Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 200 Pureblood
Ron, Trish, and Holt formed a makeshift team.

We walked through the gradually dissipating mist toward the translucent, dark red crystal enclosure.

As they approached, the crystal structure became increasingly clear.

The surface of those crystal pillars was covered with strange patterns, like blood vessels, and some kind of energy seemed to be flowing slowly inside, emitting a faint, undulating crimson light.

“This is the core of the bloodline altar,” Ron said in a low voice, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

"According to the Abyss Creatures Compendium, although the specific forms of trials may differ, the altar trials are generally divided into three stages—retrospection, resonance, and metamorphosis. We should now be approaching the final metamorphosis stage."

“I’ve also learned a bit about these stages.” Holt nodded, his long, slender fingers gently tracing the storage pouch at his waist, confirming that the Earth Elemental Colossus’s core was intact.

"But the specific details have always been a secret of the school. Seeing it with my own eyes for the first time was truly shocking."

Trish's gaze fell on the crystal structure, her long brown hair appearing particularly dark under the blood-red light:

"These crystals feel like some kind of living tissue that has been solidified. I can feel a faint pulse of life inside, like the heartbeat of an ancient tree, but much more twisted."

The three proceeded cautiously, taking each step with utmost care, for fear of triggering some unknown trap.

A peculiar aura permeated the air, both like the coldness of metal and carrying an indescribable warmth, as if one were inside the body of some enormous creature.

Ron suddenly reached out to stop the two, his eyes sharp as an eagle: "Stop."

As soon as he finished speaking, the three of them simultaneously felt a slight ripple in the water ahead.

It was an extremely subtle sound, like the sound of a small creature swimming in water, accompanied by the soft splashing of water droplets.

In the shadows somewhere on the crystal platform, a small figure moved lightly, making a soft dripping sound.

Her long silver hair shimmered with an unusual brilliance under the reflection of the crystal, and her large, purplish-blue eyes were even deeper than usual, almost like dark blue.

"Is that Dale?" Ron frowned, his first thought being that the little siren beside him had somehow run ahead.

But the next moment, his intuition told him something was wrong.

The aura emanating from this "Dair" is completely different from that of the real Dair.

It was a more primal, colder aura, lacking the unique warmth that Dale possessed.

"It's a copy."

He confirmed through his "extraordinary identification" skill that he sensed energy fluctuations from "Dale" that exceeded those of normal living beings:
"The Bloodline Altar may have created a copy of each of us, and this is hers."

That "Dale" looked almost exactly like the real Dale, but her temperament was completely different.

Her movements were more fluid than Dale's, and every tiny gesture carried the elegance and lethality of a predator.

Its eyes were sharper, and its pupils flashed with a primal and cold predator's light, sending chills down one's spine.

Ron sensed that Dale stiffened for a moment, but quickly relaxed.

"That was...me?"

Dale's voice carried no fear, but rather revealed curiosity and excitement: "It looks like me, but it also looks like it's not me."

The clones seemed to sense their presence, turned their heads, and a strange smile appeared on their faces.

That smile seemed innocent and naive, yet it was inexplicably chilling, as if some real terror was hidden beneath the mask.

"Oh, is it my older sister who's come to play with me?"

"The clone, Dale, said in an innocent tone."

She hopped forward a few steps lightly, each step accompanied by splashes of water.

"The master has come too, that's great."

The clone tilted its head, and a drop of water slid down from its silver hair, only to stop abruptly in mid-air and transform into a miniature ice blade:

"Master, may I eat my sister? I want to become stronger so I can better protect you."

As the murderous intent in his words grew, the air temperature suddenly dropped, as if an invisible chill emanated from the clone.

Frost began to form on the crystal platform, and white mist gently emanated from her mouth and nose, condensing into translucent ice crystals that slowly drifted down into the air.

However, even though it was just a clone, it didn't seem to be hostile towards him. Perhaps he should feel grateful?
Ron calmly assessed the situation; he could sense that the clone before him was much stronger than the normal Dale.

Life energy fluctuations are more active, but also more unstable, like a container that has been stuffed with too much energy and may collapse at any time.

“She is indeed very strong,” Ron said softly.

"But it's also dangerous, as the over-enhanced bloodline characteristics make her completely dominated by her instincts."

