Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 375 Will You Come Back?

The lingering effects of the chaotic storm slowly dissipated in the air, like the echo of a giant beast's breath.

The abyss has returned to its usual eerie tranquility.

But within that deathly silence lay a deeper restlessness.

It was as if countless unseen eyes were watching everything from the darkness.

Nari began releasing the core vesicle, allowing Ron to return to the outside world.

The moment the vesicles opened, a deliberately controlled hot wind gently caressed Ron's body, as warm as a mother's embrace.

Ron had been observing the entire battle through the mental link.

The enchantment effects played a crucial role in actual combat.

That single strike of the Touch of Pollution severely damaged Mogroon, who was known for his durability.

As a level-headed researcher, he was also aware of the potential risks:
"The escape of the two apostles means that the news will spread. The balance of power in the Abyss may therefore change."

Nari seemed to sense his worry, and her voice softened:
“My child, don’t worry about those cowards.” Her tone was reassuring.

"They have witnessed our strength today and will not dare to provoke us easily for a while."

She paused for a moment, her voice becoming more serious:

"Now all the apostles know that I am at the peak of my power, and no one dares to easily oppose me."

Ron nodded, agreeing with the analysis.

"Mom, I may need to go back to the ground for a while to take care of some important things."

Upon hearing this decision, Nari immediately became dejected.

"But...we've only just begun to truly connect...I can't bear to let you leave..."

Nari's voice carried a childlike sense of grievance:
"Mom will miss you... This is the first time in so long that someone has been willing to stay by my side..."

Her tentacles began to sway unconsciously, creating huge whirlpools of water.

A clear liquid began to secrete from those eyes.

Those were Nari's tears, each drop containing precious, concentrated energy.

Her voice trembled with tears: "If you leave, I'll be all alone again..."

“This is only a temporary separation,” Ron said gently, offering reassurance.
"Through this spiritual link, we will never truly be separated. And I will stay in touch with you through this."

He raised the demonic sword in his hand, and the runes on the blade began to flash, echoing Nari's emotional fluctuations.

Nari looked at the flickering light, and his emotions calmed down a little:
Really? You won't find me annoying?

“Of course not,” Ron replied sincerely.

"You are the only person in this world who is willing to protect me unconditionally."

"That……"

Nari asked cautiously, her voice tinged with tentative expectation:

Will you come back to see your mother often?

"If I have the opportunity, I will apply for Abyss exploration missions."

Ron made a commitment that was both clear and flexible:

"But as you know, too frequent exploration can arouse suspicion, and we need to find a suitable frequency."

"I listen to you."

Nari immediately agreed, but then a worried expression appeared on her face:
"But... when you're not here, Mom will be very lonely..."

Seeing Nari fall back into a slump, Ron knew it was time to show off the "gift" he had prepared.

With a thought, the demonic sword in his hand began to undergo a wondrous transformation.

The metallic fluid on the surface of the sword began to slowly separate, like a cell dividing, splitting into two.

The whole process was full of the rhythm of life.

The separated part retains its humanoid outline, its surface is covered with a soft material like skin, and silver energy bands flow inside.

"A part of me will stay here with you."

Ron explained that instructions were simultaneously transmitted to the puppet via a mental link:
"Although we are physically separated, our consciousness remains connected."

The puppet slowly opened its eyes, and those eyes shone with the same intelligent light as Ron's.

Its appearance has been carefully designed to retain basic human characteristics while incorporating some more "cute" elements.

Nari looked at the exquisite little doll, and the light in his eyes instantly brightened.

Although she knew it was just an extension of Ron's consciousness, emotionally she already regarded it as a real "child".

"my darling……"

She stretched out her tiny tentacles and carefully stroked the surface of the puppet.

"So, this is the part I'm taking."

Ron raised the remaining magic sword in his hand. Although the blade was slightly smaller than before, it still retained all its functions:
"It will assist me in my research and combat on the ground, and it will also serve as a link between us."

After being separated, the magic sword lost most of its active features, but its basic form changes and combat functions remained intact.

This is sufficient for daily experimental support and combat needs.

Through this separation, Ron gained both practical tools and emotional support for Nari.

This is a perfect balance.

"Mom can feel this connection..."

Nari carefully sensed the subtle resonance between the puppet and the magic sword.

“That’s right.” Ron nodded.

"No matter where I am, I can sense your situation through this connection."

Upon hearing this promise, the tentacles began to sway joyfully, then, as if suddenly remembering something, they drooped down again.

“Well… since you’re going back, how about Mom leaves you a little gift before she leaves?” Nari suddenly suggested.

As he spoke, he began to mobilize the chaotic power within his body, but this time not for battle, but for creation.

Several precious abyssal crystals were condensed from it; these were not ordinary byproducts like the tears from before.

