socalfunplaces 034 Equipment Department Test
034 Equipment Department Test
The next day, at the underground testing ground of the Equipment Department of Kassel College.
Minister Akadula and the researchers behind him were rubbing their hands together excitedly. "Finally," Akadula rubbed his hands together with excitement, "the day has finally come to test the S-rank Word of Power."
"Mingfei," Professor Guderian's voice came from the observation room, "you don't need to be nervous, this is just a basic test. The Equipment Department will strictly control safety..."
"S-rank," Minister Akadula snatched the microphone, "Let's begin, use your Words of Power."
Lu Mingfei raised his right hand, and golden light emerged from the void, with regular hexagonal light screens rippling under the light.
"Is it one-way defense?" Schneider asked through the glass.
"More can be generated and freely combined, but it can't be too complicated; my brainpower is limited," Lu Mingfei said.
As he spoke, a golden halo spread out, forming a multifaceted structure around him, with a golden hexahedron enveloping him.
Guderian slapped his thigh excitedly, exclaiming, "Great! Great!"
"Initiate the first test." Minister Akadullah pressed the communication button. "Robotic arm one, diamond probe, constant pressure propulsion."
"The pressure is set at... 1000 Newtons," said Deputy Minister Carl.
"Too conservative!" Minister Akadullah waved his hand. "Let's go straight for 5000 Newtons!"
"Minister, security—"
"S-rank will be fine, I believe in him!"
The robotic arm slowly advanced, and the diamond probe came into contact with the surface of the golden light screen.
Then the force suddenly increased, and Lu Mingfei felt a slight touch, as if someone had gently poked his forehead with their finger. Faint ripples appeared on the surface of the barrier, spreading outwards from the point of contact.
The robotic arm motor emitted a buzzing electrical sound, but the probe remained completely still.
"The pressure has increased to 10000 Newtons," Minister Akadula's voice rang with excitement; that was already a ton of force.
"20000 cows!"
"Maximum output, 70,000 Newtons!"
"The connecting rod broke!"
The observation room erupted in chaos.
"This light membrane isn't a repulsive field!" one researcher exclaimed. "It's a hardening layer! A solid hardening layer!"
"The local pressure at the contact point is close to 100 GPa, and the material fluoresces under pressure!"
Minister Akadula slammed his hand on the control panel. "I knew it! I knew the S-class was no ordinary class! Ballistic test! Conduct the ballistic test immediately!"
The ballistics laboratory is located one floor below the test range, with all four walls made of energy-absorbing material. In the center is a fixed firing position, opposite which is an area enclosed by bulletproof glass. Lu Mingfei is inside this area, with his aiming point set thirty centimeters to his left.
"Step-by-step energy increase," Akadura announced into the microphone, "Everyone, put on your headphones. S-rank, activate defense."
Lu Mingfei nodded and created a two-meter-wide force field in front of him.
"First shot. Friga tranquilizer dart, kinetic energy 500 joules."
The automatic weapon system behind the firing position emitted a soft click, and a red bullet flew out of the barrel. The shutter clicks of the high-speed camera clicked continuously, capturing every moment of the bullet's flight.
The bullet struck the golden barrier, creating ripples on the surface of the screen like a pebble thrown into water. Then the bullets clustered together and fell straight down.
"Second shot. 7.62×51mm NATO full metal jacket round, kinetic energy 3.5 kilojoules."
The copper-cased bullet flew out at twice the speed of sound, and the impact sounded as crisp as two pieces of metal colliding.
"Third shot. .50 BMG armor-piercing round, kinetic energy 18 kilojoules."
The more powerful bullets turned into a flat mass of metal scrap the moment they hit the screen and flew away.
"Fourth shot. 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon shell, kinetic energy 60 kilojoules."
The explosion burst into flames beside Lu Mingfei, but the golden barrier remained as solid as a rock.
"The fifth shot." Akadullah's voice suddenly turned low. "GAU-8 Avenger, 30mm depleted uranium armor-piercing round. Kinetic energy approximately 200 kilojoules."
The GAU-8 Avenger—the seven-barreled Gatling gun of the A-10 attack aircraft—is the most powerful ammunition the equipment department has used at this test range. A single shot has a recoil of over 4 tons, and if fired continuously in the opposite direction, the recoil can propel the A-10 attack aircraft into the air.
"Minister," Manstein's voice finally came through, "isn't this too—"
"Safety first," Minister Akadullah interrupted him without turning his head. "Everyone wear protective goggles, including Lu Mingfei. Bullets hitting the defenses will produce a strong flash."
The depleted uranium armor-piercing projectile struck the golden barrier at more than three times the speed of sound, releasing a blinding white light upon impact. The projectile debris flew at supersonic speeds in all directions of the room, sweeping away everything in its path like sandblasting, and finally embedding itself in the bulletproof glass thirty meters behind. The entire test site was shaken and buzzed.
"100 rounds! Firing continuously! Use up all the depleted uranium armor-piercing rounds!"
"Minister! Won't this—"
"Shut up! This is for science!"
"Our observation window is going to shatter!"
Da da da da da da——
Gunfire erupted in unison, spitting fire as spent shell casings rained down on the ground with a clattering sound.
