Days passed, one after another.
A week later, the Wind Tunnel Laboratory was officially completed.
Richard appeared inside the Wind Tunnel Laboratory.
One could see that the laboratory looked much like a gigantic warehouse, with thick outer walls and tight inner walls. At its core was a separate chamber, almost like a tunnel, approximately four meters wide and more than ten meters long.
Compared to a full-size wind tunnel laboratory for testing actual airplanes, which could be fifteen meters wide and even larger, this one was much smaller. However, Richard had built the Wind Tunnel Laboratory not for testing planes, but for testing miniature magic tracking missiles, and its current size was more than adequate for that purpose.
Walking into the testing chamber and standing at the center, Richard looked ahead and saw an entire wall fitted with metal fan blades, densely packed and almost intimidating in number.
This was the testing chamber’s exhaust wall, and when the switch was turned on, the many metal fan blades, powered by electric motors, would turn wildly. By rotating, they pumped a large volume of air into the chamber, passing through at a constant speed and then being expelled through the exhaust vents.
Slightly off to the side from the exhaust wall stood an inconspicuous metal target, an auxiliary tool for this test.
After a cursory inspection of various measures and finding no issues, Richard nodded in satisfaction, ready to formally begin the test.
The sound of footsteps echoed as Richard walked to the side of the wall, opened a hidden metal plate, and revealed the control panel beneath. He pressed a few switches.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
The metal fan blades of the exhaust wall began to spin slowly; a breeze appeared in the chamber, blowing towards him and steadily increasing in strength.
Richard stepped forward and walked back to the center of the chamber. With a flip of his hand, he took out the second version of the improved miniature magic tracking missile from the Space Iron Ring.
One could see that the improved miniature magic tracking missile had undergone quite a few changes in appearance compared to the previous version. Although it still resembled an arrow, it was longer and had fins added to improve flight stability.
The magic runes etched on its exterior were also more intricate. Besides the Wind Magic Pattern for flight functions, Richard, after his research during this period, had also etched a Tracking Magic Pattern onto it.
This function was realized through a Light Magic Spell.
The Light Magic Spell could control the miniature magic tracking missile to approach a target that blocked light ahead, allowing for slight corrective adjustments.
Although it was still far from genuine tracking and could not be considered precise guidance, it was barely serviceable.
Richard had no intention of creating the miniature magic tracking missile to be perfect in one go. He was prepared to undergo a long period of continuous improvement before finally producing the finished product.
Thinking this, Richard controlled the Free Energy Elements flowing out from within his body and injected them into the miniature magic tracking missile, activating the starting magic pattern on it.
The miniature magic tracking missile trembled slightly, its etched magic runes quickly lighting up, generating propulsion. Under the effect of Wind Magic, it left his palm and flew forward.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
The metal fan blades installed on the exhaust wall accelerated, creating a stronger wind that acted upon the body of the miniature magic tracking missile.
The miniature magic tracking missile wobbled slightly, but, unlike last time, it didn’t lose control. Instead, it moved against the flowing air at a relatively slow relative speed, approaching the metal target several meters ahead.
One meter, two meters, three meters...
The miniature magic tracking missile was getting closer and closer to the metal target.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
The metal fan blades on the exhaust wall increased in speed once again, reaching the preset maximum velocity. Instantly, an unprecedented strong wind blew head-on, striking the body of the miniature magic tracking missile.
The miniature magic tracking missile wobbled uncontrollably, almost on the verge of losing control, but it had not yet done so, and continued to move forward with difficulty. It seemed as though due to a lack of power, its forward momentum was gradually negated, it began to hover in place, and then even started to move backward.
Right at that moment, a ring of magic runes at the very front of the missile suddenly brightened, indicating that the light magic runes had locked on to the target and were fully activated.
In reality, the true effect of the light magic runes had a very large range, and they were capable of locking onto the target the instant the missile was activated.
However, in order to test the miniature magic tracking missile more thoroughly, Richard had modified the light magic runes slightly, allowing them to truly take effect several seconds after activation.
Now that they were triggered, all the magic runes on the surface of the miniature magic tracking missile began to flicker at an extremely high frequency. All the free energy elements stored inside surged out and affected the wind magic runes on the missile, propelling it into the target-locking sprint phase.
The speed of the miniature magic tracking missile surged dramatically, breaking through the barrier of the strong wind in the blink of an eye, and like a streak of black light, it fiercely charged towards the target.
A crisp sound followed as the miniature magic tracking missile made contact with the metal target, then it burrowed into the interior of the metal target, but... there was no explosion.
Yes, there was no explosion.
During this wind tunnel test, Richard’s main purpose was to identify deficiencies in the design of the missile body, and not to test the explosive warhead, which would be considered only once the missile body had been successfully developed and was not installed this time.
As such, the entire experiment seemed somewhat dull.
There was no grand display of power nor any spectacular explosion, only the "whoosh whoosh whoosh" of the spinning metal fan blades and the "huff huff huff" of the strong wind blowing, which came to an end after a single crisp sound.
But to Richard, this was more exciting than detonating a ton of high explosives.
Within tens of seconds, he had closely watched the complete process of the miniature magic tracking missile’s operation and memorized every detail and flaw.
Although the miniature magic tracking missile appeared to have many deficiencies, the moment it traced a small arc and accurately struck the metal target had overshadowed them all.
With that collision, it was proven that his design philosophy for the miniature magic tracking missile was correct; it was a viable path to follow.
With scientific thinking combined with the effects of magic, he had successfully transferred the concept of Earth’s cutting-edge weapons into the wizard world in another form.
Although this weapon was still crude and currently only counted as a harmless flying object,
Once this critical first step was taken, the future was an open road. With the investment of time and effort, all sorts of astonishing creations could become possible.
For instance, a frozen spell missile. By etching powerful water ice branch magic runes on the warhead and controlling its flight, upon impact and detonation, it wouldn’t release flames but rather bone-chilling frost that could freeze tens or hundreds of meters around it solid.
Or say, an invisibility magic missile. By engraving on the body, light magic runes that could refract light, wind magic runes that could neutralize sound and air vibrations, alongside concealing breath magic patterns. Once the magic missile was launched, it would be utterly undetectable, even the person launching it couldn’t be sure of its whereabouts. Only on a successful hit of the enemy would it reappear and then demonstrate its terrifying power.
Or take, for example, a causality law magic missile. By inscribing prediction magic runes on the body, selecting the target, once launched, there would be no need for further concern. Because, under the powerful influence of destiny, the magic missile was sure to hit its mark.
And then there was the space magic missile. By inscribing some sort of space magic rune on the warhead, turning the warhead into a spatial container. After striking the target, the enemy might expect a large explosion and scatter to avoid it. They wouldn’t expect that hundreds of magic knights would leap out, roaring and sweeping through everything.
And there were more...