This abyssal crystal, formed by actively consuming power, contains concentrated abyssal energy; even just looking at it, one can feel its captivating magic.

Ron wanted to say thank you.

But seeing the slightly swaying tentacles and the displeased looks from those hundreds of eyes, he swallowed his words back.

"Well, see you next time."

He silently accepted the Abyss Crystal and put it into his spatial bag: "Take care, Mom."

As Ron departed, a special vesicle separated from deep within Nari's body.

"Goodbye, my child..."

Nari's voice echoed throughout the space as he chanted ancient blessings:
May the stars light your way, may knowledge guide your direction...

The vesicles began to rise slowly, passing through layers of seawater, and drifting towards the upper layers of the abyss.

Through the translucent walls of the capsule, Ron looked at that enormous yet gentle figure one last time.

Nari watched him go with all her eyes.

In her arms, the stand-in puppet was also waving goodbye, its small figure carrying the warmth left behind by Ron.

As the distance increased, Nari's figure gradually became blurred.

"This is truly a very valuable discovery..."

He silently evaluated the entire experience of this exploration in his mind.

The relationship he built with Nari not only provided him with strong support, but also opened up a whole new understanding of the Abyss.

The vesicle continued to rise, passing through the twisted jungle of the fourth layer of the abyss and the black sand wasteland of the third layer, finally reaching the relatively safe second layer.

Throughout the ascent, the normally dangerous abyssal creatures kept their distance from the vesicles.

They could sense the terrifying pressure contained within, an ancient power emanating from the deepest part of the abyss.

………………

Miller sat on a huge spine.

The timer in his hand ticked rhythmically, each tick like a blow to his taut nerves.

As a veteran who had explored the abyss for over twenty years, he had seen too many comrades who went and never returned.

Those empty beds and unclaimed belongings formed the darkest part of his memory.

"One hour and seventeen minutes remaining."

His voice echoed through the canyon, filled with barely suppressed tension.

Although they said they believed in Ron's abilities, any rational analysis seemed pale and powerless in the face of an Apostle-level threat.

Blake crouched a short distance away, his prosthetic eye darting restlessly in its socket, emitting a faint mechanical grinding sound.

He lost this eye during an expedition ten years ago when a tentacle of an abyss pierced his left eye socket like lightning.

Although the prosthetic eye provided enhanced night vision, the pain and fear of losing part of his body gave him the most direct understanding of the dangers of the abyss.

"team leader……"

Blake's voice was a little hoarse.

He wiped the battle axe in his hand again and again, until the blade could reflect the eerie fluorescence of the canyon.
“I think we should prepare for the worst, and agreements… sometimes that’s a joke when you’re in the abyss.”

His words made the atmosphere in the entire squad even more oppressive.

Throughout the history of exploration of the Abyss, countless brave wizards have ventured into dangerous areas with unwavering confidence, only to never return. "Blake, shut your mouth."

Camilla glared at him, but her voice trembled noticeably.

Her hands unconsciously gripped the staff tightly, her knuckles turning pale from the force.

As one of the more thoughtful female members of the team, she understood the Abyss's cruel attitude towards life better than anyone else.

Those twisted monsters, the eerie environment that exudes malice everywhere, and the curse that can directly erode one's sanity...

Each threat was enough to instantly obliterate a powerful wizard.

"I just meant..."

Blake continued his pessimistic tone:

"Although Ralph the Wizard is powerful, when facing an Apostle-level being... that is a terrifying monster that can rival a Grand Wizard."

He peered into the depths of the canyon through his prosthetic eye, where the darkness seemed to writhe with life:

"Moreover, the apostles' emotions were extremely unstable."

One second they might be having a 'friendly' exchange, and the next they might be enraged and kill someone over a minor offense.

This concern is valid.

Although the Abyss Apostles are powerful, their thought processes are often very different from those of humans.

Many explorers lost their lives in seemingly safe interactions because they misunderstood the logic behind the apostles' behavior.

"enough!"

Miller's roar echoed through the canyon:

"If you say such discouraging things again, I'll gouge out your other eye too!"

But even Miller himself could not completely dispel the gloom in his heart.

He knew all too well the cruelty of the abyss; those seemingly powerful explorers often died more tragically here than ordinary people.

In this oppressive atmosphere, a tiny point of light suddenly appeared in the distant sky.

At first, no one noticed this inconspicuous change.

But as the light gradually approached, it began to emit a soft silver glow, standing out conspicuously in the gloomy environment of the abyss.

"Wait...what is that?"

Camilla was the first to notice this unusual situation, and her voice was tense:

Something is flying in our direction!

The three people immediately stood up.

In the abyss, any unidentified object that approaches could be a deadly threat.

Miller raised the monocular telescope in his hand.

