Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 416 The Star "Conquest" Card
As soon as he finished speaking, all the electronic equipment in the command room began to emit an unstable buzzing sound.

Even the living tissues that make up the main body of the ship were trembling instinctively.

Cassandra's body began to undergo terrifying changes.

The long black hair floated up as if it were alive, with the ends of each strand flashing with purple electricity, weaving a complex network of energy in the air.

Her skin became transparent, revealing the fiery, magma-like energy flowing within, and each heartbeat produced a visible pulse of light.

The once beautiful purple eyes have now turned into two constantly rotating miniature black holes, containing terrifying gravity powerful enough to tear reality apart.

Just looking into those eyes makes the observer feel as if their soul is being slowly dragged away, as if being sucked into an abyss.

This is Cassandra's ethereal manifestation—"The Vortex of Gluttony".

The essence of the Void is the wizard's highest condensation of his own ideas and power, while Cassandra's idea is an endless desire for conquest and an impulse to devour.

Her ethereal form can "devour" all forms of existence, including matter, energy, soul, and even abstract concepts and rules.

Under the influence of the ethereal power, everyone else in the command room felt a strong sense of oppression.

That's a threat from the level of existence.

It was as if Cassandra could "digest" their very existence at any time, if she so desired.

"Please wait here for my good news."

Her voice now echoed multiple times, as if countless people were speaking at the same time.

Each syllable vibrates the very fabric of reality, causing subtle distortions in the surrounding space:

"I'm going to meet that so-called 'god'."

After saying that, her figure vanished instantly, leaving only a purple energy crack that slowly healed in the air.

……

Vital's supreme commander, Azalos, stood on the warship closest to "God".

This legendary figure from the Vital civilization has lived for over three thousand years.

His tentacles had established permanent connections with dozens of cosmic behemoths, and his entire body radiated profound cosmic power.

"The great Lord of the Starfield..."

Azalos conveyed his plea to their gods with the most devout psychic intent:

"These invaders have trampled your territory and polluted the starry seas inhabited by your people. Please unleash divine punishment and banish them completely!"

The "god" slowly turned its enormous head, its two star-like eyes scanning the distant wizard fleet.

In its perception, those warships were like a swarm of nasty parasites, gnawing at its flesh and blood.

"Intruder..."

The will of God resounded like thunder throughout the entire star system, and could be heard even on planets light-years away:

"Get out of my territory, or face eternal wrath."

But the wizards clearly had no intention of backing down.

Faced with the threat, more ethereal bodies began to appear on the battlefield.

The great wizards, who were experts in elemental magic, joined forces to create a massive elemental storm in the void.

Fire, frost, stardust, and storm—the four basic elements—blended wildly under their control, forming a terrifying energy vortex.

The necromancer archmages then summoned even more legions of vengeful spirits from the abyss.

Hundreds of millions of souls emerged like a dark cloud.

They were once members of various races conquered by wizarding civilizations, now bound as weapons of war in perpetual turmoil.

But these attacks seem so insignificant before God.

With a mere wave of his tentacle, He completely dispelled the massive elemental storm.

Under the influence of their life force field, those vengeful spirits actually began to regain their flesh and blood, breaking free from the wizards' control.

“Foolish intruders.” His anger began to escalate:
“You do not understand what you are facing. I am the elder of the stars and the witness of the universe. Before me, your power is but the light of a firefly.”

After saying this, God began to reveal its true power.

It opens its enormous mouth, a collision of matter and antimatter, an entanglement of time and space.

Once this power appeared, the entire reality of the battlefield began to collapse.

The shields of the wizard's warship shattered like paper, and even the ethereal remains of the great wizard seemed to teeter on the brink of collapse before this primal power.

At the critical moment, a rift tore open in the void.

Cassandra's figure leaped out of the crack and appeared directly near the opponent's massive head.

Compared to her enormous size, she seemed as insignificant as dust.

But when she activated the complete form of the Void Remains, the balance of power was slightly reversed.

"Gluttony Abyss" begins to reveal its true terrifying nature.

Cassandra's body continued to expand, becoming increasingly transparent at the same time.

Its center is absolute darkness, where even concepts themselves are swallowed up.

The edges shimmer with energy streams of various colors, each representing a different entity being devoured and digested.

……

After an extremely long period of time, Cassandra, pale as a ghost, returned to her private cabin on the flagship "Monarch".

