Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 250 Unable to leave
Ethan led Ron along the cobblestone path toward the city gate, nodding occasionally to the roadside vendors.

Ron observed his surroundings; an indescribable atmosphere permeated the air.

It didn't smell like pollution or decay, but rather a peculiar metallic smell.

It mingled with a rusty scent reminiscent of blood, carrying a subtle sense of vitality, as if the air itself were slowly breathing.

"The wizard has already noticed the unusual atmosphere in the air, hasn't he?"

Ethan glanced at Ron's slightly furrowed brow and offered an explanation:
"That is the so-called 'abyssal aura,' a unique product of the intersection of abyssal energy and the surface world."

Ron nodded slightly; his senses were far more acute than those of an ordinary person.

Not only can you smell that scent, but you can also feel the energy fluctuations it contains—weak yet continuous, like a heartbeat coming from afar.

This energy fluctuation carries a certain irregular rhythm, both familiar and unfamiliar, making one want to experience it more deeply.

Ethan then described the various enhancement effects that the abyssal aura brought to the residents.

Ron was quite interested in this change, which matched what he had read in the "Abyssal Creatures Compendium," but was more detailed and specific.

"Are there any other changes?" he pressed, beginning to consider how to apply this information to his bloodline research.

Ethan pondered for a moment, a complex light flashing in his eyes:
"Many people develop special abilities. I have a friend who can sense the energy fluctuations of the abyss and foresee impending dangers."

During one expedition, he suddenly ordered everyone to stop. At that very moment, the ground ahead collapsed, saving the entire team from disaster.

His tone suddenly turned somber:

"But the cost is equally enormous. On average, we live nearly a third less than the average person. Even though we look so strong, very few people here live past fifty."

He raised his hand and pointed to an old woman on the street in the distance.

Her skin had turned a near-black, dark gray, and her eyes had become completely purple crystals, emitting an unnatural light.

“Look at that old lady, she’s only in her early forties, but her body has already begun to decline rapidly. This is the abyss giving us power while also reaping the fruits of our lives ahead of time.”

Ron kept this information to himself, both out of academic interest and to assess potential risks.

Exploring the mysteries of life has always been one of the core questions explored by wizards.

"You just mentioned that the Abyss grants people special abilities. Is there some kind of pattern to these abilities?"

He continued to press for answers, intending to carefully record this information into his own mental library.

"There are indeed some patterns, but they are not absolute."

Ethan explained, while avoiding a drunken dwarf:
"For example, dwarves who are skilled at digging often develop a special perception of underground spaces."

Elves skilled in weaving may gain the ability to manipulate fine threads;

Explorers who spend long periods of time in the black sandy wasteland may have developed a weak ability to control sand grains.

He tapped his chin lightly with his finger:

"Simply put, the abyssal aura enhances a person's original talents and traits, while distorting them, making them even more extraordinary."

"It sounds like these changes aren't entirely negative."

Ron commented softly, his gaze sweeping over the diverse residents on the street.

Ethan let out a short laugh:
"On the surface, that is true, but the biggest cost is not a shortened lifespan, but that we are 'marked' by the abyss and can never leave."

Ron raised an eyebrow: “Marked?” This statement piqued his interest.

“Yes, the mark.” A lingering shadow appeared in Ethan’s eyes:

"People who live around the abyss for a long time will undergo some kind of... change in their bodies, making it impossible for them to leave the area covered by the abyss's aura for an extended period of time."

He pointed to his forehead, where there seemed to be an invisible mark:

"Once we try to go too far or for too long, we begin to gradually lose control. In mild cases, we experience headaches, hallucinations, and emotional instability; in severe cases, we become completely distorted, becoming a moving source of abyssal radiation, polluting everything around us."

Ron saw the fear flash in his eyes when he mentioned "abnormality".

That wasn't fear based on hearsay, but the shock of witnessing it firsthand.

"I once saw a person who was deformed."

Ethan's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, his eyes unfocused, as if lost in some painful memory:
"That was my uncle. He was selected for an experiment and had to leave the edge of the abyss for two months. When I saw him again in the cage..."

Ethan's voice trembled slightly:
"His body was completely deformed, his skin cracked open, revealing spreading black crystals, and his eyes had multiplied to more than a dozen, distributed throughout his head. Even more terrifying, he had completely lost his mind and become a beast driven by instinct."

Ron felt real fear from this description.

