Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 318 Leaving Alive
The following morning, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds above the crystal spire, Ron had already packed his bags.

He didn't bring many personal belongings. The Abyss Observatory has extremely strict security regulations, and any items that may carry contamination are prohibited from being brought in.

"Have you packed everything? Although you can come back later, it's still quite troublesome to travel back and forth."

Reynolds' voice came from outside the door, ten minutes earlier than the agreed time.

As a senior member of the observatory, he knew the importance of punctuality.

In that place, any form of negligence could lead to disastrous consequences.

"Everything has been explained."

Ron checked the room one last time to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything important.

Ailan and Dal will remain here until he settles down over there before considering whether to bring them over via the mobile workshop.

The "ink" is still recovering from the last energy conflict and is therefore unsuitable for being brought into the dangerous environment of the observatory.

The two remained silent as they traveled to the observation station in a dedicated flying vehicle.

Unlike ordinary vehicles, this transport vehicle employs multiple layers of protective design.

In addition to the standard magic barrier, it is also equipped with an abyss contamination detection system and an emergency purification device.

The air inside the vehicle is specially filtered to ensure that no "aura" from the abyss can seep in.

Through the specially designed observation window, Ron saw the Abyss Observatory standing on the horizon in the distance.

It was a uniquely shaped building complex, with its main structure presenting a twisted spiral shape, like a giant seashell or the shell of some deep-sea creature.

The Abyss Observatory was not the steel fortress he had imagined, but an organic building that seemed to grow out of the abyss itself.

The entire complex has an irregular worm-like structure, and its surface is covered with a layer of slightly wriggling, translucent substance.

Those "walls" would slowly deform according to the fluctuations of magic inside, like the breathing of a giant creature.

"Is this... a living building?"

Ron could not hide his shock and activated his "Supernatural Recognition" skill to observe carefully.

In his unique perspective, the entire observatory resembled a massive living organism.

Countless energy lines flow like blood vessels inside the "walls," transmitting various information and nutrients.

"That's right, this is a third-generation observatory that uses 'symbiotic architecture' technology."

Reynolds explained, his tone tinged with pride:

"The building itself is a giant abyssal creature that has established a symbiotic relationship with humans after being specially modified. It is capable of self-repair, self-defense, and even possesses a certain degree of thinking ability."

He pointed to the slowly creeping textures on the building's surface:

“These ‘textures’ can sense the presence of any intruder, and once an unauthorized intrusion is detected, the entire building will become a huge trap.”

As Ron followed Reynolds toward the entrance, he noticed that the ground was not the usual stone or metal, but some kind of biomass surface with a slight elasticity.

With each step, I could feel the ground responding slightly, as if I were stepping on the skin of some giant creature.

This type of ground seems to be able to "remember" the characteristics of those who walk on it.

When the same person walks by again, the ground will automatically adjust its hardness and texture to provide a more comfortable walking experience.

The building's surface is covered with dense runes and detection devices, constantly flashing warning lights of various colors.

The most striking feature is the enormous crystal dome atop the building, inside which some kind of constantly shifting energy appears to float.

“That’s the ‘Eye of the Abyss’,” Reynolds explained, noticing Ron’s gaze.
"One of the most crucial pieces of equipment at the observation station is its ability to monitor energy fluctuations at various levels of the abyss in real time."

Once an anomaly is detected, the entire observation station will enter a state of highest alert.

As the vehicle drew closer, Ron began to feel a subtle sense of unease.

There seemed to be some indescribable "smell" in the air.

It is not perceived through smell, but is a feeling that acts directly on the depths of the soul.

The feeling is like standing on the edge of a cliff, knowing that there is an abyss below, but still unable to resist looking down.

"This is the 'call' of the abyss; most of the core units of the observation station extend into the depths of the abyss." Reynolds' voice turned serious:
"Even with multiple layers of protection, the influence of the abyss can still seep in."

What you're experiencing now is only the faintest glimpse; the true abyss is a million times more terrifying.

