After finding the core's true center, the five of them gathered around the silver-gray Mechanical Altar and pressed ahead with their analysis without pause.
Unlike their earlier deductions, made through light-years of chaotic elemental currents, they now faced a tangible object they could actually touch, which sent their research speed soaring.
Edgar, in particular, moved almost ceaselessly across the altar's surface, probing the gaps between its geometric runes with his spiritual power and tracing the internal energy circuits ever deeper.
Comparing the vast amounts of data they had accumulated earlier, they could now all but confirm that, although the altar's structure was extraordinarily complex, relatively few areas actually regulated its operation.
Some interfaces even had clearly divided functions, suggesting that the designer had considered foolproof operation when first building this thing.
That meant they could issue commands directly to the entire system as long as they found the right control nodes.
"But making a device of this caliber foolproof to operate—what a terrifying level of civilization." Benjamin glanced at the altar.
The more he studied it, the more frightening he found what this object revealed.
Foolproof operation was certainly convenient, but often, it wasn't that designers didn't want to make things foolproof—they simply lacked the ability.
Conversely, designing a creation capable of producing a singularity for foolproof operation meant its makers had thoroughly mastered every relevant field of knowledge.
"Found it!"
Just then, Edgar abruptly stopped, sketching several glowing runes over the altar's surface with his spiritual power. "This should be it. Judging by the energy flow, this is the node controlling the altar's 'elemental gravity' function. If we briefly sever this section of the circuit, we should theoretically be able to stop it from absorbing any more outside elements—"
As he spoke, Edgar examined it further, but his expression