Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 305 Extinction of Existence
Inside the containment chamber of the Abyss Research Center, the air was so heavy it seemed as if you could wring water out of it.

Ron stood in front of the display stand, his gaze falling on a memory crystal that was a deep purplish-black color.

This crystal was unlike any of the samples he had ever seen before.

Its internal energy flow forms an extremely complex multi-spiral structure.

Each spiral pulsates at a different frequency, like a miniature universe breathing slowly.

Disturbingly, staring at this memory crystal for more than a few seconds can produce a strange feeling of dizziness.

That's not just ordinary visual fatigue, but a deeper level of cognitive confusion.

Consciousness is being slowly dragged along by some invisible force, which is trying to absorb the observer's very existence into it.

"Did you feel it? That subtle 'pulling' sensation?"

Yutel's ethereal projection slowly coalesced in the containment chamber.

He appeared more composed than usual today, a rare seriousness emanating from his silvery aura.

"This is the main topic of today's lesson."

Ron nodded slightly, while subtly activating his perception skills such as "Supernatural Recognition" and "Hunting Evil".

The sensation was extremely faint, a feeling that it contained not evil or danger, but something more fundamentally "nothingness".

"The owner of the memory was a seasoned explorer named Edmund, a blood knight and an experienced abyss guide."

Yutel's voice carried an indescribable regret:

"Edmund discovered an extremely rare 'forgotten land' deep within the labyrinth. This discovery should have brought some progress to the exploration of the Abyss, but..."

The old professor's phantom image dimmed slightly:

"But Edmund never came out of there again. No, to be precise, he never even really 'went in' there."

"Never been inside?" Ron keenly caught this key phrase.

"The Forgotten Lands are one of the most mysterious and terrifying places in the abyss."

Yutel's tone became unusually cautious, and his phantom swayed slowly in the air:

“These places possess a kind of supernatural ‘erasure’ ability, capable of making any being that comes into contact with them disappear completely from reality—note, I’m not talking about death, but rather the erasure of existence itself.”

He paused, his silvery gaze filled with deep worry:
"Those who are devoured by it will not only disappear from the real world, but all memories, records and even historical traces about them will also be erased."

It's as if they never existed in this world.

"If this memory crystal hadn't been solidified and preserved at the last moment, we wouldn't even know that Edmund ever existed."

Ron felt a jolt in his heart, and a strange unease surged into his mind like a tide.

The sense of unease that had been bothering him resurfaced.

It was as if he had forgotten something; someone's face flickered vaguely on the edge of his memory, but he could never quite make it clear.

It felt like a word being dictated in English class; it was right there, but you could never quite remember it.

"Professor, is this memory erasure... permanent?"

He forced himself to remain calm, but a hint of nervousness still crept into his voice.

Yutel seemed to notice the subtle change in Ron's tone, and his silver eyes flickered in the phantom:
"In theory, it is permanent and complete. But there are always exceptions."

His voice grew deeper:

"Some wizards with special talents related to the soul, or those who possess special soul anchors, may leave faint traces during the process of having their memories erased."

These traces usually manifest as a vague sense of déjà vu, a strange sense of loss, or a feeling of 'always feeling like I've forgotten something important'.

But I can't recall the specific details; it's like there's a void in my brain that can never be filled.

Ron's pupils contracted slightly.

This description almost perfectly matches the sense of unease he has been experiencing frequently lately.

If someone was truly devoured, and you, for some reason, retained a trace of your memory...

Who could that be?

The name was almost on his lips, but he couldn't recall it at all.

"What, have you had a similar experience?"

Yutel's question was like a sharp blade, piercing the most sensitive area of ​​Ron's heart.

"It's just... some vague feelings, maybe I'm overthinking it."

Ron answered cautiously, without elaborating.

As a rational researcher, he knew that he should not let emotions sway his judgment before he had solid evidence.

But the unease in my heart kept growing, like a thunderstorm gradually approaching in the night.

"The existence of the Forgotten Lands also proves from another perspective that the Supreme Apostles have far more control over the Abyss than we imagined."

Yutel continued, seemingly trying to change the subject:

"Although they cannot completely control the entire abyss, they do possess a considerable degree of environmental modification and biological manipulation capabilities."

The old professor's phantom drifted forward slightly, casting complex light and shadow patterns on the crystal walls of the containment chamber with its silvery glow.
"What is even more worrying is that our recent observation data shows that some previously relatively safe shallow areas have begun to see abnormally powerful mutated organisms."

This even includes the legendary 'Chaotic Spirits'—those terrifying beings that theoretically only appear in the extremely deep regions below the seventh level.

"Chaotic spirits?"

Ron's attention was drawn to the somewhat familiar term, and his researcher's instincts allowed him to temporarily suppress his unease.

"Mrs. Allen told me that it was an extremely dangerous high-level abyss creature with the ability to teleport randomly and warp local reality."

Upon hearing this name, Yutel smiled slightly:
"It seems that Allen really cares about you. The attack methods of the Chaotic Specters are completely unpredictable. They can appear behind their target in an instant, and they can also project their attacks from the past or future to the present."