She managed to drive away the ancient god only after relying on an heirloom given to her by her ancestor, the "King of Absurdity," and consuming a large amount of her primordial power.

The witch shut down all communication devices and erected the highest level of isolation barriers around the room.

Only in such an absolutely private environment does she dare to reveal her true inner emotions.

Exhausted, more exhausted than ever before.

It's not just about the loss of energy, but also the heavy burden on one's mind.

This war has lasted for thirteen years, consuming too much of her energy and resources.

Even more frustrating is that victory remains a long way off.

She slowly walked to a specially made safe in the center of the room and used her blood and soul imprint to unlock the layers of seals.

When the cabinet was opened, there was only one thing inside.

It was a mysterious card that shimmered with the dazzling light of stars.

The existence of this card is one of the main reasons why she persisted in this conquest.

The card material looks like solidified starlight itself, with a warm and smooth feel like jade, yet it also carries a mysterious texture that transcends matter.

Its front is engraved with an exceptionally striking sword and crown pattern.

The sword was adorned with ribbons of light like the Milky Way, each ray containing an indescribable sharpness.

The crown is set with seven gemstones of different colors, each representing a fundamental source of power.

Time, space, matter, energy, life, death, and existence itself, which transcends everything.

Cassandra gently stroked the surface of the card.

The mere touch made her feel infinite possibilities, as if the entire universe was opening its arms to her.

Below the sword and crown is a thin progress bar.

This progress bar is designed with extreme precision, consisting of countless tiny runes.

Each rune represents a specific conquest achievement; only by fulfilling the corresponding conditions will the rune be activated.

But right now, the progress bar isn't even halfway lit up.

About a third of the runes are shimmering faintly, indicating their current completion status.

After the battle with the god, several more runes lit up.

"Damn it... it's still not enough..."

She cursed under her breath, her eyes showing extreme frustration.

When she chose the Republic of Vital as her target for conquest, she believed that with the strength of the Wizard Expeditionary Force, the conquest could be completed within ten years at most.

But now it seems that this assessment was far too optimistic.

Card games require more than just simple military victories; they also require deeper levels of civilizational conquest.

Their psionic network must be completely destroyed, their collective consciousness enslaved, and their very existence rewritten.

Only in this way can the stringent requirements for cards be met.

Once all conditions are met, this "Star" level "Conquest" card will be fully activated...

A fanatical glint appeared in Cassandra's eyes.

She has already experienced the power of "silver" and "gold" level cards.

Activating those cards allowed him to take a big step forward on his wizarding path.

The power contained within this "Star" level Conquest card was something she could hardly imagine.

Perhaps it would allow her to seize some kind of power ahead of time, so that, like Erica, the Clock King in history, she could rival the Witch King as a great wizard...

The problem is that, at the current pace of the war, it will take at least several more years to complete the conquest.

Her "allies," however, clearly lacked such patience.

The high wizards of the Elemental Garden have begun to complain that the losses are too great;
Melvis and others at the Tower of Resonance also began to vigorously promote defeatism;
Even some of the conquering wizards who had always supported her began to have doubts about the prospects of the war.

To make matters worse, the sudden appearance of the "god" had also caused huge losses to the fleet.

All members of the expeditionary force collectively began to ponder one question:
Conquering such a powerful and resilient civilization would inevitably come at an extremely terrible price.

But is all of this really worth it?
Cassandra stared at the Conquest card in her hand, her expression growing increasingly somber.

The quagmire of war, the discontent of allies, the depletion of resources...

Every question was like a sharp blade hanging over her head.

"And there's Eve's matter..."

She recalled her previous communication with her daughter, the bold idea of ​​using the grace that Ron bestowed upon her during his breakthrough to heal the demonic possession.

She promised at the time that she would seriously consider it, but now it seems...

Cassandra walked into the depths of the cabin, where there was an altar made of the flesh and blood of the Crown Clan members.

The surface of the altar is covered with a dense network of blood vessels, each pulsation releasing a faint spatial-temporal fluctuation.

This is her only way to communicate directly with the "King of Absurdity"—her own bloodline ancestor.

She placed her palm on the center of the altar, and her spiritual power began to extend upwards along her bloodline connection, attempting to reach that great being that transcends time and space.

"Ancestor... I need your guidance..."

