Luke had been avoiding summoning anything that required a complex chemical process, anticipating the difficulty. However, he was aware that sodium bicarbonate could occur naturally in springs due to specific reactions. It struck him that instead of extracting the compound, he could directly summon spring water rich in sodium bicarbonate. Though there was a risk of it being too diluted, it was worth a try.

For his fire idea, he needed fuel and fire. Given the ease of summoning water, he hoped fire might be similarly straightforward, though maybe riskier. As for the fuel, he considered vegetal oils, aware that some natural substances like pine resin were flammable, but unsure of their specific effects.

Weighing the risks and potential costs, he decided to test the alkaline approach first, then the flammable one.

At the river, he found a slime and ensured there were no other creatures nearby that could interrupt his experiment. Focusing on his mental image of spring water with high sodium bicarbonate levels, he began to summon while walking towards the slime, challenging his concentration.

The water materialized quickly above his hand, validating his choice as feasible. He reached the slime just as the summoning completed and poured the warm water onto the creature. The splashing sound was unpleasant, but his focus was on the slime's reaction. However, to his disappointment, the slime continued its sluggish movement, apparently unaffected by the alkaline water.

Luke's disappointment swiftly morphed into determination as he readied himself to summon the fire option. However, just as he took a step back, the scene before him took an unexpected turn. The slime, which had seemed so menacing moments ago, began to sizzle and thrash in a slow, almost painful display. As seconds stretched into nearly a full minute, the monstrous filth gradually disintegrated, leaving nothing but a puddle of water, some residual goop, and a shard.

His triumph was immediate and unfiltered. "Yeah! That’s how you do it!"

The advantage of his knowledge from a scientifically advanced world was beginning to pay off, giving him an edge in this strange, new environment. Riding the wave of excitement, Luke dashed towards the nearest slime, eager to experiment with the minimal amount of spring water required to neutralize the acidic menace. With focused precision, he summoned water, carefully letting it fill his canteen before methodically dripping it onto the slime. The initial drops caused the slime to jerk slightly, its vibrant color dimming, but it wasn't enough to slow it. He cautiously added more water, waiting with bated breath. After thirty agonizing seconds, the slime finally began to contort. Mentally noting the amount of water used, Luke hurried off to test the amount on another slime. The success was repeated, confirming his theory.

Elated by the success of his alkaline weapon, he eagerly moved on to his next challenge: finding a practical method to deploy the spring water against slimes from a distance. He needed a way to quickly and safely target multiple slimes without having to move close to them.

The first solution that came to his mind was a balloon, but traditional materials were too synthetic for his summoning abilities. He briefly considered animal intestines, a more natural option, but it didn't quite fit what he needed.

As he pondered other possibilities, a more fitting idea struck him. Not wanting to waste a moment, he closed his eyes and concentrated deeply. The mental model he was creating required greater attention to detail and focus. He visualized a sturdy piece of bamboo, about two feet long, with a naturally smooth and perfect hollow running through its center, resembling the barrel of a gun.

Then, he envisioned a piston fitting perfectly inside the barrel, designed to build up pressure. The nozzle at the end was carefully carved to direct the spray, with a simple handle attached outside for manual operation. This handle connected to the piston, enabling him to generate the necessary pressure to spray the sodium bicarbonate-infused water.

This was his most complex visualization yet, constructed entirely from bamboo and as straightforward as he could manage. As the summoning took shape above his hand, Luke felt the drain of mana and mental exertion, carefully controlling the flow to avoid harm.

Surprisingly, this complex pressure gun taxed his magic less than the earlier leather shoe summoning. The difference likely lay in the origin and processing of the materials, suggesting that his magic might simulate the entire creation process from raw materials to finished product.

With the pressure gun in hand, Luke prepared to test its effectiveness. He filled it with the remaining water from the canteen, ensuring there were no leaks. Spotting a slime nearby, he raised the gun, aligning it with his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, he steadily pushed the handle, sending a jet of water towards the slime. The initial shot missed by a margin, but he quickly adjusted his aim. The second attempt hit the slime directly, pushing it backward until the spray ceased as the handle reached the barrel's end.

Tense but curious, Luke hurried over to inspect the slime. The shot had used a bit more water than the minimum required to kill a slime, but he’d wasted some in the process of aiming. So, he wasn't expecting much from this first attempt.

