Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 622 Summoning Frenzy

Rather than a cocoon, it is actually a "cage" that is constantly reconstructing itself, woven from countless layers of semi-transparent summoning circles.

Each summoning circle rotates at a different speed and in a different direction, intertwining, misaligning, and overlapping with each other according to some mysterious pattern.

Ron focused intently on his observation and activated his [Chronological Prophecy] ability.

In his enhanced perception, the trajectory of each summoning circle became a clearly visible "line of fate".

He could "see" which two magic circles would collide in three seconds, which magic circle would rotate to the outermost layer in five seconds, and how the structure of the entire "cocoon" would change in ten seconds...

This foresight allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of how this complex structure works.

"It is indeed very special..."

Ron studied it carefully:

“This is a ‘perpetual motion ritual’.”

Each summoning circle attempts to summon some kind of being, but the target of the summoning is constantly changing, which means the ritual can never be completed, yet it will never stop...

At the very core of these countless summoning circles, there is a blurry humanoid silhouette.

To call it a "person" is really a stretch.

The way that silhouette existed was extremely bizarre.

It doesn't remain "there" stably; instead, it's like a superposition of quantum states, constantly switching between "existence" and "non-existence" at high frequency.

Sometimes Ron could clearly see a male wizard dressed in ancient robes, his face contorted in pain, his hands raised as if performing some kind of ritual.
But in the next instant, the outline vanished, replaced by a pure vortex of energy, within which countless mouths roared silently…

What he didn't want to get close to even more were the beings surrounding the "cocoon".

Dozens of "half-complete summons" float, struggle, and wait in the clear amniotic fluid, like undeveloped fetuses.

Ron's gaze swept over them:
A phantom behemoth, over ten meters long, but only its head and front half are solid, while its hind half floats in the air like smoke. With each breath, it inhales the surrounding light and exhales thick darkness.

A twisted angel, with six wings pierced by rusted swords, its face a constantly spinning kaleidoscope, displaying a different expression with each rotation—sadness, anger, ecstasy, despair, each emotion so pure it was suffocating.

A shadowy mass of the abyss, its form like flowing darkness, sometimes coalescing into a human shape, sometimes dispersing into mist, within which countless eyes could be faintly seen flickering, each eye gazing in a different direction, as if simultaneously observing countless worlds...

There is also a dragon skeleton puppet.

This summon is the most unique.

It possesses a complete dragon skeleton, with each bone shimmering with a dark gold luster and engraved with dense summoning runes.

But this skeleton is "hollow," without flesh and internal organs, and even the soul does not exist.

It's like a beautifully crafted empty shell, waiting for some kind of "soul" to fill it...

There are many more things that cannot be categorized.

Some are like the embodiment of nightmares, while others are abstract rules forcibly dragged into reality.

They are all in an "incomplete" state, neither fully manifesting nor completely dissipating.

They can only linger on the edge of the "cocoon," waiting for a "moment of completion" that will never come.

"baby……"

Nari's voice suddenly echoed from the depths of his consciousness:

"Mom sensed it; there was a chaotic aura within that 'Shadow of the Abyss'..."

"It's like a fragment 'cut' from the very source of the abyss, like... a 'distant relative' of my mother?"

Ron's heart skipped a beat: "Mom, can you communicate with it?"

"You can give it a try..."

Nari's tone was somewhat uncertain:

"But baby, that thing is confused right now, it might not recognize who Mommy is..."

Just then, Acelia's voice rang out:

"That dragon skeleton... is the skeleton of a young dragon, and it's not an ordinary dragon species."

Judging from the skeletal structure, it should be a descendant of the 'Star Dragon'.

"Star Dragon?"

Ron raised an eyebrow.

"A high-ranking ancient dragon species that has long been extinct."

Acelia explained:
"They are born with the ability to communicate with the astral plane and summon the power of the stars."

However, precisely because of this, their bodies are extremely unstable, making them vulnerable to backlash during the summoning process…

"The summoning runes on this skeleton are the result of this madman's attempt to 'enhance' the Star Dragon's abilities."

The result… well, obviously, was failure. The dragon soul was torn apart by the summoned power, leaving only an empty shell.

