Chapter 468 - 467: Controllable Holy Light

The laboratory’s defense system has successfully activated.

This defense system, established during the Meteoric Era, showcases the pinnacle of magical craftsmanship achieved by the Gondor Empire during the height of human civilization—although the majority of devices in the defied Fortress outside have been rendered inoperative due to the erosion of the chaotic wave and a thousand years of weathering, the ancient defense system within this hidden keep still maintains its basic functions.

"Impressive..." Although Amber knew nothing about the laboratory’s contents, she couldn’t help but marvel when she heard the synthesized voice, "What was that just now? A magic artificial intelligence? Tower Spirit? Are those the kind of artificial minds crafted by the northern mages?"

Manipulating the complex magic symbols on the circular platform, Kamel casually replied, "Magic artificial intelligence and Tower Spirits? Those are merely minor skills... We once created nearly human-intellect cores; they could think like humans. The Iron Soldiers equipped with intellect cores and our Mage Corps were considered the two most powerful forces on the continent, while the northern barbarians’ magic artificial intelligences and Tower Spirits... are bulky, slow-thinking, with flawed logic systems, essentially defective products."

"Unfortunately, when the chaotic wave came, the overly sophisticated intellect cores were the first devices to fail, the Iron Soldier Corps turning into a pile of scrap metal right where they stood in the armory," Gawain shook his head, "The only solace we had was that at least the Iron Soldiers were simply scrapped, rather than going out of control—otherwise, the situation would have been worse."

Hearing Gawain’s words, Kamel could only let out a long sigh.

Meanwhile, this ancient Master Mage finally completed the preparation work for the test.

On the central platform of the laboratory, a device based on Cecil Rune Technique was placed. It featured a universal Honeycomb Magic Web, with six honeycomb units arranged to form the power supply part of the device, positioned at the center of the platform, and beneath the honeycomb units was connected a special, large rune trigger—designed by Pittman, known as the Inversion Matrix Unit.

The output end of the Inversion Matrix was connected to a rune trigger device, the trigger linked with a blank plate made of purple copper, with slots just right for embedding the Holy Light Foundation Plate.

This test setup was so simple, its structure clearly visible and its mechanism understandable.

"Charging the Holy Light rune with the Inversion Matrix is not inherently complex, and our first test objective is to verify whether this process can be realized and whether it will invoke the ’Divine Punishment’ from the Holy Light," Kamel hovered in front of the experiment table, explaining the purpose of the test to everyone present, "The laboratory is equipped with a complete divine power defense system, which ensures that even if the Holy Light issues Divine Punishment, it will be filtered by the defense system—its protective level is very high. According to tests from back then, even if the flesh of Amoen the Giant Stag exploded uncontrollably outside the laboratory, it wouldn’t affect the safety inside the great barrier."

The capability of researchers from Gondor back then to conduct various studies on divine power relied on this layer of defensive system—otherwise, even if Amoen the Giant Stag had fallen, this group of mortals researching how to slice divine corpses beside the remnants of a god would have died countless times.

That the defied Fortress group survived in full was a testament to the reliability of this defense system.

"That protective level should be sufficient," Gawain nodded, "So, when we activate the Inversion Matrix, we can determine whether there’s a risk of Divine Punishment from the device by observing whether the laboratory comes under attack?"

"Exactly so." Kamel nodded slightly.

Gawain pondered a moment and then posed a new question: "If this device starts smoothly and doesn’t cause Divine Punishment, how do we determine whether it’s the architecture of the device itself that successfully avoided Divine Punishment, or if it helps the user evade their own mental Steel Stamp?"

Divine Punishment and the mental Steel Stamp are two shackles affecting mortals using divine power.

Though not a researcher, Gawain understood the importance of "rigor" in experimental projects, and his question aimed to rigorously verify the roles these two factors play in the experiment—if this aspect couldn’t be confirmed, Holy Light rune technology would undoubtedly leave a huge hidden danger.

"...I must say, you indeed have the heart of a researcher," Kamel couldn’t help but compliment before proceeding, "Rest assured, we’ve considered this aspect—we’ve set up a mechanism in the rune trigger capable of transmitting magical power which connects to another Holy Light Foundation Plate directly. The tester needs to inject their magical power into the rune trigger and activate the device; this way, when the rune trigger closes, two Holy Light Foundation Plates are simultaneously activated: one activated directly by the tester’s own magic, which we refer to as Sample One, and another activated indirectly by the Magic Web and Inversion Matrix, referred to as Sample Two. By observing the activation of these two samples, we can determine during the entire process at which stage the tester’s mental Steel Stamp appears, and whether its presence affects the Inversion Matrix’s operation. Of course, to carry out this process, the tester must be a Transcendent with magical talent."

Gawain was sincerely satisfied with Kamel’s design—this is truly the work of a professional researcher; the issues he had thought about were already considered by such professionals long ago.

