Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 533 Little Ice Cube and Tentacle Monster

When the dizzying sensation finally subsided, Ron found himself in a dazzling and mesmerizing space.

The sky displayed a turquoise checkerboard pattern, with each square slowly alternating between light and dark, like an array of neon lights.

Countless whispering dandelions float in the air, their voices as soft as mosquitoes as they tell the sad stories of the forgotten:

"There was once a child who waited for his father to come home every day..."

"That girl, until her death, was gazing at the distant bay..."

"An old man guards an empty house, the tea on the table has long since gone cold..."

This place is indeed, as described in that fake "Complete Guide to the Extraordinary," a fairytale-like "land in the mirror."

But the world was far more complete than he had imagined.

Not only does it have a complete physics engine, but even the flow of air, the refraction of light, and even the fragrance of flowers carried by the breeze are so realistic that they are breathtaking.

"Something's not right about this level of creative depth."

Ron frowned:

"Such a complete mental world requires computing power and creativity that even the Dog King would probably find difficult to achieve."

Just as he was trying to adapt to this surreal environment, two beams of light gathered around him.

"Baby, are you okay?"

A concerned female voice came from the left.

Ron turned his head and saw a figure awkwardly wrapping himself in a huge dark cloak.

However, the cloak clearly could not completely conceal her inhuman features.

Occasionally, a third or fourth hand would peek out from the edge of the cloak to fix hair or adjust the hem of clothing.

Even more interestingly, two or three pairs of tentacles extend from her hair, her eyes blinking nervously and glancing around from time to time, like vigilant sentinels.

This is Nari.

Even within this mental space, she maintained the image of a caring mother.

However, he was also troubled by his undeniable alien nature.

A little girl, about five or six years old and with delicate features, emerged from another ball of light.

She wore an exquisite little dress, and her waterfall-like silver hair reached her ankles.

What's most striking is her pair of golden eyes.

Even on a young child's face, an undeniable air of authority emanates.

The little girl, hands on her hips, lectured in an extremely mature tone:

"Ron! Staying alert is the first essential for survival!"

Your reckless behavior just now almost made me... made me..."

She stomped her foot in anger, but she looked more like she was being coquettish.

This is Acelia.

Because her power was severely limited, she could only maintain this childlike form, which hurt her self-esteem.

When Nari saw Azalea's appearance, he was first taken aback, then burst into laughter.

She covered her stomach with six hands, laughing so hard she was shaking uncontrollably.
"Little Ice Cube! You...you've actually turned into this!"
You want my darling to stay alert? Hahaha, you're like a little kid wearing adult clothes right now!

Acelia's face turned red with anger, and she stomped her foot in retort:
"This is the optimal form under energy constraints! What do you know! My soul essence remains that of the great ancient dragon!"

"But in your current state, you can't even scare a mouse!"

Nari continued to tease, laughing until tears streamed down her face.

"You...you tentacle monster!"

Azalea completely lost her guard and lunged at Nari with bared teeth and claws.

But because of his small size, he looks more like a child throwing a tantrum.

Ron looked at the two "family members" with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, the tension in his heart lessened considerably by this absurd reunion.

In this mental world, their forms reflect a certain essence of the soul.

Nari is a chaotic collection of “excessive” maternal love.

Azalea, on the other hand, is a "childhood" soul that possesses wisdom but lacks experience.

"Alright, alright," Ron quickly stepped in to mediate.
"We are now a team, and we should stick together."

Acelia immediately seized the opportunity and stretched out her arms:
“As the guide, I disdain to touch this false land with my bare feet. Ron, carry me.”

"What?!" Nari immediately protested.

"Mommy wants to be held too! Why is it only her who gets to be held?"

Just as the "internal family conflict" among the three was escalating, a cheerful song drifted from not far away:

"Dong dong qiang qiang, dong dong qiang qiang, we have guests visiting today!"

A brightly colored figure skipped and hopped towards them.

It was a white three-headed rabbit wearing a red magician's hat, and each head showed an excited expression.

But when Ron saw that familiar figure, his first reaction was to be on guard.

Could it be a carefully crafted trap by the hounds?
He subconsciously took a half step back, his right hand quietly moving towards the storage bag.

