Additional response as I hadn't actually noticed the second image in your link:
I think the ring has value and wouldn't like to bring about its removal - in addition to lending the final puzzle a striking aesthetic and making it look more daunting than it (perhaps) is, it acts as an initial distraction from the significance of the lower squiggle.
If you were going that route, is it feasible to instead re-jig the positioning on a couple of the words so the leftovers are visible? For example, supposing the first two rows were:
LANKOWREUYD CCUINGWNR
Perhaps not ideal due to the path taken by the first answer, but the first suggestion that came to mind...