Chapter 77: Scenario VIII

Over the next few days, Ryan followed the same routine.

He attended his duties as a Junior Research Guardian, spent several hours in the research laboratory examining the mysterious fragment, and visited the eastern archive whenever he needed additional information.

At first, his progress was slow.

The fragment had already been examined by numerous experienced researchers, and most of their findings were well documented. There was little point in repeating experiments that had already failed.

Instead, Ryan focused on understanding its spiritual thread arrangement.

He carefully compared the fragment with the diagrams recovered from the northern ruins, paying particular attention to the tiny connections near its central core.

After several days, he noticed something unusual.

The fragment had three main spiritual threads extending from its core. Each was connected to several smaller threads, forming a complicated pattern.

However, the smaller threads weren’t simply supporting the main connections.

They seemed to regulate the flow of spiritual energy between them.

’Could these be some kind of control threads?’

Ryan opened his notebook and drew a rough diagram.

He had studied similar arrangements during his seven years at the Ancient Soul Binding Academy. Although the fragment’s structure was considerably more complicated, the underlying principles weren’t entirely unfamiliar.

He decided to conduct a small experiment.

Taking out a sheet of silver-thread paper, Ryan placed it beside the transparent container. He then used the basic thread manipulation techniques he had learned during his studies to create three thin spiritual threads.

He arranged them in a pattern similar to the one he had observed inside the fragment.

At first, nothing happened.

Ryan adjusted their positions slightly and tried again.

This time, the fragment produced a faint pulse of silver light.

He stopped moving.

’It reacted.’

The light disappeared almost immediately, but Ryan had clearly seen it.

He repeated the experiment several times, changing the arrangement of the threads each time.

The result remained the same. Whenever he managed to reproduce a particular arrangement, the fragment responded with a faint pulse.

Ryan carefully recorded his findings.

He didn’t know what the arrangement represented yet, but he had confirmed something important.

The fragment wasn’t completely inactive.

It could still respond to a compatible spiritual thread structure.

"You’re saying the fragment reacted to your experiment?"

Captain Alden looked at Ryan’s notes.

They were in his office, where Ryan had requested a meeting to discuss his recent findings.

"Yes. The reaction was very weak, but it happened several times."

Ryan placed his notebook on the desk and showed him the diagrams.

"I believe these smaller threads regulate the flow of spiritual energy between the main connections. When I reproduced their arrangement using my own spiritual threads, the fragment produced a pulse."

Alden carefully examined the diagrams.

"Did you notice any other changes?"

"No. The fragment returned to its previous state almost immediately. I couldn’t establish a stable connection."

Alden remained silent for a moment.

Then he looked up.

"That’s still an important discovery. Previous researchers attempted to stabilize the fragment using external spiritual energy, but none of them considered reproducing its original thread arrangement."

Ryan nodded.

"That’s what I found unusual. They focused mainly on restoring its damaged connections, but I think the structure itself is more important."

"Explain."

Ryan pointed toward the diagram.

"If the fragment was originally connected to several spiritual constructs, then its internal arrangement might have been designed to communicate with those constructs. Simply supplying it with more energy wouldn’t necessarily restore its original function."

Alden examined the drawing again.

"You’re suggesting that we need to reproduce the original structure before attempting to restore its connections."

"That’s my current theory."

Alden leaned back in his chair.

"Interesting. Very interesting."

He picked up another document and looked through it.

"There’s something else you should know. The research division has been discussing the northern ruins again. Your findings might give us a reason to reconsider another expedition."

Ryan became attentive.

"Are you planning to send a team?"

"Not immediately. We still need to verify your findings and determine whether the fragment can be used to identify anything inside the facility."

Alden placed the document down.

"However, if we can establish a connection between the fragment and the remaining spiritual network, we might be able to locate other functioning components."

Ryan considered the possibility.

If the fragment was indeed part of a larger structure, then there might be other fragments scattered throughout the ruins.

Some of them could still be connected to the central network.

And if the network was still functioning, those components might provide information that had been lost for centuries.

"Would I be allowed to participate in the investigation?" Ryan asked.

Alden looked at him.

"You’re still a Junior Research Guardian. Normally, that wouldn’t be enough to join an expedition to such a dangerous location."

Ryan didn’t look disappointed.

He had expected that answer.

"However," Alden continued, "you’re the one who discovered the fragment’s reaction. If the research division decides to investigate it further, I’ll recommend you as an assistant researcher."

"Thank you, Captain."

"Don’t thank me yet. The final decision will depend on the division’s evaluation."

Ryan nodded.

That was reasonable.

He had no intention of forcing his way into an expedition. He simply wanted an opportunity to examine the original facility.

Alden gathered the documents.

"For now, continue your research. I’ll arrange another experiment with the senior researchers. If your findings can be reproduced, we may have enough evidence to request an expedition."

"I understand."

Ryan left the office and returned to the research laboratory.

The following afternoon, Ryan was invited to attend a meeting in the eastern research wing.