Reaching the slime, he found only its gooey remains and a shard. Puzzled, he tried to understand why the attack was more effective than his previous test. The full dose of spring water should have taken about a minute to work, so how did the slime succumb so quickly with less water and in a fraction of the time?

A realization dawned on him, bringing a smile to his face. Could the force of the water spray have caused additional damage to the slime, perhaps accelerating its blending with the spring water or breaking down some sort of external protection?

Eager to test his theory, Luke summoned more spring water into his canteen and reloaded the pressure gun. Finding another slime, he steadied his aim and began spraying. This time, he adjusted the aim quickly and efficiently, careful to conserve water. He wanted to verify if he could use less 'ammo' for each slime.

After spraying, he approached the slime and was greeted by the same sight: just goop and a shard. Thrilled with the success of the strategy, he celebrated with an over-the-top self-congratulation. His plan was viable; now he needed to refine and optimize it.

He carefully sprayed the remaining water back into the canteen, then estimated the amount needed to dispatch a slime, allowing for a margin of error in aiming. Loading this calculated amount into the gun, he used a stone to mark intervals on the barrel, indicating the multiple dosages it could hold. With the barrel capable of holding four doses and a little extra, he planned to control the spray to use just the right amount for each target. If he could manage that, this method would indeed be worthwhile and not just fun.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Summoning a larger bamboo container for water storage was Luke's next task. Aware of the increasing mental strain, he focused on a design that could hold about five times more than his pressure gun. He also added a lid and an eyelet for practicality, followed by summoning a rope braided from hemp fibers.

This combined summoning effort left Luke feeling mentally taxed, edging closer to strain. He was aware of his growing magical capacity, but it still seemed insufficient for the creations he was starting to envision.

Taking a deep breath, he then summoned the spring water to fill the large container. He felt the edge of overcasting looming, a warning sign of mental fatigue, but managed to complete the task without crossing the threshold. Equipped with all he needed, he commenced his hunt.

Luke's method was systematic: move a few steps, aim, shoot, quickly correct, then halt. He'd change direction and repeat, moving to a new position as he cleared nearby slimes. He quickly found a rhythm, moving and shooting in a continuous flow. He wasted a couple of shots on one particularly slimy slime before deciding to adjust his position for a better angle. Refilling the container was his only pause.

Growing more confident, Luke ventured into denser slime territories, rotating 360 degrees to douse multiple slimes before shifting to a new spot. The monotony of the task was balanced by his efforts to refine his aim and speed. He even indulged in fantasies of being a soldier in combat, playfully engaging his imagined foes.

A few slimes did evade his perception, one nearly getting stepped on. He calmly maneuvered away, avoiding panic. As the initial excitement waned, he became increasingly aware of the chilling sensation in his shoulder, a constant reminder of his encounter with the wraith and the growing fatigue from his exertions.

Resolute to continue despite his growing exhaustion, Luke pressed on, pausing only to replenish his spring water supply and hydrate himself. As the midday sun beat down, its intensity forced him to take a much-needed break. Lying on the grass, he felt the onset of sunburn and an all-over soreness.

Feeling the urgent need to cool down, Luke summoned a bucket's worth of water directly above him, allowing it to cascade over his body. The cool water was a relief, soothing his aches and reducing the heat. He preferred this to using river water, still wary from his initial experiences in this world.

After consuming another bread loaf, Luke resumed his task, still dripping wet. He focused on summoning a straw hat for sun protection. But just as the hat materialized, he felt the air crystal lose its energy. Rachel had warned him of the crystal's limited durability, and it had finally exhausted its usefulness. He was surprised it had lasted for what he estimated to be 30 to 40 summonings, far exceeding the mage's estimate. This suggested his summonings might be energy-efficient or perhaps just basic.

Without the crystal, he couldn't summon any more spring water. Eyeing the remaining water in the container, he calculated enough for about 20 more slimes, assuming no misses. Faced with disappointment and limited options, he decided to use up the water as efficiently as possible before contemplating his next move. Returning to the old methods was an option, but with the wraith's curse sapping his strength, it seemed a less viable choice.

After using up his final shot and collecting 19 more shards, Luke had to face reality. He had grown accustomed to relying on his summoning power for essentials like drinkable water. Rachel's advice about always having an extra crystal resonated with him now; without it, a mage's capabilities were severely limited.

Parched and with a dry throat, Luke eyed the river but dismissed the thought of drinking from it without boiling the water first. He could skip food, but not water. With no other choice, he started his trek back to town, feeling dejected.