The depleted uranium armor-piercing rounds, after being deflected, ricocheted wildly in the confined test range, like a swarm of enraged wasps dancing erratically. They struck the ceiling, walls, floor, and supporting pillars, each impact sending sparks flying and leaving deep craters. The observation window, made of five layers of bulletproof glass, was shattering layer by layer.
Professor Guderian held his head in his hands, muttering things like, "I haven't been promoted to tenured professor yet," and "I don't want to die in the equipment department's test range."
After the shooting ended, the test range was filled with smoke and toxic gases. A golden barrier enveloped Lu Mingfei, cutting out a clean space.
"Quick, breathe!"
The ventilation ducts hummed as fresh air poured in, and the people in the observation room regained their sight.
"Unprecedented."
"Incredible." Professor Schneider's breathing became heavier beneath his mask.
"What kind of incantation is this? The Dustless Land couldn't possibly have this level of defense! The Dustless Land is a repulsive field, this is a hardened layer! A completely different mechanism!"
"No, on the day of Freedom, the S-class repulsed the blond guy and the black dog! This barrier also has the properties of a repulsive field!"
The researchers in the equipment department have gone mad.
"S-rank...my student, my S-rank student..."
Zero stood in the corner, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes, but it quickly faded. He tilted his head, seemingly confused.
"The art of explosion!"
When Minister Akadullah shouted those five words, the entire equipment department erupted in cheers.
At the bottom of the test site is a spherical space with a diameter of 30 meters, and the four walls are made of reinforced concrete and gold reinforcement layers up to 2 meters thick.
This facility is usually used only for testing the highest-level explosives, but today it welcomes an even more distinguished guest.
Lu Mingfei was required to put on a bulky bomb suit, and an armor plate was erected in front of him.
All the researchers in the equipment department were slumped over the control panel like a group of zombies, their eyes bloodshot as they stared at the boy in the center of the blast chamber.
"These are security measures," Minister Akadullah explained regretfully. "While I believe in your power of words, we are legally obligated to provide physical protection. Please understand."
"Ready?" The minister pulled out a man-portable rocket launcher, his face flushed with excitement. "RPG!"
boom--!
The moment the rocket struck the golden barrier, a massive fireball exploded in the center of the arena. The shockwave spread outwards, crashing against the surrounding concrete walls and bouncing back in waves.
The flames died down.
On the monitor, Lu Mingfei stood still, the golden barrier intact, and the armor plating in front of him spotless.
"He's laughing at us! He's yawning! He's mocking the great art of explosion!"
The researchers from the equipment department shouted, "Get the C4!"
Professor Manstein frowned: "What about safety?"
"Don't worry!" Minister Akadullah waved his hand. "Look at that armor plate, 150mm depleted uranium ceramic composite armor, enhanced with alchemy technology. It can withstand 20kg of C4 at a distance of 1 meter without any problem. We promise that we will never use a yield exceeding the protection limit."
He paused, then added, "Today."
Manstein wanted to say something more, but seeing Professor Schneider's expectant look, he swallowed his words.
The researchers looked at Lu Mingfei with admiration and carefully placed three 5-kilogram C4 explosive blocks in front of him.
The entire platform slowly rose into the air, surrounded by hydraulic buffer devices.
"Detonate!"
The sound vanished, replaced by a dull tremor. Lu Mingfei felt as if he were being gripped by an invisible giant hand, squeezed from all sides simultaneously. Under the impact, the golden barrier exhibited unprecedented optical distortions on its surface, rippling like waves.
The exhaust fan drew away the smoke, and Akadula sighed deeply over the communication channel.
"The security measures here have indeed reached their limit." He took off his goggles. "We have no way to test the upper limit of S-level defense in this area. My estimate is that it can withstand a direct hit from a 155mm howitzer, which is a third-generation level of defense."
"Third generation?" Manstein repeated, his voice slightly strained.
"More or less," Minister Akadullah emphasized, "maybe even higher."
As Lu Mingfei stepped off the platform, his stomach rumbled loudly.
"I'm a little hungry," Lu Mingfei said, taking off his bomb suit.
"Hungry?" A researcher's eyes widened. "He used his Word of Power for so long to withstand machine gun fire, depleted uranium rounds, and C4, and then he's just hungry?"
"Using incantations at such a high intensity should put a heavy burden on the body," Professor Schneider frowned. "How come your condition is so stable?"
"Terrifying," Manstein said. "That kind of endurance is terrifying in itself."
Ling walked up to Lu Mingfei and said, "Let's go have dinner."
As Lu Mingfei and Zero turned to leave the testing ground, Minister Akadula suddenly rushed up and shoved Zero aside.
Zero's eyes flashed with a murderous glint as he stared at Minister Akadura's back. But Minister Akadura was completely oblivious, warmly inviting Lu Mingfei to visit the Equipment Department again next week, saying he must let him try the Equipment Department's special energy drink, and promising to upgrade the testing grounds to be worthy of S-level intensity.
Lu Mingfei was a little overwhelmed by his enthusiasm and could only nod: "Okay...okay."
Then the people from the equipment department escorted Lu Mingfei away from the test site, bombarding him with all sorts of technical questions—"Can your defenses be stacked?", "Can you control the shape of the barrier?", "Have you tried attaching the barrier to a weapon?"...
Ling was pushed further and further away, her little fists clenched, silently memorizing the damned faces of these people.