The vehicle landed on the mooring platform outside the observation station.

Ron noticed that even this seemingly ordinary platform was covered with various testing and protective equipment.

Dozens of detectors of varying sizes were scanning each arriving visitor, their blue beams creating an unsettling feeling of being spied on.

"Are you ready?"

A serious look appeared in Reynolds' eyes:
“Once you enter the observation station, everything will be different. It’s not an ivory tower of academia with a crystal spire, but a real battlefield front.”

Ron nodded, silently checking the various prepared items in his spatial bag.

Emergency medicine, protective runes, communication crystals, and most importantly—that silver pocket watch, quietly rested against his heart.

"Welcome to the Abyss Observatory."

A female receptionist in a dark blue uniform came to greet us.

Her left eye had been replaced by some kind of mechanical device, flashing a cold red light.

There were obvious signs of mutation on his right arm; his skin had a metallic sheen, and sharp claws had grown from the tips of his fingers.

"I'm Sarah, and I'm in charge of the onboarding process for new employees."

Her voice was monotonous and mechanical, as if some emotion had been ripped away from it.
“Instructor Ralph, you are three minutes earlier than expected. No arbitrariness is welcome here, please adhere strictly to the schedule.”

Ron frowned slightly at this demanding attitude, but he quickly understood why.

In such an environment where disaster could strike at any moment, any slackness or carelessness could lead to fatal consequences.

Strict discipline is not meant to make things difficult, but to ensure survival.

"Identification, the first step."

Sarah led them to a room sealed off by a heavy metal door.

The room was completely empty except for a circular platform in the center, which was about two meters in diameter.

"Please stand in the center of the platform and remain still."

After the platform was launched, Ron experienced an unprecedented scanning intensity.

Countless energy waves of different frequencies penetrated his body, from the epidermis to the bone marrow, from the muscles to the internal organs, and even penetrated to the cellular level for detection.

The most unsettling part was the mental scan, a cold consciousness that directly invaded his brain, examining every inch of his thought process.

[Invasion of external mental energy detected]

The "Star Projection" feature automatically activates protection.

The intrusion was successfully repelled.

The notification on the career panel reassured Ron slightly, but he maintained a calm facade. "Strange..."

The technician behind the control panel frowned:
"The mental scan encountered resistance and could not go completely deep."

“The mental structure of the original wizards is quite unique,” ​​Reynolds quickly explained, clearly having been warned by Yutel beforehand.

"Their connection with higher-dimensional beings provides a natural protective effect, which is a normal phenomenon."

The technician nodded and made a note on the record board:
"Identity verification complete."

Mental Strength Scale: 5.5.

Magic Structure: Stable.

Bloodline characteristics: Complex, exhibiting traces of multiple bloodline fusions.

"The second step is pollution detection."

In another room, a group of creatures Ron had never seen before were waiting for him.

They look like a specialized version of the "autophagic slime," larger in size and covered with complex sensory organs.

“These are the ‘deep cleaners’,” Sarah explained.

"Modified organisms specifically designed to detect abyssal contamination; they can sense even the slightest trace of abyssal energy residue."

One of the "cleaners" slowly crawled in front of Ron and extended several tentacles to begin a full-body examination of him.

The sensation was strangely peculiar; it was neither warm nor cold, but rather a completely neutral sense of presence, as if touched by nothingness itself.

A few minutes later, the "cleaner" emitted a low hum, indicating that the test was complete.

"What was the result?" Sarah asked.

The technician checked the data on the monitor:
"Pollution level: Low. Blood purity: 91.7%. Mental pollution index: Low."

She paused for a moment, then added with some surprise:

"This is one of the cleanest test results I've ever seen. Most people, even if they haven't had direct contact with the abyss, will have a lot of background contamination."

"We can send you your protective gear now."

In the equipment depot, Ron saw various protective gear designed specifically for the station's staff.

Each piece of equipment emanated a strong magical aura, clearly indicating the investment of a large amount of resources and technology.