Cassandra's call went unanswered, leaving no trace in the void.

She frowned and increased the output of her mental energy.

The vascular network began to throb violently, making a heart-like pulsating sound.

But there has been no response.

“Ancestor! I need your opinion on Eve’s treatment plan!” Her voice became urgent, even pleading.

Eve's demonic possession symptoms involve a backlash at the level of rules.

Without the support of a Witch King-level being, any attempt at healing would most likely end in tragedy.

The command center remained deathly silent.

Cassandra felt a surge of anger rising in her chest, and she continued to call out, her voice growing louder and louder:
"And then there's the access to the treasury! If the treatment is successful, should we grant Ron access to the clan's core treasury? These are questions that require your decision!"

Time ticked by, and the flesh and blood on the altar began to emit a burnt smell due to overactivation.

But the Great One seemed not to exist at all, ignoring her calls.

Cassandra's patience finally reached its limit.

She abruptly drew the Conquest card, her purple eyes burning with furious rage:

"If you don't want to get involved, then I'll make my own decision! Even if I have to break this damn card, I won't let anyone control me anymore!"

She gripped the card tightly at both ends with her fingers, and a faint clicking sound began to emanate from its center.

Just as Cassandra gritted her teeth, preparing to continue pushing herself regardless of the consequences, the space suddenly began to fluctuate.

A paradoxical voice drifted from a great distance:
"What a grumpy child..."

The consciousness of the King of Absurdity descended, but the manner of his descent was full of His usual contradictions.

The flesh and blood on the altar began to rearrange and recombine, forming a human face with constantly changing expressions.

Sometimes it's a kind old man, sometimes an indifferent middle-aged man, and sometimes even an innocent child.

"Ancestors..."

Cassandra quickly put away the cards, but the resentment in her voice was still clearly audible:

"Why don't you answer my call? These things are of vital importance to the tribe..."

"important?"

The fleshy, human face emitted a mocking laugh, the voice sounding like countless people of different ages speaking simultaneously:
“Cassandra, what do you consider important? Your war? Your conquest cards? Or the life or death of your artificial daughter?”

Faced with this dismissive tone, Cassandra's anger intensified:
“Eve is your bloodline! The pain she endured…”

"pain?"

The King of Absurdity's voice became even stranger, as if mimicking different intonations:
“Child, in the long years of my existence, I have seen countless sufferings. The pain of a little girl is not even a speck of dust on a cosmic scale.”

"But she is yours..."

Who she is is not important.

The King of Absurdity interrupted her, and the fleshy, human face began to contort into various distorted expressions:
"The important question is, what answer do you want from me? To agree to your treatment plan? Or to refuse?"

His tone became playful:

"No matter what I say, you'll ultimately do what you think is right. So why seek my approval?"

These words pierced Cassandra's deepest pain like a sharp blade.

She realized that she had indeed made up her mind.

Regardless of how her ancestors answered, she would try to heal Eve.

Seeking approval is more about seeking psychological comfort.

"In that case..."

The King of Absurdity's voice became languid:
"You can handle the treatment and the treasure vault yourself."

I can only guarantee that even if the attempt fails, little Eve's lifeline will not be severed.

"That's it?"

Cassandra's voice was full of disappointment: "Couldn't you have offered more support?"

"My support?"

The fleshy, human face began to laugh, the laughter as jarring and deafening as a mirror shattering:
"Child, if I help you with everything, can you still be considered an independent being?"

The king of absurdity's tone turned sarcastic:
True growth comes from facing the consequences of choices alone.

Whether you succeed or fail, it's all part of your own journey.

Communication gradually became fuzzy, and the flesh altar began to return to its original state.

But before completely severing ties, the King of Absurdity left behind his final words:

"Also, be careful with the 'gifts' you hold in your hands. Some things are far more costly to gain than to lose."

Silence returned to the room, leaving Cassandra standing alone before the altar.

She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her palms.

Her ancestors' indifference fueled her extreme resentment.

"You were quite enthusiastic when you were fanning the flames, but now you're putting on an act here..."

She cursed under her breath, her eyes filled with resentment.

Cassandra clearly remembered the circumstances surrounding her promotion to full wizard and then arch wizard.

The king of absurdity back then didn't have the detached attitude he has now.

