Molotov Meteor and the Swallowed Artifact

While hurling magic made purely of physics and chemistry, let me add a little aside: these weren't originally meant for this. The oil comes in massive jars that are a pain to carry, and the containers are made of a material that doesn't shatter easily even if you chuck them like water buckets. That's why they're mostly used as roadblocks or traps—spread the oil ahead of time and light it up when someone shows. That's the standard in Soul World too. Nobody goes around making makeshift Molotovs and lobbing them everywhere like me.

But that's just because it's a 'game'. This is reality. In reality, anything goes. The containers don't break easily? Pump in my red mana, and they'll shatter on impact. Just one condition met, and boom—you've got the setup for Molotov production.

"Magic!"

Crash!

"Fire magic!"

Whoosh!

Just like with Luna, I went around committing arson(?) with gusto. Fueled by oil, the flames wouldn't go out easily, and they roared high. Trying ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to douse them with magic? By now, in the late stages, their mana would be tapped out.

"Why won't it go out?! I poured water on it!"

"It's spreading more? What the hell is this?!"

Above all, oil fires don't extinguish with water. Pour it on, and it just spreads further—good luck putting it out. You've got to smother it with sand or cut off all air. Or wait for the oil to burn off.

Plenty of people on Earth didn't know that, so imagine this world. Unless you're Kara with her real combat experience, most probably have no clue.

"Damn it! That guy's screwing up the test!"

"It's not screwed up. That's what they call tactics."

"I know that! But why go through all this crap just to knock us out?!"

Hopping from rooftop to rooftop, raining down Molotovs—they were losing their minds. The professors must be loving this by now.

Of course, I wasn't tossing them indiscriminately. Just buying time until Grace found the artifact.

Look at that. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Even Chaos was thrilled with my antics. I smirked inwardly at the second faith-up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠message since the suicide vest. I'd been relying on brute force to avoid hassle, but using my brain felt refreshingly different.

"How the hell did he even make those?! Was he allowed to?!"

"Those containers are supposed to be shatterproof! He's the weirdo!"

"Whoever taught him did a bang-up job. Only the bad stuff!"

Sorry, but I came up with all this myself. My old world was full of all kinds of madness. Calling me crazy for this is downright cute. Even if the suicide vest was pretty insane.

"No choice—frontal assault! Raaah!!"

"Hey! Where you going?!"

One student went nuts too. He barreled straight through the flames I'd set up bare-handed and slipped inside, out of my sight.

I didn't waste a Molotov here. Excluding collectibles, most structures were like 3D-printed—fire-resistant but brittle.

I pointed my index finger at the building he'd hidden in.

"Death Beam."

Boom!!

A crimson mana beam shot from my fingertip, tuned just enough to collapse the building. He'd be out cold, not seriously hurt.

With attack rights allowed, I could cut loose like this. Worried about the red mana being visible? No issue— even low power made it too fast for the naked eye. Fruits of secret training away from Lord. Got scolded when caught, but worth it.

Crumble...

The building fully collapsed from the Death Beam. Inside lay the guy who'd charged through the fire, now surrounded by a protective barrier—knocked out as expected.

"How are we supposed to get through that guy?!"

"We don't have to! Retreat for now! Don't mess with the psycho!"

After repeating this a few times, they got fed up and started going around. As long as they avoided Grace's search area, I let the runners go. Tempted to lob firebombs or beams, but I held back. Fun was in the chaos of the situation, not toying with people—that'd feel off.

'Still haven't found it, huh.'

I paused on the roof, glancing back. Grace and Yeonju were probably still hunting the artifact. My job: keep other teams away until then. That's why I let runners escape.

'Smart ones will catch on.'

Sharp folks would notice by now. Why was I circling one spot, chucking only Molotovs? Why not just eliminate them outright? It screamed 'guarding something.' They'd link it to the artifact.

'If they come back, they've figured it out.'

Then Molotovs wouldn't cut it. They'd charge in like that one guy, putting Grace and Yeonju at risk. Better to spam everything and bail.

'You sure? That guy's guarding an artifact back there?'

'Not certain. But high chance.'

Resting on the tallest roof, voices reached my ear. I turned toward the sound—familiar figures.

'That skin color stands out from afar.'

While others had apricot tones, Kara's dark tan shone alone. Red hair made her a beacon. Visible, sure, but this distance should've muffled them. Focus mana in my ears, and whispers carry.

'I, is this okay? Feels too risky...'

'Moments like this demand bold calls. The artifact's definitely in the house behind Sivar.'

Another familiar voice. Turned—Luna's team. Kara and Luna, quick on the uptake, back after regrouping. Antonio's crew probably next. He might ambush when they're worn.

They'd caught on. Time for the grand finale.

I stood, rummaging my bag. Plenty ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of Molotovs left despite the barrage—replenished mid-fight.

Splash splash...

I poured bottle after bottle into the bag, soaking it thoroughly.

Meanwhile, Kara and Luna's teams crept closer, unsure of my next move.

Fwoosh!

I lit the backpack. Flames erupted fiercely.

'Good thing the bottles are tough.'

Tossed the lighter far away, assumed position. Gripped straps, crouched low. Spun like an Olympic hammer throw, maxing centrifugal force. Hands heated, but bearable.

Whoosh!

Launched the pack skyward. Flames made it a blazing comet—what the hell was that?

But not done. I waited silently as it arced high, then plummeted.

Flames likely spread inside by now.

"...Run!"

"W-what?!"

"Just charge inside!"

Kara sniffed the danger—instinct or smarts. Her team bolted after her. But a tad late.

I pointed my index finger at the falling pack. Dead aim.

Pew!

Crimson mana bolt fired—thin, precise. Lower power than before.

Kaboom!!

Impact triggered a massive blast. Primary explosion first.

Secondary? The packed Molotovs, of course.

Kaboom! Boom!

Chain reaction—huge detonation. Scenic from afar, but hell up close.

"Wha—what?"

"It's falling? What is that?!"

Fiery chunks rained down like 'Meteor'. Pure physics-and-chemistry mini-meteor. No real meteor power, but visuals? Terrifying.

Blazing blobs plummeting overhead.

"Gaaah!"

"Hey! Where you—damn it!"

Kara's team scattered in panic. She tried rallying, but dodged too.

"L-Luna!"

"Fend for yourselves! Can't help this! See ya!"

Luna bolted inside, weaving through fireballs.

I watched them enter, then dropped to street level. Time to regroup with Grace.

All sorts of screams filled my ears. Perfect effect. Other teams would be tied up quelling the disaster.

'Scenic my ass.'

Disaster movie vibes. Dodging fireballs, I raced to Grace's search house. Picked her presence easily—familiar as breathing.

Creak!

"Grace. I'm ba—"

"Eek!!"

Maybe no warning arrival spooked her. Opened the door—face to face.

Startled fine—stealthy approach in tense times.

"...Mmph?"

But why shove something weird in my mouth? Reflex jump from shock?

Gulp!

And why'd I swallow instinctively? Not tiny, but went down smooth.

"......"

"Uh... uh...?"

Grace stared, flustered. Violet eyes quaking like an earthquake. I was just as baffled, speechless. Just focused on what hit my gut.

Ding~

Then a noise rang between us—from my stomach.

We both looked down, entranced. Bad vibes.

Beep!

Up to here? Sweet deal.

Until my gut artifact started screaming for mercy.

'Come to think, what was my digestion stat again...?'

One thing certain: screwed.