This distortion is clearly not just a physical deformity, but also includes a collapse of the mind and consciousness.

"In the end, the guards had no choice but to..." He didn't finish his sentence, but the implication was quite clear.

"In fact, even if we were asked to leave, we wouldn't want to leave at all."

Ethan went on to say that he was trying to get rid of those heavy memories:

"The lack of the abyss's aura makes us feel extremely uncomfortable, just like..."

He hesitated for a moment, as if searching for a suitable metaphor:

"It's like the pain of an addict who can't get what they love. At first, there's anxiety, then a severe headache, and finally unbearable pain until they completely break down."

Ron nodded thoughtfully.

This situation is very similar to the "Abyssal Mark" phenomenon recorded in the "Abyssal Creatures Illustrated Guide," only to a lesser degree.

Abyssal energy does indeed possess fascinating properties, both bestowing power and binding the soul, making it a true "double-edged sword."

"It is said that wizards have tried to remove these kinds of marks."

Ethan scratched his head, and continued somewhat uncertainly:

"This information came to me during a casual chat with an apprentice, who is my drinking buddy."

According to him, the wizards used very precious potions when they conducted the experiment.

At first, it seemed effective; the subjects' skin returned to its normal color, and their eyes stopped glowing. But by the seventh day…

He shook his head, his brow furrowed.
"The test subject suddenly went berserk, began tearing at his own skin, claiming that something was crawling under his skin, and finally he..."

Ethan made a throat-slitting gesture:

"He ended his suffering himself, and the wizards found some kind of black crystal in his blood vessels, which had become fused with his blood and was almost inseparable from it."

Ron remained silent for a moment, processing this information.

The mark of the abyss seemed to penetrate deeper into his bones than he had imagined, not only changing his body and mind, but even permeating his most basic life functions.

This also confirmed his earlier conjecture that any resident here is several times stronger than an ordinary person in terms of physical fitness, and also has the opportunity to awaken various special abilities.

They can be easily trained into very useful warriors, but these abyss dwellers are virtually nowhere to be found in the outside world, clearly due to various restrictions.

“What happens to those who get out of control? Are they executed?” Ron asked.

Ethan shook his head and pointed to a dark building inside the city walls.

There stood tall walls, their tops covered with spikes, and the gates were as heavy as mountains, cast from a dark red metal and covered with strange runes.

Fully armed guards stood at the entrance, holding specially made long guns whose tips gleamed with an eerie purple light.

“They will be sent to ‘jail’.” He hesitated for a moment, seemingly considering whether he should reveal this information:

“Every outpost has such a place, ostensibly to protect ordinary residents, but in reality…”

He moved closer to Ron and lowered his voice: "That place is also an experimental ground for wizards. There are special procedures that allow wizards to purchase those who have gone out of control as research materials."

Ron became slightly interested when he heard the word "research material".

As a bloodline modifier, he was well aware of the research value of these "experimental subjects".

Tissue samples and blood from abyssal mutants often contain unique energy structures and gene fragments, which are of irreplaceable value for advancing bloodline research.

"Of course, there are strict regulations for these types of transactions."

At this point, the man's eyes darted around, warily observing the wizard's reaction:
"The wizard needs to sign a special contract to ensure the test subject doesn't escape control. In case of an accident..."

“Let me guess, the wizard in charge must make compensation?” Ron replied calmly.

Ethan nodded, a hint of surprise on his face, clearly not expecting the other party to know so much about these rules.

"Yes, and the compensation is extremely high. A few months ago, a wizard paid out several complete magic stones because a test subject escaped and caused the deaths of three people."

Of course, the more serious consequence was the reputational damage; that school of thought would be unable to obtain formal experimental permission at the Abyss Outpost for at least ten years.

Ron secretly memorized this information.

Although he has some interest in "Abyss Experiments", he does not currently plan to get involved in this field.

After all, his current priority in bloodline research is the further development and fusion of the Chimera bloodline, as well as helping Dale and Ailan increase their bloodline concentration and complete their transformation.

At least at this stage, he does not want to risk trying other paths that may bring uncertainty.

The two continued on their way and soon arrived at the main gate of Town 69.

The city gate was tall and magnificent, built of some kind of dark brown stone, its surface covered with intricate runes that shimmered with a faint blue light in the sunlight.

Each set of runes is arranged according to a precise geometric structure, forming a complex protective array network.