That was a special piece of equipment made from abyssal crystals, capable of providing clear vision in chaotic energy environments.

When he saw the true appearance of the approaching object, he was completely stunned.

It was a translucent vesicle with beautiful energy patterns flowing across its surface, like the aurora borealis.

Inside the vesicle, a familiar figure is slowly descending.

"It's Mr. Ron!"

Miller exclaimed excitedly, "He's back! And... Good heavens, he looks completely unharmed!"

Blake and Camilla immediately rushed to Miller's side, and the three of them huddled together to observe through the binoculars.

Ron inside the vesicle had no obvious external injuries, his clothes were neat, and he appeared calm.

"How can this be……"

Blake muttered to himself, his prosthetic eye spinning wildly in its socket:

"To face an Apostle-level threat alone and return unscathed...it's simply..."

“A miracle,” Camilla added, her voice filled with disbelief. “It’s absolutely a miracle.”

The vesicles gently landed on the flat ground of the canyon.

When it completely dissipated, Ron's figure appeared fully before the three of them.

His appearance hadn't changed much, except for the weariness in his eyes.

"Everyone, I kept you waiting."

Ron's voice remained as reassuring as ever:
"It seems I've returned just in time."

The three people looked at each other, and each saw the same surprise in the other's eyes.

In the history of exploration of the Abyss, there are very few records of people who have made contact with the Apostles alone and returned safely.

“Mr. Ron…”

Miller's voice trembled slightly, a mixture of joy at seeing his companions return safely and bewilderment at this "miracle":

"You...you're really not injured? Not contaminated? Not...not..."

In fact, he had seen far too many explorers who appeared to have returned safely, but whose inner selves had been corrupted and eroded.

Those people may appear normal on the surface, but irreversible changes have already occurred inside them.

Some people's souls were replaced with the consciousness of abyssal creatures, while others' bodies became hosts for alien parasites.

Some people retain the appearance of humans, but their thinking has been completely alienated, and they regard their companions as prey.

“I completely understand your concerns.”

Ron nodded slowly, an expression of understanding on his face:

"In this environment, caution is the only rule for survival. You all brought testing equipment, please feel free to use it."

This open attitude towards testing eased the three men's guard a little.

Blake immediately took out a complex-looking detection device from his storage bag.

As the detection beam swept across Ron's body, the device began to emit a low hum.

The three of them stared nervously at the screen, waiting for the final result.

A moment later, the device emitted a steady green light.

"Pollution index: 0.2, which is well within the safe range."

Blake looked at the data on the screen, his voice full of confusion:
"How is this possible? After staying in the fourth layer of the abyss for so long, the pollution index is actually lower than when we came in?"

Under normal circumstances, even experienced explorers will experience a sharp increase in their pollution index after spending a few days in the fourth layer of the abyss.

Ron, however, was not contaminated; on the contrary, he displayed an even higher level of purity.

Camilla also retrieved a mental state detector, a device that can detect a target's level of rationality and mental stability.

The results were equally shocking:

"Mental stability: 99.1, rational clarity: 99.5..."

She looked up at Ron, her eyes filled with disbelief:
“Wizard Ralph, these data are simply…perfect.”

Even in the most ideal laboratory environment, it's difficult to maintain such a high level of mental alertness.

Miller observed all of this in silence, his mind filled with doubts.

As the most experienced captain, he understood better than anyone what this result meant.

Either Ron has mastered some kind of unprecedented abyss adaptation technology, or the situation he is facing is far more unusual than expected.

Are there any other tests available?

Ron asked patiently, while taking two items out of his storage bag:

"These should be enough to prove my identity."

The first item is the Eye of Time that Cassandra gave her, which radiates energy fluctuations unique to otherworldly civilizations.

This kind of fluctuation cannot be faked because it involves completely different physical laws.

The second item is Yutel's emergency communication emblem, which still retains the silver glow of the power of the Void.

The runes on the surface of the emblem are pulsating slowly, proving that the power contained within is still active.

Seeing these two items that could not be counterfeited, the three men's doubts were largely dispelled.

"All right……"

Miller let out a long breath, the tension on his face finally easing.

"It seems our worries were unnecessary. It's wonderful that we've returned safely."

But curiosity still shone in his eyes.

"If you'd like to share..."

Miller tentatively began to speak, but wisely stopped halfway through.

"The specific details involve some...sensitive information."

Ron's answer was expected; his tone remained calm, but the implication was clear:
"I will give Professor Utter a detailed report upon my return to the observatory."

"Alright, everyone's tired, let's go home early."

He walked ahead first, showing no intention of continuing the conversation.

Miller shook his head, beckoned to his two teammates, and followed suit.

At least, it's a good thing that he's back...

(End of this chapter)