First is the "anti-corrosion cloak," a black robe that looks thin but is actually surprisingly heavy.

The inner layer of the cloak was woven with thousands of ultra-fine mithril threads, forming a complex protective network.

When Ron put it on, he immediately felt an invisible barrier surrounding him.

"This cloak can resist most low-level abyssal erosion," the equipment manager explained.
"But please remember, it's not a panacea. You still need other protective measures when facing high levels of pollution."

Next is the "mental protection collar," a metal ring inlaid with blue crystals.

After putting it on, Ron felt his mind become exceptionally clear, and at the same time, he felt a sense of isolation from the outside world.

"This can filter out most mental pollution, but it will also reduce the sharpness of perception. When a precise operation is required, the protection can be temporarily turned off."

Finally, there was the "emergency purification agent," three vials of silver liquid in specially designed containers.

"Take one dose immediately upon discovering you have been contaminated. If symptoms do not improve, take a second dose after ten minutes."

The administrator's expression turned as cold and stern as a marble statue:

"If all three tubes are used up and still have no effect... then prepare to write your will."

Sarah's tone was mechanical and routine:
"The kit also includes a personal locator, an emergency communicator, and a self-destruct device."

"A self-destruct device?" Ron examined the small silver button carefully.

"Once it is confirmed that you have been captured by an Abyss Apostle or that your corruption has exceeded the threshold, you can choose... a dignified end."

The administrator's expression remained unchanged: "This is a better choice than turning into a monster to threaten your companions."

This harsh reality made Ron realize once again the cruelty of Abyss research.

Here, death is not the most terrifying thing; losing one's humanity is.

"Alright, the next step is the final one: signing the contract."

Ron followed Sarah and Reynolds into a lavishly decorated but gloomy room, where a legal officer in a black robe was waiting for them.

On the table lay a thick contract document, dozens of pages long, each page densely covered with various clauses and details.

“This is a standard employment contract for an observation station.” The legal officer’s voice was as cold as if it came from a grave:

Please read each clause carefully to ensure you fully understand its meaning.

Ron began reading the contract page by page and soon discovered that its harshness far exceeded his expectations:

Article 17: Any injury or death of an employee during the performance of their duties shall be considered a voluntary occupational risk, and the observation station shall not bear any liability for compensation...

Article 23: If an employee's body or personal belongings are altered or die due to contamination of the abyss, they will be treated as research material...

Article 35: Employees have an obligation to report any unusual behavior by their colleagues; those who conceal the truth about contamination will be considered accomplices...

Every clause serves as a reminder to the signatories of the hell they are about to enter.

Here, personal dignity, privacy, and even life are turned into objects that can be disposed of at will.

"And there's a confidentiality agreement." The legal officer flipped to the very end of the document:
"Any information about abyss research is classified as top secret."

Those who leak information will face soul-searching interrogation and memory erasure; those with serious offenses will be executed.

Ron noticed that a significant portion of these terms were written in ancient script.

That kind of writing naturally contains a binding force; once signed, it leaves a mark on the soul of the signatory.

“I need some time to think about it,” Ron said.

“No, you don’t have time,” the legal officer replied coldly.
"Sign now or leave immediately. The observatory does not accept hesitant employees."

As if remembering something, the legal officer softened his tone slightly and added:
"Furthermore, your contract has been modified to some extent with Professor Yutel's guarantee."

The other people's contracts also included a clause: the observatory has the right to conduct regular mandatory examinations of its staff, including but not limited to physical dissections, mental probing, and memory readings..."

Reynolds coughed lightly and gave Ron a wink.

The meaning is clear: this is the standard procedure for the observation station, and there is no room for negotiation.

Ron weighed his options for a moment before finally signing his name on the contract.

The moment the ink dried, he felt a subtle energy emanating from the contract, forming a connection with his soul.

"Welcome to the Abyss Observatory, Instructor Ralph."

The legal officer gave a stiff smile:

"I hope you enjoy your work here... and that you leave alive."

(End of this chapter)