Her tone carried a hint of sympathy:
"If you want to free that summoner, you must first deal with these 'half-finished products'."

They are the 'anchor points' of the ritual; as long as they exist, the ritual will continue indefinitely.

Ron nodded and began to devise a strategy.

The four main summons are: Phantom Beast, Twisted Angel, Shadow of the Abyss, and Dragon Skeleton Golem.

These all emit energy fluctuations at or above the Dark Sun level, making them the most threatening.

With his current strength, he could easily handle any one of them on his own.

But what if they attack simultaneously...?

"A swift resolution is needed."

Ron took a deep breath, allowing the nascent form of the [Threshold of Darkness] to slowly emerge.

The mysterious door was faintly visible behind him, with a dim light shining through the crack.

He channeled the power of "observation" into the "cocoon" and began to conduct in-depth analysis.

Information flooded into consciousness like a tidal wave.

Ron "saw" the cause and effect of the wizard's current state.

He is not summoning a specific, particular creature, or connecting with a known 'deity'.

What he wants to summon is "the possibility that has not yet been defined", "chaos that transcends the realm of cognition", "something that does not even have a name"...

The madness of this summoning is that when you summon the "unknown," you never know what you will get.

It could be a god, it could be a demon, it could be pure destruction, or it could be... nothing at all.

The summoner was discovered halfway through the ritual.

They were captured, tried, and thrown into "paradise".

The power of imprisonment, like amber, "froze" the entire ritual at that moment. The summoning circle had been activated, the energy had begun to flow, and the summoned creature had begun to appear... but it could never be completed.

The wizard's consciousness gradually disintegrated during countless failed summoning attempts, dispersing into each of the "half-complete summons".

His memories shattered into millions of pieces, scattered in different realms;
Emotions are infinitely fragmented, and each summoned creature inherits only one pure emotion;

My self-awareness is completely confused; I can no longer distinguish who the "summoner" is and who the "summoned creature" is...

The nameless man's words echoed in his mind:
"He dreamed that he was summoning the stars, but when he woke up he found himself becoming the stars themselves."

Ron finally understood the true meaning of those words.

In the process of summoning the "unknown," the wizard himself became a part of the "unknown."

He became the "source" of those summoned creatures, the "matrix" of possibilities, and the embodiment of the act of "summoning" itself...

"so……"

Ron muttered to himself:

"'Awakening' doesn't mean restoring him to his original state, that's already impossible."

The real 'awakening' is helping him complete this transformation..."

The moment this realization became clear, danger struck.

"Buzz!"

A sharp, resonant sound suddenly erupted!

All the summoned creatures surrounding the "cocoon" simultaneously ceased their wandering.

They all turned to Ron, dozens (or hundreds) of eyes fixed on him.

At that moment, Ron clearly felt a certain "mechanism" being triggered.

It was like approaching a wild beast's den and startling a mother protecting her cubs.

"Oops……"

Before he could react, the "half-complete summons" surged towards him like tadpoles whose egg membranes had been punctured!

The illusory behemoth let out a silent roar, and despite having only half a body, it charged at a speed that defied all reason.

The twisted angel flapped its wings, which were studded with swords, the rusty blades screeching as they flew, leaving twisted cracks in its wake...

And then there are those even stranger things:
A "thinking fog" that has no physical form but can "invade" you;

A "living chain" is made up of countless mouths, each mouth chewing on a different language;

A "mirror reflecting fear," its surface constantly displaying the observer's most terrifying images...

Dozens of summoned creatures formed a chaotic tide, surging in from all directions.

Ron's expression was grave. Seeing the pillar not far away, he seemed hesitant and unsure of himself...

"Click..."

As if sensing his inner thoughts, the surrounding space suddenly "froze".

Transparent light walls emerged from the void, like giant glass domes, completely isolating this area from the outside world.

Ron was stunned for a moment, then realized that this was some kind of protective mechanism left over from "Paradise"!
When a high-intensity energy conflict is detected, the system will automatically initiate an isolation procedure.

To create a special environment similar to a "duel arena" to prevent the battle from affecting critical facilities...

"I see."

