Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 376 Let’s go home
The entry inspection hall of the abyss observatory is always filled with a sense of oppression.

The purification crystals embedded in the wall pulsate every few seconds.

Ron stood in front of the testing table, letting the tentacle-like scanning devices roam around his body.

These devices, made of living metal and covered with fine nerve fibers, are able to sense the most subtle changes in energy.

The researcher in charge of the testing was a witch in her early forties.

Her left cheek was severely burned due to an accident in the abyss years ago, and her skin has a rough texture like tree bark.

The middle-aged witch's expression froze instantly when the scan results appeared on the screen.

"This...this is impossible..."

Her voice trembled, and her unharmed hand began to unconsciously stroke her burned cheek.

This is her habitual action when she is extremely nervous:
"The chaotic aura emanating from you... the purity... my god... this is the highest level of abyssal mark I've ever seen..."

What was displayed on the screen was not a normal energy spectrum, but a constantly changing geometric shape.

The lines writhe like living snakes, forming all sorts of indescribable symbols, each exuding a bizarre and intoxicating beauty.

"Level assessment...this strength...Apostle level..."

Another inspector who came to assist was a thin male witch.

His hands were an unnatural bluish-black from years of contact with abyssal substances, and his fingernails had become as hard as metal.

"Apostle level...theoretically, anyone who comes into contact with this level of mark should already be..."

The wizard didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood what he meant.

The chaotic aura of an Apostle-level being usually means that the person who comes into contact with it is either dead or has been completely transformed into an indescribable monster.

"Please...please cooperate with us for in-depth testing."

The middle-aged witch tried hard to control her emotions, but her voice still trembled:

"We need to verify your...your integrity of consciousness..."

The other explorers who had been watching began to whisper among themselves, their eyes shifting between awe and fear.

Some people unconsciously took a few steps back, as if worried that the chaotic aura would infect them.

"Of course, I understand your concerns."

Ron could feel the overwhelming fear surging within the testing personnel:

"No one knows the dangers of the abyss better than the researchers, and I will cooperate with standard procedures for testing."

The subsequent testing process was filled with all sorts of bizarre details.

The mental pollution scanner did not emit a normal beeping sound, but rather a strange tone similar to a baby crying.

While the blood analyzer was processing his blood sample, the culture medium inside began to glow on its own, as if it were filled with liquid stars.

The most disturbing part was the neurological examination.

When the probe touched Ron's temple, countless overlapping images of faces appeared on the display screen of the detection device.

These faces included men and women, young and old, but all wore the same detached expression, as if gazing at some truth beyond human comprehension.

“These faces…”

The wizard stared at the screen, his bluish-black fingers beginning to tremble slightly.
"They...they are smiling at us..."

However, all conventional pollution indicators show completely opposite results.

"Mental stability 99.3%... Clarity of consciousness 99.7%..."

The middle-aged witch repeated the data over and over, as if questioning the accuracy of the equipment:
"The concentration of abyssal factors in the blood... is even lower than the standard value... This doesn't make any logical sense..."

She looked up at Ron, her one intact eye filled with confusion and a sense of awe:

"What...what exactly did you come into contact with?"

"Some... relatively harmless entities."

Ron's answer was concise and vague, but the information it contained was enough to shock everyone present.

The very idea of ​​being able to have relatively "harmless" contact with the Abyss Apostles is surreal in itself.

Just as the test was about to end, Supervisor Wayne slowly walked over.

His half-petrified face looked particularly ferocious and terrifying under the light of the testing lamp.

“Ralph the Wizard…”

Wayne's voice came from deep in his throat, with a hoarse, rock-grinding quality:

"It seems your exploration this time... has been very fruitful."

A hint of envy appeared in his petrified left eye:
"But rules are rules. Any returnee carrying the mark of an apostle must undergo quarantine. This is not for you personally, but for... the safety of the entire observatory."

While Wayne's words were businesslike, the underlying respect was more evident than before.

In places like the Abyss Observatory, strength is the best passport.

“I completely understand, supervisor.”

Ron nodded in agreement:

"You can never have too many safety measures, especially in this kind of environment."

"Thank you for your cooperation..."

Wayne turned and gestured for him to follow:
"The isolation area is deeper down, where the shielding is even better. You have three days. If you have any needs... books, research equipment, experimental materials... we will do our best to meet them."

They proceeded along a downward-sloping spiral passage.

“These walls…” Ron observed his surroundings as he walked:
"What materials are they made of?"

"The nerve tissue of the abyss worm."

Wayne's answer was concise and direct:
"After special treatment, they can sense and filter various harmful mental fluctuations. For isolation zones, this is the ideal building material."