"what?"

The rabbit noticed his defensive posture, and all three of its little heads tilted to one side at the same time:
"What's wrong with you? Don't you recognize me?"

"I am the magic rabbit you saw in the absurd treasure vault!"

Upon hearing this self-introduction, Ron's vigilance not only did not decrease, but actually intensified.

In the labyrinth of the mind, any familiar face could be an enemy in disguise.

In particular, such coincidences that "just happen" often indicate a carefully laid trap.

"Prove your identity."

He spoke coldly, his body beginning to emanate a surge of magical energy poised to be unleashed:
"As far as I remember, the Magic Rabbit appeared at the very end of the treasure vault. You should remember what happened then."

The three rabbits immediately understood his worries, and their three little heads simultaneously showed expressions of sudden realization:

"Ah! You're worried I'm an enemy in disguise!"

It wasn't angry at all; on the contrary, it seemed quite understanding.

"That is indeed a reasonable suspicion. In places like this, caution is never wrong."

As it spoke, the rabbit hopped forward a few steps and then stretched out its front paws:

"Shake hands, Ron. The truly absurd creations will resonate with you in a special way."

Ron hesitated for a moment, carefully sensing the energy fluctuations on the rabbit's body.

The Chaos Ram's Bloodline did not issue any danger warnings, and the rabbit did indeed exude a familiar aura.

"Ok."

He slowly squatted down, extended his right hand, and gently touched the rabbit's furry little paw.

The moment of contact, a wonderful resonance spread from the point of contact.

The Paradox Dice and Contradictory Core on Ron's body began to tremble slightly, as if responding to a call from a power of the same origin.

This kind of reaction is basically impossible to fake.

Even assuming the enemy truly has the ability to simulate the energy fluctuations of a Witch King-level creation.

...Then he has no reason to resist; he can just give up.

"Do you believe it now?"

The rabbit blinked its six eyes, its tone smug.

Ron breathed a sigh of relief, and the wary expression on his face softened.
"Sorry, Magic Rabbit. We have to be extra careful in a place like this."

"Completely understandable!"

The rabbit happily spun around in a circle:
"Caution is a quality of the wise, and the master appreciates this rational attitude the most."

Nari and Azalea snapped out of their playful tussle and looked curiously at the strange rabbit that had suddenly appeared.

"Who is this?" Nari asked in a low voice from under his cloak.

"A creation of the King of Absurdity, a special guide."

Ron gave a brief explanation, then looked at the rabbit:

"So, can you tell us the specifics of our current situation? Are we trapped in a snare set by the hounds?"

"Of course, that's why I'm here. But before we begin explaining the rules..."

It suddenly made an exaggerated tearing motion, as if it wanted to tear itself to pieces.

Nari gasped, but Azalea calmly replied:
"This should just be an illusion."

Sure enough, when the rabbit's body was "torn open," all that was revealed was white cotton.

With a "poof poof poof" sound, the original three-headed rabbit split into three separate rabbits, each with its own head.

"A perfect trio!" the first rabbit exclaimed proudly.

“Now we can start the performance!” the second chimed in.

"Let us tell the story of the Mirror Kingdom!" the third one concluded.

The three rabbits started doing somersaults in the air, changing color with each somersault.

Eventually, they turned gold, silver, and bronze, respectively, and lined up neatly in a row.

"Ahem, let's begin!"

The golden rabbit cleared its throat:
"Once upon a time, there were three merchants who wanted to build a shop that belonged only to themselves."

The silver rabbit chimed in:

The first merchant said, "I want my products to captivate customers the moment they walk in!"

Copper Rabbit's Supplement:

The second merchant said, "I want my products to be so irresistible that customers will never want to leave them!"

The golden rabbit continues:

The third merchant said, "I want my customers to spend all their money with me!"

"So they each built their own 'shop'."

The three rabbits said in unison:

"But the problem is, they forgot one thing..."

At this point, the three rabbits suddenly began to transform.

Their fur turned dull, their eyes turned red, and they revealed sharp teeth.

The next moment, they transformed into the form of three-headed hounds.

Although it still has the miniature size of a rabbit, its aura has become sinister and terrifying.

"I am Laira!"