He breathed a sigh of relief and looked around.

The light barrier has a wide enough range to engage in combat without affecting the stability of the "ley lines".

"In that case..."

Ron took a deep breath, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit:
"Then let's give it our all."

The Threshold of Darkness is now fully revealed.

A phantom formed by starlight rose behind him, and the "head" covered by a black veil slightly lifted, while the mysterious door on his chest slowly opened halfway.

This time, it wasn't the slight opening and closing like before, like "breathing".

The door was truly a third open, revealing a terrifying force capable of tearing reality apart!
Thunder, starlight, and chaos—three fundamentally different energies—interweave, collide, and merge behind the door…

Then, it will be released in the form of a "judgment"!

“Boom boom boom—!”

A verdict is a "high-level negation".

When it is applied to a target, it will automatically select the most lethal attack method based on the target's weak points in defense:
For those with strong physical defenses, use "Mental Blast" to directly attack their core consciousness;
For those with extremely high magic resistance, use the erosion-state permeation structure of "sonic oscillation";
For those protected against both, use "Thunder and Fire" for pure annihilation...

The most terrifying thing is that these three attack methods can switch instantly, or even be carried out simultaneously!
The first wave of [Judgment] swept across the battlefield.

Those weaker summoned creatures didn't even have time to scream before they disintegrated into the most basic energy particles in the light.

The "thinking fog" tried to disperse and avoid it, but was pierced by a mental blast. All the "thinking nodes" were extinguished at the same time and turned into unconscious gas that dissipated.

The "living chains" attempted to devour the attack with their "mouths," but were disintegrated from the inside by the corrosive state of sonic vibrations. Each mouth emitted a broken wail, and then the chains broke inch by inch.

The "Mirror of Fear" attempted to mislead Ron's judgment with "fear," but it was directly pierced by lightning and fire, shattering into millions of pieces, each reflecting the image of the mirror collapsing itself...

Ron stood in the center of the light, feeling the feedback from the ethereal body.

This feeling... is so wonderful.

He can clearly "see" the weaknesses of every target, accurately "judge" the most effective way to attack, and "execute" a fatal blow without hesitation.

This is the essential difference between Dark Sun-class and Moon-class:
Moon-level battles rely on skill, experience, and understanding of spells;
The battles of the Dark Sun level rely on "priority" and crushing opponents with their own "life level"!

Before the "judgment" of the Dark Threshold, those summoned creatures are not merely fighting a "powerful enemy".

They are also resisting the very fact that they are "judged to be extinct"!
In just ten seconds.

The once densely packed group of summoned creatures has been reduced to only four main summoned creatures whose aura strength has reached the Dark Sun level.

Faced with the sweeping onslaught of the [Judgment], they not only did not collapse, but instead their survival instincts were amplified...

Ron stopped his attack and carefully observed the survivors.

Giant beasts, angels, shadowy figures, and dragon skeletons—four distinct enemies, representing four completely different threats.

Ron did not hesitate.

The doors of the [Threshold of Darkness] opened wider once more, and this time, what emerged from behind the doors was not merely a simple "judgment".

The starlight began to weave a complex observation network around him, each ray tracking, analyzing, and predicting the enemy's movements;
The black veil stretched out like a living thing, creating layers of "cognitive distortion" in the air, making it impossible for the enemy to accurately determine his true location.
Meanwhile, lightning and fire gathered in his palm, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment...

The previous part was just clearing out the grunts; the real battle was about to begin.

The first to launch an attack was the phantom behemoth.

Its hindquarters, made of smoke, suddenly swelled, expanding rapidly like an inflated balloon, and then abruptly contracted.

"call……"

A distorted "reflective beam" gushed out from deep within its throat.

The color of that ray of light cannot be described in words, because it is essentially a "negation of color".

As it travels through space, everything along the way becomes... less "real".

The edge of the light barrier was brushed past, and that part of the protective shield immediately became so transparent that it was almost invisible.

The energy debris floating on the ground was swept away; it remained, but no longer attracted attention, like a dispensable decoration on a backdrop...

Ron quickly realized how terrifying this attack was after a brief analysis.

