war, crafted for a singular purpose: to dominate their enemies.

Astonoroph set the rifles aside and prepared a report for the Demon King. The weapons were ready, but the war was just beginning. The humans might have created the original, but now the dark realm had their own version-one that was far deadlier.

After two days of intense work and little rest, Astonoroph finally stood before the ten completed rifles. With his task complete, it was time to report his progress. Astonoroph gathered the rifles, carefully placing them into a large case that he enchanted to conceal their presence. He couldn't risk anyone seeing the rifles until he had spoken to Valeria. With the case securely in his grasp, he left his chamber and made his way through the winding corridors of the castle to find her.

Valeria was in the main hall, speaking with a group of dark warriors. Her eyes flickered towards Astonoroph as he approached, noting the large case he carried. She dismissed the warriors with a curt nod, and they scattered, leaving her alone with the engineer.

"Astonoroph," she acknowledged, her tone neutral. "I assume you have news?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

He nodded and placed the case on the ground between them. "I have completed the task, Lady Valeria. Ten rifles, replicated and enhanced as ordered."

Valeria's expression remained unreadable, but there was a glimmer of interest in her eyes.

"Show me."

With a flick of his wrist, Astonoroph released the enchantment on the case and opened it. The rifles lay inside, perfectly aligned. Valeria stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over the weapons. She reached down and picked up one of the rifles, feeling its weight and examining the runes engraved along the barrel.

"You've added enhancements," she noted.

"Yes," Astonoroph replied. "I integrated dark magic into the rifles, but not to power them. Instead, the runes amplify their destructive force, allowing them to penetrate magical defenses more effectively."

Valeria aimed the rifle at a distant wall, testing its balance and alignment. It felt familiar yet foreign in her hands, a melding of human technology and dark magic. "How did you achieve

this?"

Astonoroph gestured to the rifles. "I replicated the human design as precisely as possible, using our strongest metals and materials. Then, I reinforced the barrels with enchanted stone to withstand more powerful rounds. The runes were the final touch, enhancing the bullets' ability to penetrate and deal greater damage to both physical and magical targets."

She lowered the rifle and turned to face him. "And the function? Is it identical to the

original?"

Astonoroph nodded. "In every way that matters. The firing mechanism, the magazine, the trigger—all function as the human design intended. The only difference lies in the additional enhancements. These rifles are not just copies; they are superior versions."

Valeria's eyes narrowed slightly as she processed this information. "Good. The Demon King will be pleased to hear this." She paused, her gaze sharpening on Astonoroph.