The key of Kamel’s formulated process lies in confirming whether the tester’s mental Steel Stamp remains effective throughout via "Sample One." Since the mental Steel Stamp is an inherent attribute of the tester, if Sample One is influenced by the Steel Stamp, it can be confirmed that the "Stamp" consistently exists, and the tester hasn’t circumvented their mental Steel Stamp through the device’s "Magic Web-Inversion Matrix" structure.

With the device checked, Kamel stepped aside, and a young researcher approached the platform.

He was the tester for this experiment.

Gawain gazed at the young man, who seemed only in his twenties, watching him calmly stand at the platform and place his hand on the specially-made rune trigger. Just before he began, Gawain suddenly spoke up: "What’s your name?"

"Cohen," the young researcher met Gawain’s gaze candidly, his breath slightly hurried, yet striving to remain as composed as possible, "My name is Cohen Bell, Sir Byron."

Gawain found the name familiar, and after a brief reflection, he retrieved the corresponding information from his memory: "Cohen... Are you the researcher in Arcane Transcription Technology who discovered the application of Mithril?"

"You actually remember me—it’s truly my honor!" the young researcher said, slightly excited. "I... I just discovered this concept, the coating was made by our entire team..."

"Your contribution is significant, no need to be modest," Gawain interrupted the young researcher, then glanced at the entire apparatus on the lab table and said with a serious expression, "You know the nature of this experiment, right?"

"Yes."

"Do you have faith?"

The young researcher lowered his head: "I am a shallow believer of the Goddess of Magic, Sir Byron."

"Do you know that after you press the button, you may face Divine Punishment?"

"I know," the young researcher, Cohen, a level three Arcane Master, answered calmly, "Pressing the button is a defiant act against the Holy Light. The last person to do this was burned to death by the Holy Light—but I believe the defense system here will take effect."

Kamel floated in front of Gawain: "All testers participated voluntarily, Sir Byron, rest assured about this."

"I know," Gawain nodded slightly, then gently exhaled and looked at the young man standing in front of the lab table, "Cohen Bell, you may make a request—I agree on a personal basis."

The atmosphere in the laboratory became solemn, even Amber, who could always joke around, looked at the young man before the lab table with a hint of respect at this moment. The researcher Cohen, who was the focus of everyone’s attention, remained silent for two seconds, then looked seriously at Gawain: "Sir Byron, I come from the royal capital—that place is already sealed off. If I succeed, I hope you can bring my family here, and if I fail, I hope to send back a message: Cohen Bell, the merchant’s child, fell on the path of pursuing the truth of magic."

After saying this, the young researcher nodded forcefully to his colleagues standing by and to Kamel, the project leader, then resolutely infused magic power into the rune trigger and firmly pressed the iron button.

All eyes instantly focused on the central platform of the laboratory.

The Honeycomb Magic Web glowed with a faint blue-white light, and the Inversion Matrix Unit connected to the Magic Web also brightened at the same time, activating all the magic patterns and symbols. Pure magic energy was transformed and injected into the Holy Light rune as a sample, while at the same time, the Holy Light Foundation Plate directly connected to the rune trigger also brightened upon Cohen’s magic power injection.

This all actually happened in a very short time, yet under Gawain’s watchful eyes, it felt as extended as centuries.

Finally, a clear and sacred light appeared above the second Holy Light Foundation Plate connected with the Inversion Matrix, while the Foundation Plate directly connected to the rune trigger flickered briefly before it went dark.

The Holy Light Rune Baseplate was successfully activated under the power supply of the Inversion Matrix.

The tester’s mental Steel Stamp persisted throughout the process.

Cohen still stood well at the lab table front—fine beads of sweat appeared on his face, his eyes widened in tension, breathing rapidly, fingers slightly trembling, yet he indeed stood there intact.

Kamel immediately called the laboratory Responder: "Defense system, report whether it was impacted by divine forces!"

"Defense system self-checking... no signs of attack discovered, defense system energy is full."

Kamel maintained his floating stance in mid-air, then suddenly turned to look at Gawain with excitement after more than ten seconds: "No Divine Punishment! Sir Byron, we’ve succeeded! The Magic Web-Inversion Matrix architecture can avoid Divine Punishment! And it’s unaffected by the mental Steel Stamp!"

Amber blinked, with her level of understanding and knowledge, even now she hasn’t truly figured out how the entire experiment worked, but she did grasp the fact that "experiment succeeded". She looked at Gawain dumbfounded: "It’s successful? So does this mean... we ’stole’ the Holy Light from the Holy Light God?"

"No, we are merely taking it," Gawain replied with a smile looking at the half-elf lady, then strode to the laboratory desk and nodded solemnly to Cohen, "I will remember my promise—I will bring your family safely back to the Cecil Clan."

At this moment, Rebecca’s voice suddenly came from behind Gawain: "Ancestor, actually we have one more test."

"One more test?" Gawain turned around surprised, seeing Rebecca directing the technicians to place some new devices onto the lab table, "What have you designed?"

"Random selection," Rebecca answered earnestly.

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