The first relay test used a prototype anchor furnace and one pylon. The crew set the stone bank to a low load and checked the local release before sending any current.
Two neighboring anchors fed the same relay at once. The initial chart had not accounted for their combined draw. The needle climbed faster than the expected range.
Deyan saw the readings and called for a disconnect. The manual release worked, but the pylon overheated before the current fully stopped. Copper glowed at the joint, and the casing smoked.
Yan stepped beside the test furnace and used Ashen Marrow to steady his own channels while he helped cut the current. The method’s personal strain strengthened his bones and channels before damage. The heat scorched the pylon casing and burned a shallow patch on his glove.
“Move clear,” Qinghe called. She guided the crew back from the hot joint.
Yan released the current as soon as the switch opened. He kept the stone bank isolated while Deyan checked the neighboring feed. The second anchor remained stable.
Qiao and Gu inspected the damaged pylon. The unit could not be reused. It had overheated because the valve sat after the point where the two feeds met.
