Solo Leveling: Monarch of knowledge

Adam crossed his arms, his expression calm but firm. "You stand no chance against that boss." he said, his voice steady. "I just felt its mana."

The squad captain, frowned, her grip tightening on her sword. "And what would you suggest, then?"

Adam tilted his head, studying her carefully. "Before I answer, I'm curious… Why are you so calm? You don't even know who I am. For all you know, I could be someone dangerous."

The woman shrugged, her expression neutral but her voice resolute. "If you wanted us dead, you would've done it long ago. You're stronger than us, that much is clear. But instead of attacking, you helped us. I don't see a reason to fight someone who could kill us all without breaking a sweat."

She glanced at the injured hunter, her tone softening. "I just want to finish here, get my share of the money, and go home to my husband and daughter."

Adam paused, considering her words. Slowly, he extended his hand. "Luca." he said with a small smile, offering the fake name he had chosen.

She hesitated for only a moment before shaking his hand firmly. "Angela." she replied.

"Alright, Angela." Adam said, his tone shifting to something more businesslike. "Here's what we're going to do. I need you to bring me some specific materials and tools."

Angela raised an eyebrow, suspicion creeping into her expression. "You realize electricity and modern equipment don't work in dungeons, right?"

Adam chuckled, shaking his head. "Relax. These tools don't rely on electricity. They work with good old manual force. Trust me."

Angela exchanged glances with her team before nodding reluctantly. "Fine. But if you're wasting our time…"

"You'll see." Adam said confidently.

....

The hunters exited the dungeon shortly after, contacting the Hunter Association to call in the mining team. Adam, meanwhile, used the association's speed delivery system to order the materials and tools he needed.

True to its reputation, the association's delivery service was as fast as advertised. Within an hour, a courier arrived at the dungeon entrance with the items Adam had requested. The miners, equipped with their pickaxes and gear, arrived around the same time, ready to clear out the mana crystals.

Back inside the dungeon, Angela crossed her arms as she watched Adam inspect the materials. "Alright, Luca." she said, her tone skeptical. "You've got what you wanted. Now what?"

Adam stretched, glancing at the tools and materials laid out before him. "Let's create."

He crouched near the pile of materials, his fingers deftly separating and arranging them into neat sections. Mana crystals shimmered faintly in the dim light of the cave, their raw power just waiting to be tapped.

Monster bones lay in another pile, their sturdy structure a perfect material for reinforcement. Finally, the light blue essence stones were carefully placed to the side, glowing faintly as if alive.

The hunters stood off to the side, watching with a mix of confusion and skepticism.

"What the hell is he doing?" one of the hunters muttered under his breath.

"I have no idea." another replied. "But he looks like he knows what he's doing."

Angela remained silent, her eyes fixed on Adam as he worked. She didn't interrupt, but the slight furrow in her brow betrayed her curiosity.

....

Adam's mind worked at lightning speed as he recalled every piece of knowledge he had absorbed from books on chemistry, physics, and mana applications. 'Let's make something they've never seen before.' he thought with a focused gaze.

He began by carving the monster bones into hollow tubes and small casings using a knife. The bones were tough but lightweight, making them an ideal container. Next, he carefully ground down some of the mana crystals into sharp shards, which would act as high-velocity projectiles when the bomb detonated.

The essence stones were the core of the device. Adam hollowed out a small chamber in each bone casing and embedded an essence stone inside, ensuring that it was secure but exposed enough to release its energy. The mana crystal shards were then packed around the essence stone, forming a dense cluster of explosive potential.

Finally, he used strips of monster hide to seal the casing, creating a pressurized environment. The hide's natural resistance to magic helped contain the explosion just long enough to amplify its force.

The ignition mechanism was simple yet effective: a trigger made from tightly coiled monster sinew and powdered mana crystal. When activated, the sinew would snap, creating a spark that would ignite the mana within the essence stone.

Each bomb was about the size of a large fist, compact and deadly.

....

Angela crossed her arms, her patience wearing thin. "Are you going to explain what you're doing, Luca? Or are we supposed to just watch you play with bones and rocks?"

Adam didn't look up, his hands moving with precision. "Trade secret." he said calmly. "Let's just say you're about to witness something groundbreaking."

The hunters exchanged puzzled looks, but none of them pressed further.

As Adam worked, Awà's voice chimed in his mind. [The design is highly efficient, Host. The combination of essence stones and mana crystal shards will create a powerful explosion with lethal shrapnel. Additionally, the bone casings provide structural integrity, ensuring the energy is directed outward.]

'Good.' Adam thought. 'These will be perfect for taking down the boss and its minions.'

....

The hunters watched in silence as Adam crafted bomb after bomb. Though they didn't understand his methods, they couldn't deny his focus and expertise.

"Is he really making… explosives?" one hunter whispered.

"Looks like it." another replied, frowning. "But why use essence stones? That's just wasting money."

Angela shot them a look, silencing their chatter.

....

After nearly two hours of meticulous work, Adam stood and dusted off his hands. In front of him were six neatly crafted bombs, each one glowing faintly from the essence stone embedded within.

He turned to Angela. "Alright. We're ready to take on the boss."

Angela raised an eyebrow. "And those… things you made are going to help?"

Adam nodded. "More than you know."

He didn't explain further, Adam had no intention of sharing the specifics of his invention. These bombs were a potential game-changer, something that could revolutionize combat in dungeons. If he played his cards right, he could sell this technology for a fortune in the future.

But for now, he had a boss to kill.

"Let's move." Adam said, lifting the bombs and securing them in his bag. His gaze shifted to the massive doors of the boss room, with his eyes narrowing. 'Time to make some noise.'

....

The massive doors groaned as they swung open, revealing a large, dimly lit chamber. The air inside was thick with tension and the faint metallic scent of mana. At the center of the room stood an imposing figure: an adult male-sized goblin, its body bound with jagged chains that clinked softly as it shifted. Around it were several slightly smaller goblins, each armed with crude but dangerous-looking weapons.

The hunters tensed, their expressions hardening at the sight of the monsters. Angela's grip on her sword tightened, her jaw set with determination.

Adam, standing behind them, calmly adjusted his grip on the hammer he carried. His eyes analyzed the goblins' movements and weapons, his mind already calculating their strengths and weaknesses. He spoke, his tone measured. "I'll handle the support. I've been meaning to test this invention of mine, so I'll lower my strength for this fight."

Angela turned to him, frowning. "Lower your strength? What do you mean by that? There are lives on the line here!"

Before she could finish her sentence, a goblin wielding a heavy mace darted forward with surprising speed, its weapon swinging directly at her exposed temple. Angela, having lowered her guard mid-argument, couldn't react in time.

Adam moved without hesitation. With a swift kick, he struck the goblin's mace mid-swing, redirecting its trajectory just centimeters away from Angela's head. The goblin staggered, thrown off balance, giving Angela the opening she needed.

With a sharp, practiced motion, she swung her large sword, cleaving the goblin in two. Blood sprayed across the chamber floor as the creature collapsed.

Angela glanced at Adam, her eyes wide with a mix of gratitude and surprise. "That was close…" she muttered before composing herself.

Adam's tone remained calm and firm. "I'll support you like this. Or do you want to be spoon-fed?"

Angela paused, studying him for a moment. Finally, she nodded, her expression softening. "Understood. And… thank you for that."

Adam gave a curt nod and stepped back, his hammer at the ready. The remaining goblins snarled, their glowing red eyes locking onto the group. The hunters tightened their formation, weapons raised as they prepared for the battle ahead.

Adam's thoughts, however, were already on the bombs secured in his bag. 'Let's see how effective these are.'