If he is hit by the "reflective ray," he will neither die nor be injured, but he will become "insignificant."

In this state, combat power will be indirectly reduced to less than one-tenth of its original value!
"A very good ability... I wish I could use it."

[Threshold of Darkness] The black veil over her head suddenly trembled violently.

Countless fine, hair-like chaotic threads extend outwards, weaving a "cognitive barrier" in the air.

The moment the "reflective light" hits the barrier.

"boom!"

Two kinds of "negation" collided.

One is "denying the sense of existence," and the other is "denying observation itself."

When "unnoticed" meets "undefinable," the result is... mutual cancellation.

The reflected light, as if hitting an invisible wall, scattered and splashed across the surface of the barrier made of black gauze, eventually dissipating helplessly into the air.

The phantom behemoth let out an angry roar.

It abandoned its ranged attacks, exerted force with its limbs, and its massive body lunged at Ron like a cannonball!

Even though its rear half was still in a smoke-like state, its impact was not diminished at all.

Because its "front half" has reached a point of complete solidification.

Its sharp claws gleamed, each half a meter long; its ferocious fangs were like sword blades, capable of easily biting through an adult's waist.

But just as the giant beast was about to pounce on Ron...

—Giga Trio
The door to the chest of [Darkness Threshold] opened a crack once more.

This time, instead of a large-scale energy sweep, there was only an extremely precise "spear".

It was a sharp beam of light formed by the highly compressed forces of thunder, starlight, and chaos.

This move was his original finishing move, now simplified and used.

"laugh!"

The beam of light pierced through the giant beast's skull.

To be precise, it penetrated its core node.

Ron's observation ability had already locked onto the key.

The reason this behemoth can remain powerful even in its "semi-complete" state is because its front half contains a "summoning core," which is the fulcrum that sustains its existence.

As long as that core is destroyed...

The giant beast's body froze in mid-air.

A human-like confusion flashed in its eyes.

Then, starting from the head, the entire front half of the body collapsed as if it had turned to sand.

The once solidified flesh, bones, and scales all disintegrated into the most basic energy particles, which floated upwards like an inverted waterfall...

The smoke-like rear half, having lost its core support, struggled in the air for a few seconds before finally dissipating with the wind.

With a single strike, the Dark Sun-level monster was defeated.

Ron didn't relax at all.

Just as he killed the behemoth, the Twisted Angel's "hymn" had ended!

"The day of judgment has come; sinners must repent before hell!"

As the last syllable fell, the atmosphere on the entire battlefield changed abruptly.

What was originally just a physical battle space has suddenly been filled with a kind of "mental pressure".

Ron felt a heaviness in his chest, as if a boulder had been placed on his heart.

Various images began to involuntarily surface in my mind:
The hostile targets he killed in the Black Mist Jungle in order to survive;
Valuable materials wasted due to failures in various experiments;
The methods used in battles against the enemy that may have been too cruel;
There are even more absurd "crimes," such as not replying to letters in a timely manner, or not responding to someone's polite remarks at a group gathering...

All these memories, big or small, light or heavy, are redefined at this moment by some force as "unforgivable sins"!
Ron could feel his mental power being bound by some kind of invisible chains.

"Is this... forced psychological suggestion?"

He gritted his teeth, trying to keep his mind clear:
"No, it's more terrifying than a simple suggestion."

This is a manifestation of a 'moral rule,' attempting to dismantle my defensive will using the logic of 'you are guilty, therefore you should be punished'..."

Detecting danger, the black veil over [Dark Threshold]'s head automatically expanded into a "curtain," enveloping his entire body.

Those feelings of guilt that tried to infiltrate were like needles stuck in a pile of cotton:

They still exist and continue to influence their targets, but the distorted cognitive channels caused these emotions to completely lose their sense of direction.

It's like a letter being dropped into the wrong mailbox; no matter how urgent the sender's request, the recipient will never know what the letter said.

Moreover, [Cover] is playing an even greater role.

It began to contaminate those "guilts," redefining them as "false memories," "trivial matters not worth caring about," and "mistakes that have already been forgiven"...

The Twisted Angel's "hymn" attack was thus invisibly neutralized.