The isolation chamber is located in the deepest part of the observatory and is surrounded by a thick runic barrier.

These runes are not carved on stone or metal, but are directly imprinted on the distorted spatial structure.

They rotated slowly in the air, emanating a powerful force field that suppressed all supernatural phenomena.

"A mad Moon-level wizard was once imprisoned here."

As Wayne opened the door, he casually mentioned a detail that made Ron frown:
"During his exploration of the abyss, he came into contact with something he shouldn't have."

After returning, I began... to conduct some experiments outside the permitted scope.

We had to isolate him permanently until he died of natural causes.

"If everything goes well in three days, you will be free to move around."

Wayne said his last words before leaving:
"Professor Utter is already waiting for your report. He is paying close attention to your exploration."

After the heavy door closed, the isolation room fell into a deathly silence.

Ron walked to the window and observed the view outside through the specially reinforced glass.

The nighttime view of the observatory, set against the backdrop of the abyss, presents a surreal beauty.

The living structures writhed slowly in the moonlight, their bioluminescent organs shimmering like stars.

Occasionally, indescribable shadows wander among the buildings, their forms indistinct, as if composed of pure darkness.

"Three days... is just enough time to organize some of the findings."

Ron drew his magic sword, its blade gleaming faintly in the dim light of the isolation room.

Through the mental link, he was able to sense Nari, who was far away in the depths of the abyss.

The ancient "mother" was currently organizing various collections in the treasure vault, occasionally stroking the substitute puppet in her arms.

But what caught his attention most was the difference in the flow of time.

The nearly three days spent at the boundary of the fifth layer of the abyss were equivalent to a week in the main world.

This time distortion phenomenon gave him a deeper understanding of the complexity of the abyss.

"However, according to the observation station's regular rest schedule, I will be able to return to the central land soon."

Ron began to formulate a detailed plan in his mind:
"That advanced course with 227 participants, and the publication of the paper on the chaos simulation device..."

As night deepened, he made no attempt to rest.

He took out an advanced edition of "Abyssal Biology" and began to study its detailed descriptions of the born apostles.

The pages of this book are not ordinary paper, but made from the skin of some kind of abyssal creature.

When your fingers touch the pages of the book, you can feel the ancient knowledge contained within flowing through your veins.

"Born apostles, there are no more than three recorded individuals to date, and only one remains. They have all basically perished in their own utter chaos..."

The descriptions in the book differ significantly from his personal experiences:
"According to records, such beings are extremely aggressive and unpredictable; any indirect contact could very likely lead to the dissipation of consciousness..."

Clearly, these academic materials merely record what they observed.

Or rather, scholars were swallowed up by its terrifying power before they even had a chance to conduct in-depth research.

"The limitations of knowledge..."

Ron thoughtfully flipped through the records:

"The real abyss is far more complex and multifaceted than described in books."

………………

The next morning, he began his meditation practice as usual.

When consciousness sinks into the sea of ​​stars in "The Star Eater's Ramblings," the clarity of the entire space becomes significantly higher.

The 0.1 Spirit Power bonus that comes with the Magic Swordsman class change has already played a crucial role.

At this stage of mental strength, even a 0.01 increase is noticeable to the naked eye, let alone a one-time increase of 0.1.

The three stars were no longer distant points of light, but enormous entities right at our doorstep.

The deep purple light of Hermit Star flows like liquid, containing endless secrets and wisdom.

The Scholar Star's silvery-white glow is stable and pure, exuding a cold beauty of rationality and logic.

The Observer Star's light is the most eerie; it resembles a giant eye, coldly watching everything.

"This level of resonance..."

Ron carefully sensed the energy exchange between the three stars:
"The activation process that originally took a year to complete may now only take a few months..."

Starlight began to converge deep within his consciousness, forming a complex energy circuit.

This circuit undoubtedly forms naturally in accordance with some fundamental laws of the universe.

Each pulse deepened his understanding of the world.

"At this rate, my meditation technique should reach the Moon-level standard when I head to the Shifting Sands."

But progress in meditation alone is not enough.

The advancement requirements for Moonlight-level wizards are comprehensive, and every skill branch needs to achieve a qualitative leap.

He mentally reviewed those specific requirements:

A composite spell circuit requires that mental energy be freely distributed among multiple spells to form a mutually beneficial network effect.

The Psycho Concussion Grid requires upgrading a single psychic attack into a multi-layered grid-like impact.

The most challenging part of the radiation field control matrix is ​​enabling individuals to freely switch between different radiation fields.