Their presence can destabilize the surrounding environment; gravity may suddenly disappear, and the flow of time may change randomly.

"Under normal circumstances, due to the level limitations of abyssal energy, chaotic spirits can only survive in extremely deep areas."

The old professor's phantom image trembled slightly:
"But if the Supreme Apostle deliberately mobilizes the energy of the abyss to artificially create an environment suitable for their survival in the shallow areas, it is theoretically possible to release such monsters into a relatively safe area."

Ron silently noted down this information, while quickly analyzing its meaning in his mind.

If the Supreme Apostles do indeed begin to actively create threats, then traditional Abyss exploration strategies may need to be completely overhauled.

"Now, let's begin today's analysis."

Yutel steered the conversation back on track.

Ron could sense that the old professor's words just now were by no means casual conversation:

“Analyzing this memory crystal is very difficult, so you need to be extra careful. If you sense anything unusual, especially the feeling of ‘being diluted’, I will disconnect the connection.”

Ron took a deep breath and began to adjust his mental state.

He carefully extended his mental energy toward the deep purple memory crystal.

Unlike before, this contact did not bring any impact or resistance; instead, it gave an unusually smooth feeling.

It was as if the mental energy did not encounter any substantial obstacles, but instead slid directly into a void.

Instantly, a strong sense of spatial distortion swept over me, as if my entire consciousness had been dragged into a completely unfamiliar dimension.

The surrounding reality began to become blurry and distorted, as if observing the world through a funhouse mirror.

The image gradually comes into focus, revealing a breathtaking scene of the abyss:

It was a magnificent hall beyond imagination, with towering columns piercing the unseen dome, each constructed of some kind of shimmering black stone.

Ron had never seen this kind of stone before; it seemed to absorb light but also release a deeper darkness.

The interior of the hall is so vast it is frightening, as if the entire building exists in a separate spatial dimension.

The most striking feature is the massive circular stone platform in the center of the hall.

The stone platform is at least fifty meters in diameter and more than ten meters high, with countless complex runes carved on its surface.

At the center of the stone platform, there is a bottomless circular opening, from which flows pure void power.

It was not darkness, nor shadow, but an absolute "nothingness"—an ultimate void that would devour even light, sound, and thought.

Edmund, the master of memories, stood at the edge of the hall, recording everything before him through a sophisticated magical observation device.

Through his perspective, Ron could feel that deep fear.

This fear does not stem from a specific threat, but rather from an instinctive intuition.

This is a forbidden zone that should absolutely not be entered; it is a dangerous place where even its very existence is questionable.

Edmund was clearly an experienced explorer. He carefully maintained a distance from the stone platform, observing and recording only through remote equipment.

His every move showed a keen sense of danger; he never stayed in one place for more than three minutes, and his observation angle was constantly changing.

But even with such caution, the mysterious power of the temple began to affect him.

Ron could see that Edmund's body outline was beginning to blur, as if an invisible eraser was slowly wiping away his existence.

This process is extremely slow, but irreversible.

First, his shadow began to fade, and then the edges of his clothes became blurred.

Then, Edmund's hand began to become translucent, with veins and bones faintly visible, but the entire palm gave a strange feeling of "almost disappearing".

Most terrifyingly, as his body gradually disappeared, Edmund seemed to gradually forget what he was experiencing.

His notes became increasingly brief, his thinking sluggish, as if even his ability to think was being gradually stripped away.

Ron could hear Edmund's voice gradually becoming hollow in the recording:

"Observation record... which... which number was it again?"

What is this place...?
Why am I here?
Who am I...?

When Edmund's torso also began to blur, he had completely forgotten his identity and purpose.

He stared blankly at the observation device in his hand, as if he didn't understand what it was for.

Finally, when the explorer's head also began to become transparent, the image in the memory crystal completely stopped.

All that remained was a void of darkness and an eerie, absolute silence.

Ron carefully severed the connection with the memory crystal and found his back completely soaked with cold sweat.

The terrifying experience brought by this analysis far surpasses any previous one.

The process of his existence being gradually erased gave him an almost immersive sense of fear.

The most terrifying thing was that, for a fleeting moment during the analysis, he felt an urge to step into that hall.

The impulse was so strong that he almost forgot he was merely observing memories, not actually standing before the temple.

[Breakthrough! Historical Research (Beginner 50/50) → Historical Research (Proficient 1/100)]

[Additional trait acquired - Sensitivity]

【Sensory Ability: Able to access historical traces through mental power and recreate scene fragments at specific points in time.】

Warning: Overuse may attract the attention of timehounds.

With the breakthrough in his skills, Ron felt an unprecedented level of perception awakening within him.

If the previous "historical research" skill only allowed him to vaguely sense the traces of time on objects.

Now that he has acquired the "sensory ability" property, he has been given a pair of eyes that can look directly at history.

He could feel that every item in the room was telling him its own story—

The display stand has undergone countless experiments, the walls of the containment chamber have witnessed countless secret meetings, and even the air is filled with the residual echoes of countless historical fragments.