However, midway, an idea struck him. He remembered the team mentioning that shards, while not as powerful as mana crystals, were still used in magical crafting. If shards contained some mana, perhaps they could fuel his simpler summoning spells. Excited by the possibility, Luke took a shard from the collector and attempted to draw mana from it. To his relief, it worked.

Careful not to waste the shard's limited energy, he visualized spring water, aiming to fill a third of his container. The shard shattered partway through, but he quickly adjusted, successfully summoning a portion of water - enough for about 6 or 7 slime kills.

Before resuming his hunt, Luke wisely used one shard to summon drinkable water and two more for a loaf of bread. Sated, he used another two shards to refill his container and returned to his task of dispatching slimes.

Mindful of the time, Luke kept an eye on the sun's position. A couple of hours before sunset, he collected his shards and hurried back to town, not wanting to risk another encounter with the wraith. The chilling memory of the previous night's encounter and the cold mark on his shoulder served as a warning for the dangers lurking outside the town walls after dark.

Before he reached the town gates, Luke wisely used three shards to summon a hemp-woven bag to store his pressure gun, aiming to conserve his resources while keeping his abilities a secret. After paying the entry fee of 40 shards, he entered the town with a sense of relief, glad to have avoided any incidents.

Once inside the town, Luke's tension eased. Heading straight to the Guild, he noticed the team enjoying some ale at a table. He acknowledged them with a nod and proceeded to the counter for his payment. The agent, a middle-aged man marked by a prominent scar, handed him his earnings: 196 shards – 4 silver drakes, and 18 copper snakes.

"Thanks," Luke said, securing a room for the night with a silver drake. He then joined his team at the table.

"So, you survived!" Simone quipped with a tease.

Bart shot her a scolding look, but Luke just half-laughed, "Kind of. Got this yesterday," he said, showing them the mark on his shoulder.

The team reacted with varying degrees of concern, Simone theatrically leaning back in feigned fear. Dilan seemed lost in a memory, murmuring, "Nasty stuff. Had one of those when I started."

"You lost track of time?" Bart inquired.

"May I see it?" Rachel asked, her voice filled with sympathy.

Luke, slightly overwhelmed by the barrage of questions, responded to each in turn. "Yes, it caught me just as I reached the gates. How did you deal with it, Dilan? Sure, Rachel."

As Rachel leaned in to examine the mark, Bart nodded understandingly, and Dilan came back to the conversation, explaining, "I just let it pass. Stayed low for a few days to avoid complications. A healer wanted three gold drakes to cure it."

"A gold drake? How many silver drakes is that?" Luke asked, suddenly realizing his ignorance might seem suspicious. Sensing their puzzled looks, he braced himself as Bart explained, "10 silver drakes make a gold drake, 50 gold drakes to a silver dragon, and 10 silver dragons to a gold dragon."

Simone cast a questioning glance at Bart, seemingly puzzled why he wasn't surprised by Luke's unfamiliarity with currency exchange. Bart, however, dismissed it with a laugh, "What? I'm from a poor village too. We barely used copper snakes there. It was mostly grain trades."

Rachel then spoke up, leaning back into her chair, "Sorry, I can't help with that. I think only light healers will."

Luke nodded his appreciation, "Thanks for trying. I'll let it heal on its own." Suddenly, he sneezed, quickly apologizing for the interruption.

Simone commented, "Looks like you're already feeling the effects."

Luke, who was wiping his nose on his shirt, suddenly remembered his midday cold shower and subsequent exposure to the sun. Realizing he might be at risk of catching a cold, he turned to Rachel in concern, "Can you do something to prevent a cold?"

Simone chuckled while Rachel looked slightly embarrassed. "Not much, but let me try," she said, directing a stream of water from her flask into Luke's nose, infusing it with a mild magical touch.

The sensation was odd, but Luke bore it, hoping to ward off any impending illness. The treatment left him feeling slightly refreshed, but not significantly better.

"Sorry, that's all I can do. A potion might help, though," Rachel said apologetically, not reclaiming the water she used.

"Thanks anyway. How much for the potion?" Luke inquired.

Rachel shrugged, and Bart answered, "A basic vitality potion could help. The Guild sells them for about 2 silver drakes."

“I’m letting it run its course.” Luke decided, earning a hearty laugh from everyone at the table, even Rachel.