Next came the tiered tests.
At level-two energy, it punched through an ironwood target reinforced with metal;
At level-three energy, it easily penetrated a composite armor plate;
At level-four energy, the preset maximum safe testing level—
The low-strength barrier wall flickered for a moment at the point of impact, then vanished with a hole like a bubble popped by a needle. The beam continued unabated, leaving a deep scorch mark on the specially prepared rock behind it.
After every test shot, dedicated personnel rapidly inspected the verification unit.
Heat dissipation was normal, the structure showed no deformation, and feedback from the activation module remained stable.
"Final test: continuous activation adaptability.
Target: moving target.
Activation energy: level two.
Interval: five seconds."
Orochimaru gave the order.
The mechanical arm manipulated the "Thunder Halberd-α" as it turned slightly, locking onto a target that was slowly moving sideways along a track.
Sizzle! Direct hit!
Five seconds later, sizzle! Another direct hit!
Three consecutive activations all struck the moving bullseye with precision, and the verification unit remained stable.
When the final test shot ended, the mechanical arm withdrew and the verification unit was secured once more. At last, genuine cheers that could no longer be suppressed erupted from behind the observation bunker!
"Success! We did it!"
"All our theoretical projections... were true!"
"Safe! Controllable! Precise! The power... is incredible!"
Sousuke excitedly embraced a Rune Group colleague beside him. Though Orochimaru remained where he stood, a genuinely delighted smile appeared on his pale face—an exceedingly rare expression of satisfaction at seeing his concept successfully validated.
Akimichi Doto looked over the compiled test data, then at the neat holes in the distant targets and the breach in the barrier wall, and let out a long, long breath.
The pressure and worry of the past two months transformed