Dale gazed at her clone, a hint of understanding flickering in her eyes:

"She is a part of me, the part that only follows instincts."

"Instinct?" The clone, Dale, tilted her head, her expression innocent and puzzled. Her silver hair fluttered with her movements, forming tiny ice crystals.

"What are you talking about? I'm just... hungry."

Her voice suddenly changed as she uttered the last few words.

As if dozens of voices were ringing out at the same time, his pupils dilated to almost swallow the entire white of his eyes, filled with an uncontrollable greed and desire.

The clone of Dale began to change shape.

Her fingertips lengthened, transforming into sharp blue claws covered with fine scales;
The neck splits open on both sides, revealing gill-like structures that open and close with each breath;
Its mouth expands, revealing three rows of sharp teeth, which are more densely packed and sharper than those of ordinary carnivores.

What's most terrifying is her eyes; the originally lovely purplish-blue has turned into a deep blackish-purple.

The pupils are vertical like those of a feline, but even more elongated, almost spanning the entire eyeball.

"That's... the Siren's abyssal form?"

Holt gasped, his fingers already secretly kneading earth energy, ready to summon defense at any moment.

"Yes and no." Ron's voice also became serious:

"Besides being tainted by the abyss's aura, it also possesses the most primal predator aspect of Dale's bloodline, which has been strengthened and manifested by the power of the trial. The siren's ancestors were deep-sea predators, so this form should be closer to the origin of her bloodline."

The clone, Dale, licked her lips, revealing an unusually long and forked tongue, resembling the organ of some ancient reptile, its surface covered with tiny barbs.

"Come on, sister. I promise it won't hurt too much. In the end, you'll all become a part of me anyway."

Her voice possessed a strange allure, like a beautiful yet eerie ballad, drawing people in irresistibly.

This is the siren's original "enchanting song" ability, a deadly attraction that acts directly on the soul.

Ron immediately sensed this strange mental wave and quickly released a mental wave to the surrounding area to interrupt its influence.

He saw Dale's eyes flicker for a moment, clearly sensing the temptation, but she quickly regained her composure.

“Dale, this is a great opportunity.”

Ron said in a low voice, his tone calm and firm: "Defeating your own clone at the altar will grant you a bloodline enhancement."

“I understand, Master.” Dale’s eyes sharpened.

A slight upturn at the corners of her mouth revealed a cold smile, completely different from her usual innocent and adorable one.

"Then let me see who eats whom."

The clone seemed impatient and leaped forward with such speed that it almost left a blur, opening its gaping maw to pounce on Dale.

Instead of retreating, Dyer went straight to meet her.

A fighting spirit flashed in her eyes, and she drew an arc with her hands in front of her chest, instantly mobilizing the surrounding water molecules.

"Water Shield!"

A crystal-clear water shield took shape in front of her, its surface rippling with waves, displaying strange colors under the reflection of the blood-red crystals.

The clone's sharp teeth slammed heavily against the water shield, producing a screeching sound. Ripples spread across the surface of the water shield, but it remained as solid as iron.

“A very powerful siren,” Holt murmured, his eyes filled with surprise. “Her control over water elements is far more precise than it was at the last gladiatorial contest.”

Dale gave the clone no chance to catch its breath, and with a sudden push of her hands, the water shield expanded, sending the clone flying back several meters.

Her movements are infused with muscle memory from countless training sessions, resulting in unexpected precision in every strike.

"It seems she has mastered the rhythm of the battle very well."

Ron's eyes held a hint of satisfaction; he knew that Dale was working much harder than she appeared.

It should be said that everyone in their workshop works very hard.

Not to mention Lilia, even Ailan spent her time practicing herbal medicine processing and plant manipulation in the backyard while they rested.

Are you imitating my moves?

The clone of Dale hissed with laughter, its voice filled with sarcasm:
"But do you know what? Sister, I know myself better than you do."

She opened her mouth and uttered a string of strange syllables.

Those syllables formed visible blue ripples in the air, striking directly at Dale's spirit.

This is a more powerful "bewitching song" technique, no longer a simple seduction, but a direct mental attack.

Dyer was caught off guard by the sudden attack, and countless illusions flashed before her eyes in an instant:

The call of the deep sea, a bloody revelry, endless darkness
These are the most primal memories of the siren's bloodline, and their forced awakening almost overwhelms her reason.