The angel seemed to realize that the attack had failed.

Its kaleidoscope face stopped spinning, and all its expressions froze on "anger".

The rusty swords on the six wings burned even more fiercely, the green flames almost solidifying into a tangible substance.

Then, it swooped down!

The speed was unbelievable, leaving afterimages in the air.

The tip of the rusty sword was aimed at Ron's heart, and the flames were stretched into a green meteor trail as it moved at high speed...

But just as it was about to hit, Ron's figure suddenly "blurred".

The Twisted Angel's attack pierced through his body, but that "body" felt like a phantom, completely unreal.

The rusty sword missed its mark.

The angel let out a piercing shriek, turned sharply, and attempted a second attack.

"too slow."

Ron's voice sounded behind it.

Unbeknownst to them, he had already appeared in the blind spot of the angels.

With his right hand clenched loosely, a "Judgment Sphere" formed from pure lightning and fire was spinning rapidly between his five fingers.

"Your attack pattern is too simplistic."

He commented indifferently:
"Once the mental attack is countered, only a straightforward physical impact remains. At this speed, in the face of [Observation]..."

"It's just slow motion."

As soon as he finished speaking, he pressed the "Judgment Orb" against the back of the angel's neck.

"Boom!"

The lightning and fire erupted upon contact, but instead of spreading outwards, they were controlled and poured entirely into the angel's body!

The six wings, each pierced with rusty swords, trembled violently, and the green flames on the swords flickered before finally going out.

The kaleidoscopic face spun wildly, its expressions flashing dozens of times in a single second before shattering into countless points of light.

The Twisted Angel's body began to disintegrate from the inside out.

Two strikes, and two formidable enemies have been defeated.

Ron's expression, however, became even more serious.

Because the remaining two are far more dangerous than the first two!
The Shadow of the Abyss has now completely transformed into the appearance of "Ron".

It's not a superficial similarity, but a deeper kind of "substitution".

When Ron stared at it, he had an extremely eerie feeling.

It's like looking in a mirror, but the "self" in the mirror is out of control, possessing an independent will...

Even more terrifying, it began to mimic Ron's abilities.

A false [Threshold of Darkness] emerges behind it.

Although it is rough, incomplete, and full of flaws, and even its power cannot be contained, it unconsciously emits chaotic black mist that erodes the surrounding area.

"What's the principle?"

Ron frowned:

“Simply imitating the appearance cannot replicate the illusory body; it is a power vessel deeply bound to the soul, unless…”

He suddenly thought of a possibility:
"Unless it's not 'copying' my illusory body, but simply 'replacing' my 'position' in this space!"

"It wants the battlefield to think: 'Ron' is a role that it should play!"

"If the substitution succeeds, then the real me will become a 'fake,' rejected by the rules of the battlefield itself..."

This realization sent a chill down his spine.

He quickly raised his right hand, his five fingers loosely clenched.

[Threshold of Darkness] The door to the chest opened slightly again, from which flowed an extremely precise "line of seeking gaps".

"found it……"

Under his [Observation] ability, the "core nodes" of the remaining two summoned creatures were also clearly visible:

The core of the Shadow of the Abyss is fragmented; it has seven real "eyes" and the rest are illusions. If all seven eyes are destroyed at the same time, the entire existence will collapse.
And the core of the dragon skeleton golem...

"No core?"

Ron frowned.

This skeleton is truly "hollow," with no "anchor points" to sustain its existence.

“That dragon skeleton wasn’t ‘alive,’ it was just a ‘vessel.’”

Acelia reminded her:
"The real danger is what it is about to summon."

If you don't want to face a real astral being, it's best to interrupt the activation process before it completes.

Ron nodded and made his decision.

"Looks like we'll have to use our trump card."

—Hold on to the second hand!

As the activation words were recited, time stood still.

It's not a complete standstill, but rather an extreme "deceleration".

[Local Time Manipulation] Activated.

Within a hundred meters of Ron, the flow of time was forcibly compressed to one-tenth of its normal speed.

"Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle..."

Seven soft sounds rang out almost simultaneously.

The seven true eyes of the Shadow of the Abyss shattered simultaneously.

