Chapter 11: Silver Eagle, Heavy Ammunition

About ten minutes later, the company Zhang Ran belonged to halted before a shooting range. The range was surrounded on three sides by mountains, with a vast, empty plain at its center.

Zhang Ran’s company was the second to arrive, and after all five companies had assembled, a man of about one meter seventy in height, with a somber expression and narrowed eyes, stepped before the assembled trainees.

“My name is Lei Luo. For the next three months, I will serve as your firearms instructor.”

Lei Luo swept his gaze over the group, uttering this cold introduction in lieu of a greeting. Then, six burly men carried three metal crates before the trainees and opened them one by one.

Each crate was packed with dozens of firearms; together, the three crates held over a hundred guns. For these trainees, most hailing from various settlements, firearms were things they had only heard tales about, or perhaps glimpsed in the hands of powerful figures back home. Now, confronted with this dazzling array of weapons, their eyes shone with barely suppressed excitement.

“Silver Eagle—the most powerful handgun of the old era.”

Catching the trainees’ expressions, Lei Luo allowed himself a faint smile. He drew a simple, silver-colored pistol from the nearest crate and, after this brief introduction, turned with practiced ease, aiming at a distant steel plate and pulling the trigger.

Bang!

With a thunderous report, a bullet burst from the muzzle, tearing through the air with terrifying speed, leaving a faint afterimage in its wake. There was a harsh, metallic clang as the bullet struck—a steel plate three centimeters thick was pierced clean through, leaving a hole the size of a fist. Had this shot struck a human, the sheer force of the bullet would have been enough to tear a person in half.

“Impressive, isn’t it? For ordinary people, the Silver Eagle is indeed a mighty weapon. But compared to the abilities of Evolvers, even a shot like this isn’t truly remarkable.”

“Moreover, if that shot had been aimed at an Evolver of level four or above, or a mutated creature, their neural reflexes and agility would likely allow them to dodge it. Even if struck, unless hit in a vital spot, it would be difficult to kill them outright.”

Seeing the stunned faces of several trainees, Lei Luo simply shook his head and delivered an answer that defied their expectations.

“Now, let me show you what firearms can do in the hands of an Evolver.”

Lei Luo’s eyes sharpened, and a crimson glow flickered along his arm. The red light surged from his arm into the Silver Eagle, instantly enveloping the entire weapon in a faint, scarlet aura.

“This is my ability: ‘Heavy Bullet’.”

With those words, Lei Luo aimed once more at the steel plate and squeezed the trigger.

Boom!

A deafening blast reverberated, making every trainee’s ears ring. A forceful shockwave swept over them, raising a dense cloud of dust. A ball of crimson light erupted from the muzzle, tracing a red arc through the air. In the distance, the steel plate exploded, shattering into more than a dozen fragments.

“Unbelievable! The power of that shot is no less than that of a small artillery gun. Is this the might of an Evolver’s ability? It’s almost inconceivably strong!”

Even Zhang Ran, who had witnessed many extraordinary scenes in his previous life, could not suppress a shiver at the result of Lei Luo’s shot; the sheer destructive force left him deeply shaken. As for the other trainees, their stunned expressions were even more pronounced—some stood utterly dazed.

“This is the true power of firearms! Of course, I am a level five Evolver; if you have only just advanced, even with the Heavy Bullet ability, you will not achieve such effects. But remember: never underestimate the weapon in your enemy’s hand!”

With a hint of pride in his eyes, Lei Luo affectionately stroked the Silver Eagle and then, with a feverish gleam, addressed the trainees in a ringing voice.

“Next, I will introduce to you the common types of firearms.”

His demeanor gradually calmed as he spoke, drawing another weapon from the crate and beginning his explanation.

Pistols, rifles, submachine guns, sniper rifles... Lei Luo detailed each weapon’s name and characteristics, demonstrating their use before the trainees.

“For those whose abilities lie in the domain of psionics, firearms are the means through which they channel their power. For other domains, while the gun’s might may not exceed their own abilities, mastery of these weapons is still essential. Proficiency with firearms greatly increases your chances of survival in the wild!”

“For Evolvers, the energy within their bodies is limited; they can only use their abilities a finite number of times. But firearms are different—so long as there are enough bullets, they can deliver a steady, powerful output for as long as needed. An Evolver can easily carry a thousand rounds or more if desired.”

“When facing hordes of low-level mutated creatures in the wild, firearms are a more efficient killing tool than abilities, allowing Evolvers to conserve their strength for when they face the truly dangerous foes!”

Having finished his introduction to the basic firearms, Lei Luo paused before continuing, emphasizing the significance of mastering these weapons.

“So far, we’ve only discussed standard gunpowder firearms, but in fact, there are also psionic firearms! Some psionic Evolvers can enhance or enchant ordinary guns and bullets, turning them into psionic weapons and ammunition, which are far more powerful than their mundane counterparts.”

“Of course, psionic firearms operate just like regular ones, so I won’t go into detail here. Over the next three months, I will teach you how to use the most common firearms. You must learn to spot your enemy and aim in the shortest time possible, and in every situation, ensure your bullets strike true and lethal!”

“Besides using firearms, assembling and maintaining your weapons will also be essential skills you must master. Now, we will start with the simplest: the handgun.”

Clapping his hands, Lei Luo signaled for several attendants, who brought forth five silver metal cases and placed them before each company. Inside each case were Silver Eagle pistols. Each trainee was assigned one, and Lei Luo took his place at the front to explain the secrets of aiming and firing a handgun.

An hour later—

“All right, I have taught you the essentials of aiming and firing a handgun. Now it’s up to you to train. The theory behind firearms is not difficult, but true mastery can only be gained through extensive practice!”

With these words, Lei Luo quietly holstered his Silver Eagle and left the range to the trainees, observing them from a distance as they began their training.