Ron's eyes flashed with worry, but he did not intervene.

Dale swayed slightly, but quickly regained her balance, the confusion in her eyes replaced by determination: "Those...are not me."

She took a deep breath, her lips moved slightly, and she uttered a string of completely different syllables.

These syllables are crisp and melodious, like a mountain spring flowing over pebbles, carrying a pure power.

"You want to use Enchanting Song against me?" Dale's voice carried a hint of coldness. "Then let's see whose singing is more powerful." The two Enchanting Songs met in the air, forming strange energy ripples that vibrated the surrounding crystals and produced a crisp harmony.

The clone of Mesmer is filled with chaos and greed, while Dale's contains restraint and order.

The two cancel each other out, eventually exploding in the air into countless tiny energy fragments.

The clone, Dale, clearly hadn't expected her strongest move to be neutralized, and anger flashed in her eyes.

She abandoned Enchanting Song and charged directly at the real Dale, her claws slicing through the air, aiming straight for her throat.

Dale no longer relies on her innate abilities, but instead displays a more primal fighting instinct.

Her fingers also transformed into claws, meeting the clone's attack.

Two figures moved at high speed on the crystal platform, so fast that only afterimages remained.

Despite her wild movements, each of Dale's attacks had a clear target and path, and was by no means a blind outburst.

She gradually gained the upper hand, and the clone began to show signs of fatigue.

Both were covered in blood, but their fighting spirit remained undiminished.

The clone's movements began to become erratic, clearly due to excessive energy consumption leading to a decrease in control.

"Now!" Ron thought to himself, but did not make a sound to disrupt Dale's fighting rhythm.

Seemingly sensing her master's intention, Dale suddenly leaped backward, creating distance.

She raised her hands high, and all the water molecules around her were instantly mobilized, forming a lifelike water dragon in the air.

"Tidal Fury!"

The water dragon roared as it swooped down, crashing head-on into the exhausted replica.

The immense impact sent the replica flying, crashing heavily into the crystal pillar with a muffled thud.

Spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the surface of the crystal pillar, from which red energy seeped out.

The clone struggled to stand up, but Dale was already in front of her, her eyes gleaming with victory.

“You said you wanted to devour me.” Dale’s voice was low, carrying a coldness that didn’t match her age: “But on the contrary, it’s you who should be devoured.”

She bent down, opened her mouth, and revealed a row of sharp teeth.

At that moment, her expression was exactly the same as the clone's:
Her innocence contained extreme cruelty, yet her eyes still retained a clear sense of reason.

What happened next shocked even Ron.

Like a primal predator, Dale ripped open the replica's throat and gulped down the dark red liquid.

Her movements were both elegant and cruel, like performing an ancient ritual, each action imbued with a primal beauty.

The clone struggled, its eyes filled with disbelief, seemingly never expecting to be conquered in this way.

Her body gradually became transparent, eventually turning into countless points of light and dissipating into the air.

These specks of light did not dissipate; instead, they were all absorbed by Dale and integrated into her body.

"I can feel it," Dale murmured to herself, her eyes slightly unfocused. "Her power... all her memories are mine now."

Her body began to glow, as if it had been infused with some kind of mysterious energy.

Complex golden patterns appeared on its body surface, covering it like scales and forming a strange decoration.

The way the patterns flow is like the undercurrents in the ocean, carrying a certain ancient and mysterious rhythm.

Dale's body floated up, enveloped in a golden-blue light.

Her silver hair became even shinier, as if it had been infused with the essence of moonlight;

Fine scales appeared on the surface of the skin, each shimmering with a pearly luster;

His eyes had turned completely into a pure gold, with star-like points of light in his pupils.

As the light faded, Dale landed slowly, her entire demeanor transformed.

The contradiction between innocence and cruelty disappeared, replaced by harmony and balance.

“Master.” Dale opened her eyes, her golden pupils reflecting Ron’s figure, her voice filled with unbelievable joy:
"I feel so wonderful. It's like I'm truly understanding who I am for the first time, as if the waters of the whole world are singing to me."

Ron stepped forward, stroked her hair, and smiled with satisfaction.
"Congratulations, Dale, you have evolved into a 'pureblood siren,' a more noble and purer being."

