Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 162 Lion Scorpion
Ron took the note, unfolded it, and began to read. His brows furrowed, and his expression turned serious.

"What's wrong, teacher?" Lilia leaned closer and asked with concern.

"The rules of the Bloody Gladiator Tournament have changed."

Ron handed her the note:
"They canceled the final battle and replaced it with a gladiatorial contest involving apprentices and slaves. The final rankings will be determined by the mentors based on their performance scores."

After Lilia finished reading the note, the color drained from her face:
"A chaotic beast-fighting battle? Doesn't that mean not only will the slaves have to fight, but the masters will also have to participate personally?"

"Yes."

Ron's brow furrowed, but a strange light flashed in his eyes—not fear, but a subtle anticipation born from calm reflection.
"It seems that the difficulty and risk of this gladiatorial tournament have increased significantly."

He pondered for a moment, his mind already calculating various possibilities, considering the optimal strategy and potential risks.

Then, a resolute glint flashed in Ron's eyes:
"However, this is actually an opportunity. If Dale and I can demonstrate excellent teamwork in battle, our chances of achieving a high ranking will greatly increase."

“But, teacher,” Lilia looked at him worriedly:
"Those combat slaves are specially modified monsters, extremely dangerous. Many contestants are proficient in combat magic, while your research leans more towards potion-making and alchemy."

"Don't worry, Lilia."

Ron calmly interrupted her, his tone carrying an undeniable confidence: "I was prepared."

………………

The final stage of the Bloody Gladiator Tournament was a huge circular arena.

The ground was covered with a layer of light brown special sand, and surrounded by energy barriers tens of meters high, covered with protective and isolating runes.

These runes not only protect spectators from the aftermath of battle, but also prevent participants from deserting.

The high stands around the perimeter were packed with apprentices from all walks of life, chatting animatedly with excitement and anticipation in their eyes.

Ordinary apprentices wore gray-white robes, while the few advanced apprentices who could be seen wore gray robes with purple trim, creating a distinct visual hierarchy.

For these people who live in the Black Mist Forest year-round, the bloody and exciting scenes are more invigorating and inspiring than the monotonous study and cultivation.

At the highest point of the stands, several figures dressed in formal wizard robes sat on a row of luxurious seats.

They are the judges for today's competition and the absolute authorities in this academy.

Vice Dean Hayek stood alone on the edge of the platform, his long robe trembling slightly in the air, creating an eerie sense of visual dislocation.
The thin Soren Griffiths sat in the back seat, his eyes gleaming with a scrutinizing light;
To her right was Eunice Rafin, with purple eyes, playing with a sparkling crystal ball in her hand.

Several other mentors were also in their places, observing the contestants with great interest and occasionally whispering to each other.

The presence of these official wizards, especially Vice Dean Hayek, cast an invisible pressure over the entire venue.

Ron stood in the contestants' waiting area, his apprentice gray robe concealing a close-fitting soft armor for adequate protection.

He wore a silver pocket watch at his waist and carried several energy crystals that could amplify the power of spells, just in case.

Dale stood beside him. Compared to the small, starving child she once was, she now had the physique of a human girl. Her long silver hair was braided into pigtails by Lilia, and she wore a light armor designed specifically for combat.

“Master, you don’t seem nervous at all.”

Dale looked up at Ron, her eyes gleaming with the excited light of a predator.

Ron smiled slightly:
"A moderate level of tension can help keep you alert, but excessive tension can impair your judgment."

I will protect you!

Dale puffed out her chest confidently, her voice filled with determination, then winked playfully:
"Moreover, I can't wait to taste those rare creatures."

Looking around, Ron could see that the other contestants were also making their final preparations.

Most apprentices were accompanied by all sorts of bizarrely modified slaves.

A multi-legged creature covered in black carapace was particularly striking; its eyes resembled burning coals, and each step it took caused the ground to tremble slightly.

This is the work of a top-ranked apprentice, said to be made by fusing the bloodlines of a subterranean centipede and a fire lizard.

Holt stood not far from him, his face showing his usual calm and vigilance.

Beside him stood a nearly five-meter-tall colossal earth elemental statue, its entire body a deep brown, its surface covered with dark, solid rock, making it appear exceptionally sturdy.

Ron nodded slightly in acknowledgment, and Holt returned a brief nod.

The two were each calculating how they should demonstrate their abilities later.

Although they are opponents on the field, they have met a few times in private, so at least they can be sure that the other party will not be their primary target.

Trish and Tanuki stood on the other side of the field.

The leopard woman's figure had become more slender and powerful than before, with beautifully defined muscles that exuded strength, and her beastly eyes flashed with a dangerous light.

