Chapter 662 — Off the Leash

Seeing her reaction, the arcanotechnical engineers tactfully dropped the subject and began skillfully preparing for the upcoming experiment.

Although with the gradual application of immersion pod technology, more and more immersion pod equipment was being put into use, and more and more elite researchers could enter the virtual space of the "Origin Laboratory" to conduct experiments, the virtual laboratory did have its limits of simulation fidelity. Real-world testing remained an indispensable stage in the mid-to-late phases of many experimental projects—especially when it came to projects involving complex rune patterns, black-box spell recombination, and other matters less "physical" in nature. For such projects, actual testing was all the more important.

Experience showed that such projects had the greatest "reality deviation" within the Origin Laboratory.

Under the skilled coordination and operation of the project team members, the surface of the platform at the center of the laboratory gradually revealed the faint glow of runes. The various detection, control, and recording devices around the platform were also ready, and the ring-shaped metal apparatus on the platform trembled slightly as magical power filled it, emitting a very faint, pleasant humming sound.

"Good. Prototype anti-gravity ring, total test count six hundred twenty-seven, twelfth real-world test," Rebecca stood beside the experimental platform. Once it all began, her expression had already turned serious, and she gave her instructions in a steady voice. "Maintain the magical field. Check the ring body."

"The anti-gravity ring has begun operation. Current load is normal. Rune interference is within safe values," Cohen quickly checked the monitoring device before him—the so-called monitoring device being a thin crystal plate set beside the platform, imbued with spell effects for detecting distortion and magical feedback, capable of observing the magical distribution on the experimental platform and promptly displaying signs of magical loss of control. "Lift is already appearing... very stable."

Rebecca stared intently at the situation on the experimental platform. "Slowly release the limit locks."

An operator responded at once: "Yes, releasing the limit locks."

A faint click came from beneath the experimental platform, and then several locking devices that had been holding the metal ring firmly in place were released little by little. The metal ring bearing complex runes began to rise gradually, while several sturdy steel cables remained fixed beneath it to ensure safety throughout the process.

The anti-gravity ring rose to a position about half a meter above the platform and stabilized there.

Yet no one in the laboratory relaxed. Instead, their expressions grew even more serious and tense.

"Levitation spell in effect. Anti-gravity field stabilized," Cohen continued to report. "Rune interference within safe values."

"Test the load."

Several steel cables were gradually tightened. The anti-gravity ring above the platform bobbed up and down a hair, but quickly stabilized again.

"Load increased to two hundred twenty kilograms. Still stable."

"Maintain this load for now," Rebecca said as she checked the status of each device. "Next... let's try to make it move. Marin, lateral movement. Keep the amplitude small."

Marin Leslie nodded, drew a slight breath, and then began with extreme caution to control, through a non-contact magical field, a portion of the rune structures inscribed on the anti-gravity ring, attempting to achieve its lateral displacement by altering the direction of the anti-gravity field and resetting the load at various points around the ring.

The anti-gravity ring gave off a faint hum, the runes along its surface rippling like flowing water, and then it trembled slightly and began to drift to one side.

Rebecca's eyes went wide, and she watched it all with her breath nearly held.

An instant later the ring's surface flashed with a burst of harsh light; the whole metal structure shuddered violently and loosed a piercing shriek, and then it shot straight upward.

"Crack! Crack!"

A series of sharp reports followed in quick succession as the hooks binding the steel cables to the ring snapped one after another. In a blaze of brilliant light the anti-gravity ring hurtled at the ceiling and, with a resounding bang, slammed home against it.

Rebecca had reacted the instant the ring broke loose, slapping her hand down on the emergency stop button beside the test bench and cutting off the ring's magical field supply. But it had all happened far too fast; the ring had already struck the ceiling. Even with the energy supply severed and the runes on its surface dimming one by one, it did not fall.

It was embedded there.

A shower of ash and dust rained down through the laboratory. The coven of arcanotech technicians scrambled in undignified panic, dodging the debris falling from above, and only once the dust had finally settled did the grimy, soot-streaked lot return to the test bench and look up in a daze at the anti-gravity ring lodged in the ceiling.

For a moment the atmosphere turned a touch awkward.

After a long while, Cohenbell broke the silence in a small voice: "At least... now we know that thing's maximum lift under overload is enormous, even if it only holds for an instant..."

"We ought to switch to sturdier hooks and steel cables..." Marlin put in from the side.

"A flying device that can only go straight up and straight down is completely useless..." one assistant researcher muttered under her breath, but since the laboratory was so quiet to begin with, everyone heard her.

"Maybe we should still try the plan I proposed at the start," Rebecca said after a moment's thought, chin in hand. "Fly along while firing great fireballs out the back—slower, and it burns more energy, sure..."

Cohen broke out in a cold sweat and hurried to dissuade her. "Your plan is more dangerous than an out-of-control anti-gravity ring, and I'm afraid Lady Hetty would never agree to it..."

"Auntie isn't the technical department—fine," Rebecca said, then let her head droop and sighed. "Let's clean up here, get the documents and everything in order, and then we'll study just where the problem lies. And on your way home, everyone, think about whether there are any other, safer alternatives."

Only then did she lift her head and look once more at the metal ring embedded in the ceiling.

"Cohen, see if you can figure out a way to... pry it down. And who's coming upstairs with me? To tell Master Kamael that there wasn't an explosion this time... No one? Fine, I'll go myself..."