“These runes are part of a protective array,” Ethan explained, pointing to the glowing patterns:

"They can slow down the penetration of abyssal energy and protect the city's residents from excessive contamination."

He pointed to a particularly complex set of runes:

"This main part consists of 'purification nodes' specially designed by the enchanters of the Crystal Spire, which can transform the infiltrated abyssal energy into a relatively harmless form."

It is precisely because of these runes that the abyssal aura within the city is much weaker than that outside, yet it is also purer and does not cause that kind of physical discomfort.

After the guards at the city gate verified Ron's wizard insignia, they immediately bowed in respect and dared not conduct any further checks.

This respect and fear for formal wizards is consistent throughout the entire Ring Abyss Continent, where wizards hold a status above almost all extraordinary beings.

The moment Ron stepped through the city gate, he immediately sensed a subtle change in energy.

The abyssal aura inside the city walls was indeed much weaker than that outside, but it was also much purer.

This seems to be the result of some kind of filtering and purification, making people feel less oppressed and instead giving them a peculiar sense of comfort.

It felt like drinking ice water on a sweltering summer day—refreshing and invigorating.

"Well then, welcome to Town 69, Wizard."

Ethan made a somewhat exaggerated welcoming gesture, a hint of pride in his eyes:

"Although our town is far less prosperous than the central region, it has its own unique charm."

Ron looked up and saw that the scene in the city was indeed quite unique.

The streets meander and are paved with dark gray stone slabs, with buildings of various styles on both sides.

Some are ordinary stone houses, while others look like they were cast from living metal, with constantly changing fine patterns on their surfaces.
Some of them look like skeletons of giant creatures, gleaming like pearls in the sunlight.

The most striking feature is a towering structure made entirely of transparent crystals, with each crystal constantly changing its angle, making the entire tower appear to be slowly rotating.

“That’s a detection tower,” Ethan explained, following Ron’s gaze.

"The crystals at the top of the tower change color according to the activity level of the abyss, ranging from calm blue to dangerous red, with a total of seven levels."

Ron looked up at the top of the tower and saw that the crystals were emitting a calm, pale blue light, indicating that the current activity level in the abyss was relatively low.

The residents walking on the streets were a mixed bag of races—in addition to the grey-skinned humans who resembled Ethan, there were various other races.

These inhabitants of different races all share similar Abyss mutation characteristics—gray skin, glowing eyes, unnatural limb extensions, or abnormal skin markings.

Ethan noticed Ron's observation and explained with a smile:

"Under the influence of the Abyss, the boundaries between races have become blurred. Our shared mutations have, to some extent, brought us closer together. There are no strict racial barriers like in the outside world; everyone is marked equally by the Abyss."

He shrugged, a hint of dark humor in his voice: "It is this shared curse that has created our unique harmony."

As the two ventured deeper into the city, the streets became increasingly crowded.

Various hawking cries, bargaining sounds, and peculiar music intertwined, creating a noisy yet vibrant soundscape.

But as Ron passed by, an invisible repulsive force field seemed to form around him.

The crowd spontaneously parted to make way for him.

The once noisy vendors and customers suddenly fell silent, their eyes filled with awe.

Those who were close to him immediately bowed their heads in respect upon seeing the insignia on his chest.

"Make way! The wizard is coming!"

A tall man with a scarred face and an armband on his arm whispered a command, pushing aside several young men blocking Ron's path. His voice was full of awe.

As a certified wizard, Ron's very existence is a silent deterrent.

His radiation field and magical fluctuations were enough to make any superhuman with a certain level of perception sense danger and instinctively choose to retreat.

Ethan seemed to have anticipated this situation, a proud expression on his face.

It is a great honor to guide a wizard, and it will earn him a lot of talking points in town for quite some time.

"We have arrived at our destination, Wizard."

The man pointed to a wide-open square in front of him:

"This is the largest trading place in Town 69 - the Abyss Market."

Ron’s gaze cut through the crowd and landed on the bustling square.

The Abyss Market is vast, at least the size of several football fields, and is divided into dozens of zones, each selling different types of goods.

There were vendors selling food, equipment, and medicine.

There's even an area dedicated to providing all sorts of "special services," ranging from fortune telling to "recuperation."

"It looks especially lively today."

Ron noted that the market was much more crowded than he had expected, with people of all kinds almost shoulder to shoulder.

"Ah, yes, you saw the fluctuations in the observation tower just now. We are currently in the trough of the 'Abyss Tide'."

(End of this chapter)