Magus Tech - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Explosion

Volleys of arrows bombarded the python. The closer the position of the arrows shot, the higher its accuracy. Soon, bolts of arrows varnished its scales and mists of blood smeared across its body. Coated with wounds, the python looked badly injured. 

The guard captain’s eyes glinted. He saw an opportunity flash before him. He waved his hand, directing his men with the big net to rush forward and entrap the python. The buckle of the net captured over 3 meters of its body. It’d have a difficult time escaping for it could only struggle, awaiting for its own death.

The guard captain lifted the corner of his mouth. He patted his shoulder, a job well done, only to find his men let out a sudden shrill.

“Ah…” He watched fixedly, eyeballs almost falling out. “That…”

He saw flames more than half a meter high rise from the python’s body, the color a bittersweet orange, burn the net on fire. Even the arrows stuck on its flesh was reduced to ashes. 

At the last moment, the python’s body wiggled and darted, biting the slowest and nearest soldier. The soldier howled, his body wrapped by the curve of the python’s strength. His voice faded in an instant, heart no longer beating. The python loosened its grip on the soldier, letting him fall to the ground. Then, it made its move again, slithering towards its next prey, leaving behind a sea of scorched corpses. 

The guard captain’s body quaked, redness forming on the corner of his eyes.

Richard’s eyes flashed, examining the flaming python.

The temperature of flames is closely related to its color. Throwing away the roles of combustion, the brighter the flame, the higher its sweltering temperature. For example, the hottest  flame,  the blue flame, usually indicates a temperature of over 2300 °C and at times reaching 3000 °C. The inner cores of weaker flames are usually blue, the part where it’s at its hottest. Red flames generally reach a temperature of 1000 °C. As for black flames, though it looks divine and glorious due to its absence of light, reaches only a degree of 300 °C, far lower than carbon fire (average of 600 °C).

Based on the python’s bright, orange flames, its temperature should average to 1500 °C. Though unable to compare to blue flames, the power of its sultry heat should not be underestimated. After all, the melting point of iron stood only at 1538 °C, enough to melt steel.

“It does seem to be a magical creature,” Richard whispered to himself. “This time, I’ve not been disappointed, but it won’t be easy to deal with you…”

“Ah…!” There was an echoing scream, another one whose life was entangled and sacrificed to the flaming python.

The guard captain’s heart seemed to crack, a wave of ferocious anger hidden deep within his bones. Watching the python chase after its next prey, he gritted his teeth, clenched his sword, and braved forward for a deathmatch against the python

30 meters… 25 meters… 20 meters…

He could feel the python’s heatwave. It tingled his exposed skin, but he shook it off and continued forward.

20 meters… 15 meters… 10 meters…

His iron-plated armor thrived with searing heat, scorching his skin like a soldering iron, expression twisted like a deformed doll. But he held up. He raised his long sword and aimed at the python’s bloody head.

But just then, an arrow came from behind. The sound “ twish ” scratched his ear and the surface of his skin. Traces of blood poured down.

Stunned, he subconsciously looked back and saw Richard standing in the distance looming blankly at him with a crossbow in hand and waved his hand in the other, telling him to draw back.

“If you don’t want to die, come back.” Richard was straightforward.

“Your Highness… I…” The guard captain hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he chose to obey, and quickly returned to Richard’s side. Gasping for breath, he said, “Your Highness, this flaming python is difficult to deal with. The net is unable to entrap it. Should we go back and find alternative means to apprehend the python? What if we commission a fine craftsman? Otherwise, if this goes on, I’m afraid none of my men will survive.”

“I said it before,” The false wizard whispered, “It’s not possible to catch  that  thing with an ordinary net.”

“What did you say?!” The guard captain snapped his head, glaring eyes like daggers. “If you had told us the strength of the damn python, my men would not have faced such casualties. I think you hid this information on purpose!”

“All right, that’s enough,” Richard uttered, “What’s done is done. Even if we head back, there’s no point creating an iron net for the python’s flames is hot enough to melt it.”

“Is there another way?” The guard captain said in a hurry. 

“There is a way.” Richard looked back and nodded at the burly man in black. 

The man in black followed Richard like a shadow, like an apparition, no more than a distortion of light. 

“Use the latest product,” Richard mouthed. 

“Yes.” The man in black nodded. He opened the box and drew out a bomb. Yes, it was a bomb, or at least what looked to be the shape of a bomb, the most primitive of its kind with a metal ball attached to a lead. After the man in black pulled out the bomb, he moved forward, swung his arm, and threw the bomb. He was strong, every muscle in his body flowing from light to dark. 

The bomb soon landed accurately in front of the flaming python who’s flaming body lit the bomb on fire. 

“Get down!” Richard cried out. All other men present followed his order and laid on the ground one after another.

There was a huge explosion. The deafening sound rang in their ears. The ground shook violently as pillars of varicolored fiery smoke and dust belched upwards. 

When all was calm, the guard captain and his men slowly rose up and looked at the python that was devoid of life. Its skin and flesh was blown apart and split into two parts. 

The guard captain was not careless. He immediately called his men to shoot rains of arrows, breathing a sigh of relief thereafter. He looked over his shoulder, looking at the ever-so-calm royal prince. 

“Take the python and hurry back to the city,” Richard ordered, “I’ve to seize this time to dissect and study it. Otherwise, many things might change over time, don’t you think? Also, what has happened today, it must not be spread, understand?”

“Yes… Your Highness…” The guard captain answered hurriedly before calling his men to secure the python with a rope.

Meanwhile, Richard faced the man in black. “The power of the explosive is still weak. According to expectations, it should have blown up after releasing the pull trigger. Well, no matter, we’ll improve upon it. I’ll provide you the plans and details.”

“Understood.”

“Good. Go back.”

“Yes.” The strong man turned around and left with the box.

Richard mounted the stallion and returned to Blue Lion City with the cavalry.