The first "hound rabbit" said in a sharp voice:
"I have built a 'whispering maze'! Once customers enter, they will be surrounded by all kinds of sounds until they are lost in the illusion!"

It proudly showed off:

"The most special thing about my shop is that I hide my most precious treasures in the most inconspicuous corner! You fools will never find them!"

"I am Fenrir!"

The second "hound rabbit" roared:

"My 'Alchemy Playground' can turn anything into a toy! It makes the complex simple and the dangerous safe!"

It revealed a sly smile:

"However, adding things is easy, but subtracting them is difficult! Taking good things apart is easy, but reassembling them is not so simple!"

"I am Carlos!"

The third "hound rabbit" said indifferently:

“In my ‘Upside-Down Potions Shop,’ all the recipes are reversed. The effects are written first, and the ingredients are written second.”

It pushed up glasses that weren't actually there:
"The recipe tells you 'what to do,' but the real secret lies in 'how to do it' and 'why to do it'! Hehe, you'll never guess!"

After the three "hound rabbits" finished their transformation, they immediately turned back into cute magic rabbits, as if the terrifying image from before was just an illusion.

"So, what should the customers do?" the golden rabbit continued its narration.

"It's very simple!" The silver rabbit jumped up:

"Find the 'real gems' in every store!"

"Then the businessmen will be forced to compete fairly with you!"

The bronze rabbit added:
"One-on-one duels on a dedicated arena!"

The three rabbits finally said in unison:
"Remember, in the Land of Mirrors, the most important thing has always been 'seeing through appearances and finding the essence'!"

Acelia stroked her chin in Ron's arms:

"These puzzles are cleverly designed. Each one targets the core elements of the Tri-Phase Technique while also incorporating the personality traits of the hounds."

Nari frowned. "Honey, this sounds dangerous. Those hounds are clearly not to be trifled with."

Ron gazed at the clock tower in the distance:

“Now that the rules are clear, let’s follow them. But I need more information before we enter the first level.”

He turned to the rabbits:

"Could you tell me more details about these levels? For example, their specific locations and how to enter them?"

The three rabbits exchanged a glance, then the golden rabbit pointed in different directions:
"Laira's Whispering Maze is in the Crystal Forest to the east, and its entrance is a singing archway."

"Fenrir's Alchemy Amusement Park is on the Rust Plains to the south, where you'll see a giant carousel."

"Carlos's Upside-Down Potions Shop is in the northern gravity reversal zone, where everything is upside down."

Silver Rabbit added:
"But be careful, each level has a time limit. If you don't find the core secret for too long, the hound's power will be fully restored!"

The bronze rabbit gave a final reminder:
"Also, although we would love to help, we can't follow you once you enter the level. It's a trial for challengers."

Ron nodded and took a deep breath.

The challenge of the mind maze is about to begin.

This battle against the Time Hounds will determine whether they can safely escape this illusory "Mirror Kingdom".

“Then.” He hugged Acelia tighter in his arms and gave Nari a determined look:
Which one should we start with?

………………

After some discussion, the three decided to proceed according to the order of the introductions, so they chose the Crystal Forest in the east as their first destination.

After saying goodbye to the three magic rabbits, they slowly walked along a path paved with glowing crystals.

The path was lined with strange plants.

The leaves of those trees are miniature mirrors, making a crisp metallic clanging sound when they sway in the wind.

“These trees…”

Acelia whispered her analysis in Ron's arms:

"Their structure is very special; each leaf lens collects and reflects some kind of information."

Nari gripped his cloak tightly with all six hands, warily scanning his surroundings.

"I don't like this feeling, like being watched by countless eyes."

The deeper you go into the forest, the clearer the whispers in the air become.

The sounds were like silk threads, sometimes sweet, sometimes sorrowful, and sometimes alluring:
"Come back, child..."

"You will never find true love..."

"Everyone will betray you..."

"Power, only power is eternal..."

Ron forced himself not to listen to the specific content of those voices and focused on the road beneath his feet.

But he noticed that Nari and Azalea's expressions had become somewhat unnatural.

Clearly, they also heard the whispers directed at them.

Finally, the legendary singing archway appeared before them.