After sensing Ron's gaze, the brown-haired girl turned her head, nodded slightly in greeting, and a complex expression flashed in her eyes.

Her expression held warmth towards an old friend, but it couldn't conceal the sharpness she felt towards her competitors. All the battle slaves exuded a dangerous aura without exception; some even required specially made chains to control them and prevent them from going berserk prematurely.

"An interesting lineup," Ron thought to himself.
“Apart from Trish and Holt, the other people’s slaves are basically quick-made products. They look fierce on the surface, but their internal structure must have a lot of defects. In contrast, although Dale’s bloodline has not been modified so radically, its stability and endurance are much stronger.”

There were also several contestants that Ron was unfamiliar with, whose battle slave forms varied:
There were scorpion-men covered in black armor, otherworldly creatures with six arms, and a bear-man whose body was engulfed in eerie blue flames.

Most of these contestants wore arrogant expressions, clearly very confident in their combat slaves. They maintained a wary distance from each other, their eyes filled with suspicion and hostility.

The atmosphere in the stands became even more tense. As Vice Dean Hayek slowly raised his hand, the entire arena fell into a brief silence under the pressure of his magic.

"The final of the Bloody Gladiator Tournament will be a beast-fighting battle as the ultimate test."

Hayek's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to every corner of the arena:
"The winner takes all, the loser is condemned. The final ranking will be determined based on your performance in battle."

As he finished speaking, Hayek drew a complex magical trajectory in the air with his hands.

Purple lines intertwine in the air, forming an exquisite three-dimensional magical structure.

Every line is so precise it's astonishing; the flow and control of energy exhibit an almost artistic beauty.

"This is the magical manipulation ability of a formal wizard."

Ron silently made notes in his mind, but his face showed no emotion whatsoever.

Through his extraordinary ability to discern, he recorded the details of this magical manipulation in his consciousness library, preparing himself for mastering similar skills in the future.

Over the past few months, Soren and Yuni had privately shared some information with him about formal wizards.

What Hayek is demonstrating is not a complex spellcasting, but an advanced application of the high degree of integration of mental and magical power—a high-level skill that only formal wizards can master.

This ability does not rely on a specific spell model, but rather on the precise control and guidance of magic to directly manipulate energy and create visible physical effects.

It is this advanced application of magic that makes formal wizards almost entirely free of servants.

They are able to precisely manipulate everything around them using this skill:
Floating objects can clean the environment and even condense water and fire directly from the air to meet daily needs.

To ordinary people, these abilities are nothing short of miracles, but in reality, they are nothing more than precise control over magic.

"This is true control over magic."

Ron pondered to himself, a glint of longing flashing in his eyes:
"Instead of relying on fixed models, I shape magic as I please, like an artist sculpting clay. One day, I will reach that level, and even surpass it."

But at this moment, he must focus on the crisis at hand.

Hayek's magical lines multiplied, gradually forming a massive energy network.

These magical lines intertwine to form a complex three-dimensional structure, like an invisible net.

As it unfolds, the energy factors in the air begin to vibrate violently, forming a ripple visible to the naked eye.

Then, with a sudden wave of his hand, the magical lines instantly transformed into chains that penetrated deep into the ground.

With a deafening roar, the ground in the center of the arena suddenly cracked open, and a huge monster was dragged out of the ground by magical chains.

It was a lion scorpion—most of its body was no different from that of a giant lion, covered in dark golden mane.

Its tail, however, was raised high, with a venomous stinger that gleamed with a cold, keratinized light and shimmered with an ominous, eerie green glow.

The monster was over seven meters long and lay prone on the ground; its ruby-like eyes alone were as big as dinner plates.

Each claw tip on its massive forepaws gleamed with a cold light, enough to easily tear through steel;
The scorpion's stinger dripped venom continuously, which made a piercing, corrosive sound as it hit the ground, instantly dissolving the sand and creating a small pit.

The manticore was firmly bound by magical chains, appearing to be in a semi-conscious state, breathing heavily, with unfocused eyes.

Even in this state, the oppressive aura emanating from it still caused all the combat slaves on the field to show signs of unease.

Ron's face remained calm and expressionless, but his extraordinary discernment had already been activated, and he was carefully observing the lion scorpion.

Lion Scorpion (Mixed Preparation)

Bloodline purity: 86% (relatively unstable)

Status: Energy not yet fully activated (current strength approximately 50%)

Danger level: Extremely high (currently medium)
Special Abilities: ? ? ? (Not fully revealed)

Ron's heart sank slightly, but he remained calm.

This lion scorpion is far more dangerous than it appears; it seems to be in a semi-awake state.

If fully awakened, the level of danger would likely exceed the imagination of all the participants.

(End of this chapter)