Dale looked at her hands in surprise. With a simple thought, water gathered at her fingertips, forming various exquisite shapes—a little bird, a flower, a fish.
These water formations are so precise that they resemble the masterpiece of a sculptor, many times more accurate than before.

"I can feel that my control over the water has become much, much stronger. And..."

She blinked her big, golden eyes and said excitedly:
"My Enchanted Song has also changed. It's no longer just a lure for hunting; it can do so much more."

Dale tried humming a few notes, and the surrounding crystals immediately resonated, producing a pleasant harmony.

Some of the damaged crystal pillars even began to repair themselves, and the cracks slowly closed.

Ron smiled and patted the little siren's head before continuing on with Trish and Holt.

As he left, he habitually touched his waist:
"That should be about it... Time to go and finish that guy off..."

………………

Elliott stood at a distance, his clothes soaked with cold sweat, silently watching the terrifying being who had utterly crushed all his opponents.

His large ears were still twitching slightly, catching every energy fluctuation and every subtle sound.

This innate sensitivity became a torment at this moment.

He could clearly "hear" the painful groans of his companions, the terrifying process of being corrupted and polluted.

Kessar, Jacqueline, Norren, and Lena—the most outstanding apprentices of the Crystal Spire.

Thus, they crumbled under the blow of the clone Ron, like fallen leaves swept away by a whirlwind.

Especially Caesar, that always arrogant power-type genius, is now nothing more than a black, gooey mess, emitting a nauseating stench.

Elliott's mind raced as he tried to understand what was happening before him.

A normal trial clone could not possibly possess such power, much less such a clear sense of self and ability to act.

This violated all the rules he knew.

"Why don't you kill me?" he asked nervously, his mind racing as he tried to think of a way to escape.

His fingers moved silently toward his waist.

The clone Ron extended a finger and gently shook it, like an adult scolding a disobedient child:

"Because you are useful, Wind Listener. Your talent can help me find something hidden."

Elliott's heart skipped a beat.

He understood the clone's intention.

The other party is trying to use his "Wind Listener" special talent to find something.

A strange feeling welled up inside him; for the first time, he felt vulnerable because of his talent.

"So all you need is a living navigation device."

Elliott tried to keep his tone calm while subtly reaching for the insignia at his waist, hoping to activate it at the crucial moment to escape.

"clever."

The clone nodded approvingly, a look of appreciation flashing in its fiery eyes:
"But I won't give you much time to think. Now, let's get to work."

Elliott could detect subtle changes in the energy fluctuations of the clone, changes that foreshadowed a fatal blow if he did not cooperate.

Although he was confident of escaping safely, he decided to first listen to what the other party planned to do:
"I need to know what you're looking for; my talents need a clear goal to be effective."

The clone Ron pondered for a moment, seemingly considering how much information to reveal.

He looked around to make sure no threat had been overlooked before speaking:
“An ‘Awakener’. He infiltrated this trial space and is currently undergoing a transformation somewhere.”

Elliott's large ears perked up instinctively, beginning to detect the energy fluctuations around him.

This is a natural reaction triggered by his talent, requiring no deliberate control.

He closed his eyes, opening his senses completely and letting all kinds of information flood in.

To the average person, the world is made up of light, shadow, color, and shape;

But in Elliott's perception, everything became various frequencies and fluctuations.

Every substance, every energy source, and every living organism has its unique "voice".

He carefully discerned these "sounds," separating out the abnormal frequencies that did not match the background of the space.

Soon, he detected a highly distorted energy fluctuation, the sound of which was piercing and chaotic, like multiple instruments playing in different keys at the same time.

“Interesting. I did hear some unusual fluctuations.”

Elliott cautiously stated that he did not want to reveal too much information prematurely:

"But it doesn't belong to the original energy pattern of this space; it's as if it was forcibly inserted."

The clone Ron's eyes lit up, the crimson-gold flames flickering violently: "Direction?"

Elliott pointed to a shadow in the northwest corner of the platform:
“Over there. But I warn you, that energy fluctuation is extremely chaotic, like a mixture of multiple forces. I have never ‘heard’ such a distorted frequency.”

The clone didn't say much, but gestured for Elliott to lead the way.

(End of this chapter)