The other party took the initiative to teach her "The Star Eater's Ramblings," guiding her to follow the path of authenticity;

She also left behind a "seed" when she was promoted to Grand Wizard, claiming that this would make her ethereal body more powerful than other Grand Wizards of the same level.
Finally, she was guided to open the "Otherworldly Box" from the clan's treasury, and the "Conquest Card" inside led her down the path she is on now.

Meditation and the "Conquest" cards can be said to complement each other.

During her meditation practice of "The Devourer's Ramblings," visualizing the "devourer" brought her a powerful desire to devour.
The "Conquest Card" in the Otherworldly Treasure Box serves to guide and amplify this burning desire.

All of this contributed to her gradually becoming the person she is today—greedy, belligerent, and never satisfied.

And now, when I truly need support and guidance.

This great ancestor, however, displayed an indifferent attitude, as if it were none of his business.

"They led me down this path, and now they think I'm too crazy..."

Cassandra slumped in the command chair, feeling an unprecedented exhaustion.

She remembered what she was like at the beginning.

He was a pure researcher, focused on theoretical exploration of bloodline science.

At that time, she never thought of conquering another world, nor did she ever yearn to dominate other civilizations.

But the "seed" deep within their bloodline changed everything.

The urge to conquer spread like a virus, gradually eroding her original rationality and gentleness.

Now, she can no longer distinguish which ideas are truly her own and which are implanted influences.

"Since none of you want to get involved..."

She gripped the "Conquer" card tightly, her eyes filled with determination:
"Then I'll just go all the way, since there's no turning back now anyway."

Indeed, neither this endless expedition nor Eve's treatment plan has the option of stopping.

Stagnation means death; only by moving forward can there be a glimmer of hope.

Just as she was lost in thought, the magic in the cabin suddenly fluctuated.

A rainbow of light unfolded in the air, forming a shimmering, iridescent mirror.

Cassandra immediately became alert; she recognized this energy signature—it was a projection of the King of Illusions' consciousness.

"Lady Pandora?"

She stood up somewhat unexpectedly and bowed to the mirror.

Although the King of Illusions was not their clan's ancestor.

However, among beings at the level of the Witch King, He is one of the few who is relatively friendly to his juniors.

A blurry female silhouette appeared in the mirror:
“Cassandra, you look troubled.”

"Indeed."

Cassandra nodded with a wry smile:

"Whether it's war or family, there are too many problems that cannot be solved."

“I overheard your conversation with that stubborn old man.”

The King of Illusions' tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction:
"Some elders always like to use the name of 'tests' to evade responsibility."

The mirror began to ripple, and from it emerged a hand composed of iridescent light:
"This is a wisp of the power of 'illusion manifestation' rules, which may play a role at a critical moment."

Cassandra carefully caught the ball of light and immediately sensed the terrifying power it contained.

These are fragments of rules that can transform imagination into reality, and their value is immeasurable.

"Lady Pandora, this is too precious..."

"precious?"

The King of Illusions chuckled softly:
"For me, this power is just icing on the cake. But for you, it might be the key to changing your destiny."

Her voice softened:

"Remember, child, sometimes the most important thing is not the choice itself, but the courage to face the choice."

The mirror began to fade, but before it completely disappeared, the King of Illusions left behind his final words:

"Besides, that young man is more important than you think. Don't let temporary difficulties cause you to miss the biggest opportunity."

After the communication ended, Cassandra carefully sealed away the power of the rules.

Compared to the indifference of the King of Absurdity, the care of the King of Illusion seems all the more precious.

This contrast made her even more disappointed in her ancestors and even resentful.

"Ron..."

Cassandra gently stroked the surface of the Conquest card, a faint smile playing on her lips.

According to her plan, if Eve's treatment is successful, Ron will inevitably gain access to the Crown Clan's treasury.

At that time, he will face the same choice.

Will this tempting "Otherworldly Treasure Box" be opened?

"I'm curious……"

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation:
"What choice will you make? Will you be consumed by power like me, or will you stay true to your original aspirations?"

This expectation was mixed with malice and curiosity.

If Ron is also corrupted by the Power Cards, then she will no longer be alone;

If he can resist temptation, then perhaps there really is a chance to change everything.

Either outcome would be far more interesting than the current predicament.

Cassandra put the Conquest card away again, the weariness in her eyes replaced by a kind of anticipation.

At least, she found a new source of enjoyment in this boring game of chess.

(End of this chapter)