"Let's finish the first two things that are almost done..." Ron opened his eyes, silently planning his improvement strategy:
"The radiation field control matrix that follows should correspond to the proficient level of radiation field skills. It shouldn't be too difficult to complete once one's mental strength reaches the Moon-level threshold..."

Time passed slowly in the isolation room.

Afternoon sunlight streams into the room through specially designed glass, but the light, after being filtered multiple times, appears an unnatural dark green.

Ron took out some basic alchemical materials and began conducting small-scale experiments.

Despite the limited resources, he was still able to verify some theoretical assumptions about the characteristics of the magic sword.

Just as he was focused on the experiment, the magic sword suddenly emitted a gentle resonance.

This is a call from Nari.

"my child……"

Nari's voice echoed deep within her consciousness, carrying a motherly tenderness, yet also mixed with its own unique, otherworldly quality:
"Are you okay in that small cage? Mom senses you're a little... unhappy?"

Her concern came over him like a tidal wave, but Ron could sense the terrifying power within it.

Even the gentlest expression of emotion carries a pressure powerful enough to tear reality apart when directed at an Apostle-level being.

"I'm fine, Mom. I'm just going through some necessary procedures."

Ron responded gently, while trying to keep his composure:
"The people here are rather... cautious about the power of the abyss. I need to make sure I haven't been harmed."

"Those stupid guys!"

Nari's emotions instantly surged, and the temperature in the isolation room noticeably rose due to her anger:
"How dare they lock up your mother's child? Your mother's strength can only benefit you! Those marks are your mother's protection!"

Her anger swept through her consciousness like a storm, but was quickly replaced by maternal care:

“My child, Mommy can come and take you home… those fragile barriers can’t stop Mommy at all…”

"No, Mom, please don't do that."

Ron quickly stopped him, knowing the disaster that would ensue if Nari actually appeared at the observatory.
"I need to maintain certain...social relationships in this world. Your presence will make things very troublesome for me."

"Social relationships?"

Nari's tone was tinged with confusion and a subtle hint of jealousy:

Are those indifferent people of your clan important to you? More important than your mother?

Her voice became somewhat aggrieved, like that of a child worried about being abandoned:
"You're my only child... but you have so many choices..."

This innocent jealousy stirred up a complex mix of emotions in Ron.

On the one hand, he was indeed touched by Nari's sincere feelings;

On the other hand, he was also keenly aware of the dangers of this relationship.

"Mom will always be the most important."

He could only choose the safest answer:
"But just as my mother needed to maintain her position in the abyss, I also need to maintain a certain identity in the wizarding community. Only in this way can we better protect our relationship."

"Well……"

Nari thought for a while, and her emotions gradually calmed down:
“I understand… Just as Mother cannot let the other Apostles know of your existence… you cannot let others know of Mother’s existence either…”

"exactly."

Ron breathed a sigh of relief: "Our relationship is special and needs to be carefully protected."

"OK then……"

Nari's voice softened again:
"Mom will wait patiently... but child, you must remember, whenever you need help, Mom will come immediately..."

The conversation lasted for nearly an hour.

Nari chattered on about the daily life of the stand-in puppet:
Today it learned a new abyssal language and was able to communicate simply with those intelligent jellyfish;
Yesterday, it helped its mother organize the treasure vault and discovered some long-forgotten treasures;
It loved listening to its mother tell stories of the Wilderness, especially the legends about creation and destruction...

These seemingly ordinary details gave Ron a deeper understanding of the Abyss world.

It was not just a dangerous hell, but also a complex world with its own history.

After ending his conversation with Nari, he felt a deep sense of exhaustion.

It's not physical exhaustion, but rather mental exhaustion.

In the following time, Ron examined the magic sword in his hand.

After using it for a period of time, he gained a deeper understanding of the characteristics of this unique weapon.

Although the activation level of the sword blade is not as high as that of its intact state, its basic shape-changing functions are still complete.

He gently stroked the hilt of the sword, and the demonic sword immediately began to transform.

The silvery metallic liquid flowed like mercury, and the sword gradually widened and shortened, but it was difficult to form an effective structure.

Ron tried to transform it into shield form, but after trying for a while, he had no success.

"Perhaps the activation conditions haven't been met. Oh well, I'll try again next time..."

He placed the magic sword on a special stand next to the testing chair and began preparing to rest.

Although the environment in the isolation room was monotonous, all the facilities were very complete.

Temperature, humidity, and even the concentration of magic energy in the air are precisely controlled within the range most suitable for human habitation.

Ron lay on the bed made of memory metal, feeling the material automatically adjust to his body shape.

The firmness of the mattress and the height of the pillow.