This enhanced perception brings a strong sense of satisfaction, like a nearsighted person suddenly putting on glasses with the perfect prescription, and the world instantly becomes clear and three-dimensional.

[History Scholar (3-star) Job Change Requirements Updated:]
1. Skill - Historical Research: Reach Proficiency Level

2. Mental strength reaches 5.5 or higher.

3. Successfully uncover a historical event without getting lost.
4. Possess sufficient historical knowledge

“Excellent analysis, Ron.”

Yutel's approving voice brought his attention back to reality:
"Being able to observe the memories of the Forgotten Lands in their entirety without being affected by them proves that your historical research skills have reached a sufficiently high level."

You were able to maintain a clear sense of self-awareness even when faced with the threat of 'existential erasure'.

The old professor's silhouette brightened, revealing his inner satisfaction:
"It should be noted that even some seasoned historians may be affected when analyzing similar memories, and may experience symptoms of identity confusion."

"Thank you for your guidance, Professor."

Ron said sincerely, while carefully experiencing the various changes brought about by the skill breakthrough:

"Without your careful guidance during this period, I could not have made such rapid progress."

"Your talent and hard work are equally important."

Yutel's phantom swayed gently in the air, its silver light rippling like water.

"However, to truly become a historian, you still need to complete one last challenge—to personally experience a real historical event, rather than relying on secondary sources like memory crystals."

He paused for a moment, his tone becoming cautious:
"But given your previous unpleasant encounter with the Timehounds, I strongly suggest postponing this attempt for now."

Wait until your skills improve to a higher level, or until you master some specialized time-based defense techniques, before considering this.

Ron nodded in agreement.

As a rational researcher, he was well aware of the dangers of acting rashly.

Having experienced the horrors of the Time Hounds, he is extremely cautious about any dangerous operations involving time.

Moreover, he still has many other areas to develop, and temporarily postponing his career change as a historian will not have a significant impact on his overall plans.

"Also, there's something I'd like to talk to you about privately."

Yutel's phantom became more solid:

"Regarding Cassandra's upcoming return... I think you need to know a few things beforehand."

Ron immediately became extremely alert.

From Yutel's tone, he could sense a deep worry and unease.

For an ancient being who has lived for thousands of years to show such obvious concern, one can imagine how serious the matter is.

"First, you need to understand one thing."

Yutel's voice was low and full of worry:
“Cassandra’s return represents a new radical force within the School Alliance, which we call the ‘Conquest Faction’ or ‘Expansion Faction’.”

"She and her followers advocated large-scale conquest of other worlds, plundering creatures from other dimensions as resources."

The "Conquest Faction" believes that traditional exploration is too conservative and that they should take the initiative to establish a so-called "Wizard Empire"—a multiverse order with wizards as the ruling class.

The old professor's voice was filled with deep worry:
"To achieve this goal, the 'Conquest Faction' supports using all means to enhance the overall strength of wizards, including large-scale live experiments, soul trading, and even cooperation with the Abyss Apostles."

"The traditionalists, or the 'balance faction' represented by me, insist that wizards should maintain a relatively balanced relationship with other planes."

Yutel's phantom swayed slowly in the air:
"We worry that excessive plunder will invite a united retaliation from even more powerful enemies, and that the contamination by ancient gods from other lands will fundamentally corrupt the wizarding civilization."

We advocate enhancing our strength through knowledge accumulation and natural evolution, rather than through the coercive plunder of external forces.

Ron listened silently, quickly analyzing the pros and cons of the two ideas in his mind.

From a purely pragmatic perspective, the conquest strategy can indeed bring huge benefits in the short term.

However, in the long run, this predatory development is likely to trigger an uncontrollable chain reaction.

"What is the current balance of power within the School Alliance?" he asked.

"It's roughly a 40/60 split, with the conquest faction having a slight advantage."

Yutel's answer made Ron's heart sink:
"Cassandra's rapidly growing power through plunder provided them with strong examples to support, and many previously neutral wizards began to lean towards the radical route."

Young, formally trained wizards, in particular, are more easily drawn to the promise of quick power.

The old professor paused for a moment, as if recalling something:
"Cassandra is also a practitioner of 'The Star Eater's Whispers'."

This information surprised Ron and gave him a strange sense of déjà vu.

The same meditation method, the same path to advancement...

“Practitioners of the authentic path often resonate deeply with the essence of ‘visualizing existence’.”

Yutel seemed to sense Ron's confusion:
"As for 'The Star Eater's Ramblings,' the insatiable desire to devour and the endless thirst for greater power will gradually erode the practitioner's rationality and compassion."

Cassandra is a prime example; her current actions are largely influenced by the primal will of the 'Devourer.'

His ghostly figure moved closer to Ron, his silver eyes revealing deep concern:

"This is also a problem I've always been worried about."

As a new generation of practitioners of "The Star Eater's Whispers", will you also embark on the same path?

Can you guarantee that you won't be controlled by that primal, devouring urge?

(End of this chapter)