The entire mass of black mist emitted a sharp, mournful cry, rapidly contracted into a small ball, and then completely dissipated;

Only the Dragon Skeleton Golem was attacked; the attack pierced its skeleton but caused no damage.

Because it is hollow, it has no target to "destroy".

"Damn..."

Ron frowned.

At this moment, most of the runes on the dragon skeleton puppet had lit up, and the activation process was about to be completed!

"Sweetie, let Mommy help you!"

Nari's voice suddenly rang out, filled with an eager excitement.

The power of chaos coalesced in the air into a gigantic tentacle phantom.

"Snapped!"

It slammed hard onto the dragon skeleton puppet!

"boom!"

A terrifying aura of chaos poured into the skeleton, violently "clashing" with the summoning runes that were activating.

Runes attempt to summon "order," while chaos represents "disorder."

The collision caused the entire skeleton to begin to vibrate violently!
"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

Cracks spread across the dark gold surface of the bones, and the meticulously engraved runes crumbled one after another, turning into useless energy fragments that drifted away...

Finally, the dragon skeleton puppet exploded in mid-air, scattering countless bone fragments everywhere!

When everything calmed down, only Ron remained standing on the battlefield.

All four powerful summons were destroyed.

From start to finish, it took less than a minute.

"call……"

Ron let out a long breath, feeling the feedback from the [Threshold of Darkness].

The nascent ethereal form was thoroughly "trained" in this battle; the opening and closing of its doors became smoother, and the speed at which starlight condensed also increased...

"You're so amazing, baby!"

Nari's voice echoed in his mind.

"Well done!"

Azalea also gave a rare compliment:
"To be able to perfectly combine time manipulation and the characteristics of the Void in such a short time... you have far surpassed the average Dark Sun class."

"Honey, wait!"

Nari's voice suddenly became urgent:

"Mom saw it! That cocoon...it's leaking!"

Ron’s gaze immediately turned to the huge cocoon floating in the void.

At first, he only felt that the thing was trembling slightly, like the breathing of some sleeping creature.

But after Nari pointed it out, he noticed a deeper anomaly:
On the surface of the cocoon, those translucent membranes that should have been tough and dense are now "melting" at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye.

Strands of energy seeped out from the tiny pores in the cocoon wall, twisting and struggling in the air before dissipating.

The disappearance of each thread was accompanied by an extremely faint, heart-beat-like rhythm emanating from inside the cocoon. That rhythm was becoming increasingly irregular, increasingly...desperate.

"This is the 'backlash' after the summoning circuit was forcibly interrupted."

Dragon Soul's tone now carried a scrutinizing quality:
"By defeating all the companion summons, you have severed the energy channel connecting the cocoon to the outside world."

Now its internal source of inspiration has lost its outlet and is collapsing inward.

"In your human language..."

She came up with a very apt analogy:

"It's like a dam full of water suddenly losing its outlet; the water pressure will tear the dam itself to pieces."

Ron frowned.

He could feel the chaotic fluctuations emanating from inside the cocoon.

Those fluctuations contained extreme pain, confusion, and an indescribable... longing.

It was as if something was struggling to survive, trying to grasp at any straw that could keep it going.

"Mom knows what to do!"

Nari's tentacle phantoms writhed excitedly in Ron's consciousness:

"Look, baby, it's like a cracked eggshell now, and the chick inside is about to drown in its own yolk!"

"But if someone reaches in at this moment, helps it pry its shell open a little more, and then tells it which direction to crawl in..."

Nari's tone became gentle and persuasive:
"It will instinctively grab that hand, treating it as its only lifeline."

"What you're trying to say is..."

Ron had a vague idea of ​​what was going on.

"Let's seize this opportunity to renovate it!"

Nari practically shouted those three words with joy:

“‘Mother’s’ greatest skill has never been destruction; what we love most is transformation, integration, and making everything more… ‘useful’!”

Her tentacle phantoms began to draw complex energy trajectories in the air:
"My mother has been in the deepest abyss for so many years and has seen far too many things!"
Some things started as monsters, but later became tools;

Some things started as tools, but later became... um... friends?

(End of this chapter)