Several senior researchers had gathered around a large table. Most were middle-aged or elderly, and each wore the dark uniform of the League’s Research Guardians.

Captain Alden was also present.

When Ryan entered, a few researchers glanced at him.

"Is this the Junior Guardian you mentioned?" one of them asked.

"Yes. This is Mika. He’s the one who discovered the fragment’s reaction."

The researcher looked at Ryan with some curiosity.

"You’re quite young to be working on an ancient spiritual artifact."

Ryan politely greeted everyone.

"I still have a lot to learn."

The researcher nodded.

"That’s a good attitude. I’m Research Guardian Lorian. I’ve been studying ancient spiritual constructs for nearly forty years."

He gestured toward an empty chair.

"Take a seat. We want to hear your explanation directly."

Ryan sat down.

Alden briefly introduced the purpose of the meeting before asking Ryan to explain his findings.

Ryan described the fragment’s structure, the arrangement of its spiritual threads, and the experiment he had conducted.

He also presented the diagrams he had drawn.

The researchers listened carefully.

When he finished, one of them frowned.

"Wait. You reproduced the arrangement using ordinary spiritual threads?"

"Yes."

"That’s difficult to believe. We have attempted several similar experiments, but the fragment never responded."

Ryan thought for a moment.

"Perhaps the arrangement was different. I didn’t simply connect the three main threads. I also reproduced the smaller connections surrounding them."

He pointed toward the diagram.

"These smaller threads seem to regulate the spiritual energy flowing between the main connections. I believe the fragment needs a specific arrangement before it can respond."

Research Guardian Lorian examined the drawing.

"That might explain why our previous experiments failed."

Another researcher shook his head.

"Even if that’s true, a brief pulse doesn’t prove that the fragment is connected to the underground facility."

"Of course," Ryan replied. "I haven’t confirmed that yet. However, the surviving expedition report describes a similar arrangement of silver threads extending throughout the facility."

He placed a copy of the relevant passage on the table.

The researchers began examining it.

After a short discussion, Lorian looked toward Alden.

"We should repeat the experiment under controlled conditions."

Alden nodded.

"Agreed."

He turned toward Ryan.

"Can you reproduce the arrangement again?"

"Yes."

"Then let’s proceed."

The experiment was conducted in the storage laboratory.

The transparent container was placed in the center of a specially prepared table. Several protective formations were activated around it to monitor changes in spiritual energy.

Ryan stood in front of the container while the senior researchers observed from a short distance.

He took out the silver-thread paper and began constructing the same arrangement.

This time, he worked more slowly.

He created the three main connections first, then carefully added the smaller threads around them.

The researchers watched the process.

Some examined the structure through specialized instruments, while others recorded the flow of spiritual energy.

After several minutes, Ryan completed the arrangement.

"Ready," he said.

Alden nodded.

"Proceed."

Ryan supplied a small amount of spiritual energy to the threads.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then the fragment inside the container began glowing.

A faint silver light spread across its surface.

The monitoring formations immediately responded.

"Energy fluctuation detected!"

"Record the pattern!"

"Wait. The internal flow is changing!"

The researchers quickly gathered around their instruments.

Ryan remained focused on the fragment.

The light grew slightly brighter, and several of the damaged spiritual threads inside its core began moving.

They didn’t repair themselves, but their positions changed.

One of the previously inactive connections extended toward the edge of the fragment.

Then another followed.

Alden stepped closer.

"What’s happening?"

Lorian stared at the readings.

"The fragment is attempting to establish a connection."

Ryan’s eyes narrowed.

’So I was right.’

However, before anyone could say anything else, the silver light suddenly disappeared.

The fragment returned to its previous state.

The laboratory became quiet.

A researcher examined the monitoring formations.

"Energy output has returned to normal."

"Did it connect to anything?" Alden asked.

Lorian shook his head.

"No. At least, not through the instruments we have here."

He looked at Ryan’s arrangement.

"However, the reaction was much stronger than anything we’ve recorded before."

Another researcher nodded.

"The internal threads moved in a specific sequence. It wasn’t a random reaction."

Alden turned toward Ryan.

"Can you reproduce it again?"

"I can try, but I don’t know whether the fragment will respond the same way every time."

"That’s fine. We have enough information for now."

Lorian continued examining the readings.

"Captain, I believe this warrants further investigation. If the fragment is trying to establish a connection, then there may be another component somewhere within the original facility."

Alden nodded slowly.

"That’s what I was thinking."

He looked toward the other researchers.

"I’ll submit a proposal for a new expedition. We’ll need to examine the original facility and determine whether the remaining network is still active."

The researchers began discussing the necessary preparations.

Ryan stood quietly to one side.

He had finally managed to make the fragment respond.

But the most interesting part wasn’t the light or the movement of its internal threads.

It was the fact that the fragment had attempted to connect to something.

Something that wasn’t inside the laboratory.

Ryan looked at the transparent container.

’There must be another part of the network somewhere.’

His investigation had finally made some progress.

And now, he had a reason to visit the northern ruins.