The archway is made up of countless mirrors of different sizes, each of which is slowly rotating.

The most amazing thing is that these mirrors actually "sing".

Come on, come on, see your true self.
All the secrets are hidden in the mirror.
Don't be afraid, don't run away.

The truth will set you free.

"Are you ready?" Ron took a deep breath.

"No matter what's inside, we're all in this together."

Nari said firmly, while gripping Ron's arm tightly with all four hands.

"Hmph, just a mere illusion."

Azalea gave a haughty snort, but her little hands gripped Ron's clothes tightly.

The three of them passed through the archway, and the world spun around them once again.

When their vision cleared again, they found themselves in a palace of mirrors.

These mirrors range in size from as large as a city gate to as small as a coin; some are as smooth as a lake surface, while others are as distorted as a funhouse mirror.

They overlap and reflect each other, creating an endless corridor of reflections.

Those ubiquitous whispers are no longer just indistinct background noise.

At this moment, they are all so clear, as if whispering in my ear:

"Look at yourself, look at your true self..."

"The truth you've been running away from..."

"All the masks will be torn off..."

Just as the three were trying to adapt to their new environment, a hoarse female voice came from the depths of the maze:
"Welcome to the temple of memories, lost visitors."

The owner of the voice slowly appeared before them.

It was a tall figure wearing a gray robe.

Her face was completely blank, like an unpainted canvas.

When she speaks, various faces will briefly appear on that blank "face".

Sometimes it was a kind old woman, sometimes a beautiful young girl, and sometimes even the face of someone Ron knew.

“I am the librarian of this library.” Her voice remained gentle and polite.
“You can call me Laira. My job is to help visitors find the ‘collections’ they really need.”

She gave a graceful bow, her movements as precise as those of a court noble:

"Here, every mirror is a precious book, recording the most authentic stories from the depths of the soul."

Nari instinctively pulled her cloak tighter, but Azalea made no attempt to hide her doubts and questioned:

"You're the hound, aren't you? Stop pretending to be so polite and just state your demands."

"Hounds?" A confused question mark appeared on Leila's blank face.

“I think you’ve misunderstood something, little girl.”

I am merely a guardian of this temple of knowledge, dedicated to helping every visitor seeking truth.

She turned to Ron:
"The 'key' you want is somewhere in this maze."

But before you search, I must remind you that every mirror here has its own purpose.

Some reflections are real, some are false, some are possible, and some are terrifying truths that should never exist.

Her voice became softer, as if she were telling a bedtime story:
"However, never try to break a mirror."

They are all alive, and they all have their own emotions and memories.

To harm them is to harm the memory itself.

At that moment, a subtle distortion appeared in the air.

Some translucent creatures, almost invisible to the naked eye, began to wander among the mirrors.

Their shapes are extremely bizarre, with their surfaces covered with countless distorted human faces.

These faces included men and women, young and old, but all wore the same empty expression.

“Remember the maggots.” Acelia whispered a reminder in Ron’s arms:
"They feed on memories, and they especially like to devour memory fragments that are accompanied by strong emotions."

Laira seemed not to hear him and continued gently:

Please don't worry about those little things.

They are merely scavengers of memory, specializing in dealing with expired, corrupted, and no longer useful emotional garbage.

Their presence keeps the library in good condition.

She made an inviting gesture:

"Now, let's begin our treasure hunt."

What you are looking for is a 'genuine emotion that has not been distorted'.

In this labyrinth of memories, only by finding the mirror that holds this emotion can one obtain the key to the next level.

After she finished speaking, Laira's figure began to become transparent, as if blending into the background of the maze:

"I will be here waiting for your good news."

Remember, genuine emotions are precious, but also dangerous.

Be careful not to get lost in false beauty, nor be consumed by excessive suffering.

With her disappearance, the mirrors in the maze began to operate more actively.

The three of them began to walk slowly along the corridor of mirrors. With each step they took, new images would appear in the surrounding mirrors.

Some scenes are so beautiful they're breathtaking, while others are so painful they're unbearable to watch.

At the first corner, Nari suddenly stopped.

In the giant mirror before her, the scene of the fifth layer of the abyss appeared.

But this version of the Abyss Palace is a desolate and lifeless place.