Even the temperature of the bedding changes slowly, searching for the state that best suits his personal preferences.

"Today is the second day, we can leave here tomorrow..."

He closed his eyes and began to organize all the gains from this exploration of the abyss:

The successful creation of the magic sword and the parent-child relationship established with Nari;

A new understanding of the power structure of the abyss, and the various opportunities and challenges that are about to come...

Each of these factors could alter the trajectory of his future development.

However, he was also keenly aware that as his strength and influence grew, he would face an even more complex situation.

Euphemia's approach, the continued attention from high-ranking figures like Cassandra and the King of Illusions, and the various undercurrents within Project Nova...

"We need to handle every relationship more carefully..."

With these thoughts in mind, Ron gradually drifted into a light sleep.

But just as consciousness was about to completely fade away, that familiar lucid dream feeling returned.

He half-opened his eyes and found that the boundaries of reality were beginning to blur, and the metal walls of the isolation room were twisted and deformed like melting candles.

The once orderly rune circuits began to twist and writhe wildly, like a swarm of living snakes struggling desperately.

"It's that dream again..."

Ron remained calm; through his previous experiences, he had learned to remain composed during such supernatural encounters.

The unique scenery of Fairy Village began to appear around us, but this time the appearance was clearer and more stable.

Those floating islands are no longer blurry outlines, but real landscapes with rich details.

The rainbow waterfall cascades down from the sky, flowing with liquid emotion, each drop containing a different fragment of memory.

Those crystal palaces floated in the air.

Each one has a different structure, and its interior shines with light representing different fields of knowledge.

"Welcome back to my realm, young seeker."

The King of Illusions' voice rang out, and this time the communication was noticeably clearer and more stable.

"It seems that your consciousness projection is more stable this time than before."

Ron bowed politely, while simultaneously activating his "Supernatural Insight" to observe changes in his surroundings:

"The energy fluctuations in Fairy Village are also more harmonious. What could be the reason for this?"

"Because I reached some agreements with Yutel."

The King of Illusions chuckled mysteriously, but didn't explain too clearly:
"Moreover, once your mental strength is enhanced, you will also be able to withstand higher levels of information transmission."

As he spoke, the surrounding scenery began to subtly change.

The originally floating islands began to rearrange themselves according to a certain pattern, forming a huge circular conference hall.

In the center are several chairs made of pure light, surrounded by crystal screens displaying various information.

"Please sit down, we have many important things to discuss."

Ron sat down in the chair, feeling the warmth emanating from it.

It was a strange feeling; it was clearly a dream, but the sensations felt incredibly real.

"First of all, let me commend you for your performance in the abyss."

The King of Illusions' words revealed his appreciation:

"The relationship I've built with Nari has exceeded my most optimistic expectations."

You not only gained a powerful ally, but more importantly, you discovered a completely new model for power growth.

Ron frowned slightly; he disliked being constantly under intense scrutiny.

The King of Illusions seemed to notice his displeasure and chuckled softly:
"Heh... The fact that you've caught our attention proves that you have enough value, rather than being just a skeleton that died in the wilderness and no one cares about you."

"I'm not going to talk about that today. I'm contacting you to tell you some deeper secrets."

About the vampire girl who approached you, about the truth behind the Blood Moon Clan, and... about a great game you might be involved in.

Upon hearing these words, Ron's expression turned serious.

Given the level of the King of Illusions, he wouldn't engage in such high-cost cross-industry exchanges without a reason.

Indeed, there was extremely important information to convey.

"Please elaborate."

"Euphemism Pelle...that white-haired girl who claims to be a genius of the Blood Moon Clan..."

The King of Illusions' voice deepened, and the surrounding crystal screens began to display related images:

"She is indeed a creation of Aiden, the Blood Lord, but her very existence is part of a meticulously planned conspiracy."

Euphemia's image appeared on the screen.

But this time, instead of showcasing her glamorous and beautiful appearance, it reveals the bloody scenes during the creation process.

Countless test subjects were twisted and deformed in agony.

The failed "daughters" were ruthlessly destroyed, while Aiden stood by, observing every detail with a morbidly satisfied expression.

"Aiden thought he was carrying out a top-secret plan..."

The King of Illusions' voice was laced with sarcasm:

"He thought that by creating Euphemia, he could infiltrate the highest levels of the wizarding world and thus realize his ambitions."

But in reality, every move he made was exactly as we expected.

“Us?” Ron keenly caught the key word.

“Me, and Hector, the king of absurdity.”

The King of Illusions made no attempt to conceal the surprising information he revealed:
“Although we rarely cooperate directly, we share a common interest in dealing with Aiden.”

(End of this chapter)