Ethan finally decided to focus his attention on the development of the underground workshop. The cave was immense, a vast space that seemed to stretch into infinity. The underground river, whose sound resonated softly in the depths, disappeared into the darkness at the other end. Although AION did not detect any immediate anomalies, Ethan knew that caution was never enough. What hidden dangers lurked beyond? For now, he decided to stay far enough from the river to operate safely.
The first day of construction began with preparing the ground. The cave's floor, irregular and rocky, made movement difficult. The Vespers, under Zhao Ren's supervision, began the arduous task of leveling it. Levers, hammers, and rudimentary pulleys were used to clear the larger rocks. It was not a simple process: some formations were too hard to break easily, requiring hours of work to clear them. On more than one occasion, they encountered areas with unstable soil that threatened to sink under their weight, forcing them to temporarily reinforce the ground with wooden planks.
Ethan walked among the workers, evaluating the progress with a calculating expression.
"We've reinforced with wooden supports for now, but if we use concrete with steel reinforcements, it will be a more solid foundation," he murmured.
He ordered the Vespers to start mixing the concrete and preparing the formwork in key areas. It wouldn't be a quick process, but it was an essential first step to ensure that the future facilities would be stable and resistant.
Meanwhile, they began marking the areas where the different sections of the workshop would be located: one area for heavy machinery, another for casting, and one more for assembly. All of this was part of a long-term plan, but for now, the priority was to have firm ground and a base structure for future expansions.
The biggest initial challenge would be the planning of the waterwheel. Ethan had designed a system to harness the river's flow, but the current was more unstable than expected. For now, he could only take measurements and adjust the plans. He knew that building the canals and installing the wheel would take more time and would be a phased project.
As the sun began to set on the surface, the progress of the first day was evident. The ground was cleared, and the first batches of concrete were being poured into the initial foundations. Ethan observed in silence, feeling that this was just the beginning. The infrastructure he dreamed of was still far from completion, but he had already taken the first step.
Back in his lab, Ethan stopped in front of a steel table where several minerals of an intense jet-black color rested. The dim light of the place highlighted their metallic shine, with dark gray veins that seemed to absorb the light rather than reflect it. To the touch, it was dense and cold, with a rough texture in some sections and smooth in others, as if hiding a complex internal structure. This was black iron.
AION began its initial analysis.
[Beginning sample scan. Unknown composition, but potentially useful for high-strength structures]
AION commented mechanically, projecting graphs and formulas into Ethan's vision.
Although the mineral did not offer the same crystalline structure as conventional steel, there was something in its density and hardness that suggested it might be suitable for military purposes.
Ethan crouched down to examine the samples more closely. Black iron was primarily used by low-level immortal cultivators for weapons and artifacts, but its application seemed limited.
"If it really has this hardness and strength... it could be the perfect material for making rifles, maybe even an alloy with steel for something stronger. But before making assumptions, I need to test its viability," he thought as he organized the pieces for the first experiments.
Ethan prepared to perform a more thorough test of the black iron. With AION's help, he selected a sample of the mineral, ensuring that all conditions were controlled to obtain the best results.
"AION, analyze the black iron in terms of density, strength, and composition. Compare its characteristics with those of regular steel."
[Starting composition analysis]
[Black iron composition: 70% iron, though with unusual compactness, denser and more organized. 12% is carbon, present in an amorphous form suggesting an external alteration during its formation, possibly influenced by an unconventional process or force. 10% consists of trace rare metals in addition to an unknown element that could be modifying the physical properties of the material. The remaining 8% is a residual energy compound. This compound cannot be identified by conventional methods, but it has a signature similar to spiritual energy or Qi, an energetic imprint capable of influencing the material's structure at the molecular level.]
Ethan frowned as he read the part about the energy compound.
[The density of black iron is 7.5 g/cm³]
[5% lighter than regular steel (7.8 g/cm³). However, its compact molecular structure provides much higher strength than would be expected from a material with this density.]
"This confirms that black iron outperforms steel in terms of strength," murmured Ethan, thoughtfully. "But its density is similar to traditional iron. The difference lies in its hardness and that energy compound."
After a moment of reflection, Ethan decided to attempt an alloy. He took the mineral and brought it to the natural draft furnace, where a controlled atmosphere allowed for the melting of metals. Using a coal forge, he introduced the black iron along with some portions of common steel, seeking a combination that could provide greater strength without compromising the material's malleability.
The first attempts were failures. When melted together with steel, the black iron did not seem to fuse properly, resulting in brittle pieces. Ethan did not give up, determined to find a solution. "Adjust the furnace temperature and reheat the alloy."
By doing so, the black iron began to melt more effectively with the steel. The initial results were not perfect, but the mixture appeared more solid and harder than conventional steel. Ethan began shaping the pieces into elongated forms, like rifle barrels, to test the alloy's resistance. During the first test, a heavy hammer was used to strike the piece. The alloy withstood the force without fracturing, though some visible deformations appeared on the surface.
"It's promising," Ethan said as he examined the material closely. "I need more tests. If the alloy can withstand the impact of projectiles, it could be ideal for the future rifles I have in mind." Upon hearing this, AION began running simulations on the material's stability under extreme pressure conditions.
AION projected a 3D simulation model into his vision.
[Simulating firing conditions in rifle barrels manufactured with the proposed alloy]
In the simulation, the rifle model demonstrated how the barrel made from the black iron and steel alloy would withstand the pressure generated by gunfire. AION calculated its resistance to high temperatures and the deformation of the piece after multiple shots. The data indicated that the alloy could endure recoil and friction without showing significant signs of fatigue.
"If the alloy is as promising as it seems, we could begin designing a rifle. We would need to refine the alloy to achieve greater uniformity and wear resistance," Ethan commented thoughtfully.
The simulation also allowed AION to analyze the exact composition of the new alloy.
[The mixture consists of 70% black iron and 30% steel, with traces of carbon reinforcing the structure. Hardness increased by 30% compared to conventional steel, but malleability was reduced by 15%.]
Ethan nodded, mentally noting the results. "What we need now is an improvement in malleability so we can process it with more conventional tools. Maybe trying with less black iron or experimenting with other elements to enhance ductility."
During the analysis, AION proposed a hypothesis for future experiments.
[A possible improvement would be the inclusion of 5% cobalt, which could enhance fatigue resistance and increase the material's ductility.]
Ethan considered the proposal while observing the simulation results. "It's a good idea. But first, we'll test more alloys before moving toward mass production. This type of material has the potential to completely change how we approach weapons manufacturing, especially rifles."
With the collected data and completed tests, Ethan felt satisfied with the initial progress. He knew there was still work to be done, but the black iron alloy could be the key to creating much more resistant and efficient rifles. The next step would be to continue testing and refining the formula to achieve the best balance between hardness, malleability, and wear resistance.
"If this alloy truly works, we could be at the forefront of a new type of weaponry," he thought, watching the simulation as AION began generating new models for future tests.