In the palace hall, a lonely figure was weeping silently.

That was Nari herself, but her tentacles had withered and dimmed, and her eyes were filled with despair.

The voice in the mirror was plaintive and sorrowful:
"Always alone... No one will ever truly love a monster like you..."

Even that child will leave you sooner or later, just like everyone else…

“No! This can’t be real!” Nari’s voice began to tremble, and his hands under his cloak twisted nervously.

"My baby will never leave me! He loves me!"

But the scene in the mirror became even more brutal.

Ron in the mirror began to speak to Nari outside, his face filled with disgust and fear.

Although no sound could be heard, his lip movements indicated that he was saying:

“I have never truly accepted a monster like you.”

Nari let out a painful roar, clenching all six of his fists at the same time, and his body began to emit dangerous energy fluctuations.

The apostles' true nature began to awaken, and the disguise of reason was gradually peeling away.

"mom!"

Ron quickly released Azalea and grabbed Nari's arm:

"That's fake! It's all fake! Can't you feel the warmth of our blood ties?"

However, just as Nari's emotions had calmed down a little, another mirror lit up.

Azalea's body suddenly stiffened.

Unlike Nari's rage, her pain was restrained and profound.

The color drained from her delicate, porcelain-like face, her golden eyes lost their luster, and she was filled with sadness and self-doubt.

The scene reflected in the mirror was both familiar and unfamiliar.

It was in a laboratory long ago, where Pandora was facing Azalea, speaking coldly to her.

The image of Acelia in the mirror—still in her complete dragon form—was filled with anger and pain.

The baby dragon's belly had been ripped open, and it was trying its best to extend its claws.

But Pandora had already begun taking the dissection instruments from the operating table.

"It's said that anger can increase the energy concentration of dragons, and it seems that it's true..."

The cold voice of him injecting the medicine came from the mirror:
"Very good. Look at me with that kind of gaze more often. Your blood energy concentration has begun to gradually increase."

Acelia, standing outside the mirror, showed no anger, only muttering to herself in an almost inaudible voice:

"No...she said we are...family..."

Having just calmed down, Nari saw the other person's distraught appearance, and her maternal instincts immediately overwhelmed her previous anger.

She awkwardly stepped forward and gently patted the little girl's head with one hand.

"Hey, little ice cube," she said in a muffled voice.

"Don't listen to this damn mirror's nonsense. It's that fool Pandora who was blind to your worth and lost such a precious companion."

Although Nari's words were rude, they made Azalea raise her head slightly.

“And,” Nari continued, even stammering slightly:

"I...I think you're amazing. Even though you've shrunk, your wisdom remains. We...we're family, we should take care of each other."

This clumsy comfort, coming from someone who was usually at odds with her, actually made Azalea feel a strange kind of warmth.

She wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and tried her best to straighten her small chest again:
"Who...who needs your comfort! I just...just got some dust in my eyes!"

Ron felt a surge of warmth in his heart as he watched the rare heartwarming moment between the two "family members".

However, he also realized that these mirrors were highly targeted attacks.

They precisely hit the most vulnerable part of everyone's heart.

“Mom, Acelia,” he said softly.

"These mirrors do reflect our inner fears and pain, but they don't necessarily reflect the truth."

Memory can be deceiving, especially memories accompanied by strong emotions, which are often distorted by our subjective feelings.

Just then, Laira's voice echoed through the maze once more:
"It seems you have already had a preliminary experience of the power of memory."

Painful, sweet, regretful, beautiful... every emotion leaves an indelible mark on memory.

Her figure reappeared not far away, a look of sympathy on her face:

"But you must understand that these corridors in the labyrinth will only amplify your pain and fear."

Their existence is to make visitors aware of the destructive power of negative emotions.

Leila took a few steps closer, her voice becoming more persuasive:

"Therefore, the logic of the 'mirror of honesty' is exactly the opposite—it will never reflect negative emotions."

The real key must be hidden in the reflection of the most glorious and positive memories of your life.

That undeniable power and glory is the only 'truth' that cannot be distorted.

These words sound philosophical and logically sound.

Having just experienced an emotional shock, Nari and Azalea were immediately convinced by this "explanation".

(End of this chapter)