Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 509 Mech Cleaner

The following day, Ron took out the Wrench Emblem that Vinard had given him from his study.

He took a deep breath and slowly infused the emblem with magic.

The process of establishing communication took much longer than expected.

The runes on the surface of the emblem lit up one by one.

However, the activation of each rune is accompanied by a long wait, as the signal seems to need to overcome countless barriers to reach its destination.

Three minutes later, the logo finally established a stable connection.

But what came from the other end of the signal was an unsettling noise:

The sounds of metal hammering, the piercing alarm of energy overload, and the low rumble of some large mechanical device in operation.

Occasionally, one can hear technical instructions spoken in an ancient shamanic language, delivered in a hurried and anxious tone.

"Wait... now is not the time..."

A slightly irritated voice came from the other end of the communication, but it was clearly not directed at Ron:
"A resonance anomaly has occurred at the seventh port of the energy conduit. Perform frequency correction immediately! Damn it, at a time like this..."

Nearly two more minutes passed before the noise gradually subsided.

Vinard's ethereal projection finally appeared in the air, but he was clearly in a much worse state than when they last met.

Several burn marks from energy were added to the silver-gray metal shell, and the armor plate on the left shoulder even showed obvious melting and deformation.

The blue crystal core on his forehead was flashing irregularly, indicating that his computing system was under tremendous strain.

"Oh?"

Vinard's electronic voice was full of sarcasm, and his silver eyes coldly swept over Ron:

"I thought that Instructor Ralph had forgotten that we had an agreement."

"Making a great wizard wait for you for months, you certainly have a high opinion of yourself."

This almost mocking tone made Ron realize that the situation was worse than he had anticipated.

He quickly explained, "Professor Vinard, I am deeply sorry. There have indeed been some unexpected circumstances during this period..."

"accidents?"

Vinard interrupted him:
"Young man, time is more precious to the great wizard than you think."

My project will not wait indefinitely for anyone's 'personal arrangements'.

The light projected from the ethereal body became even more unstable:

"Especially when the project is at its most critical stage, any delay could destroy centuries of hard work."

A loud bang in the background seemed to confirm the seriousness of his words.

The atmosphere became extremely awkward.

Ron could sense that Vinard was seriously considering whether to cancel the agreement.

For a great wizard, time is indeed the most precious resource, and his delay has clearly crossed the other party's bottom line.

At this delicate moment, a familiar figure emerged from behind Ron.

Professor Yutel's ethereal form radiated a gentle silver light, though it was dimmer than Vinard's, it carried a dignified air honed by time.

"Vinard, it looks like you're having some technical difficulties?"

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Vinard's attitude underwent a subtle change.

Although still cold, the hostility in his tone had noticeably lessened.
"So it's Senior Yutel..." His ethereal form nodded slightly.
"We did encounter some unexpected difficulties."

Yutel took the communicator.
“Vinard, don’t blame Ron too much. I asked him to prioritize my tasks.”

But Wiener's dissatisfaction was still evident in his tone:

“Even you cannot allow him to treat my agreement as a joke.”

"Of course, but I have some good news for you..."

The old professor's ethereal form flickered:
"Ron received the blessing of revelation during his ascension as a historian."

I think this result is worth waiting for.

Upon hearing the phrase "the blessing of the apocalypse," Vinard's silver eyes visibly flickered.

Of course he knew what that meant.

The Cornerstone Blessing signifies that the recipient possesses near-“rule-level” recognition of talent in their relevant field.

"A divine blessing..."

Vinard repeated the word, the sarcasm in his tone vanishing, replaced by thoughtfulness:
"The dual enhancement of time perception and historical insight...this is indeed a rare achievement."

He was silent for a moment, then looked at Ron again:
"Now that you have gained the approval of Apocalypse, I can understand your 'caution'."

But what he said next made Ron's heart sink:
However, opportunities always come with a price.

I originally planned to help you with some relatively easy routine maintenance tasks.

Vinard's voice turned cold: "But now, things have changed."

Yutel seemed to have anticipated something and took the initiative to speak:
"Vinard, what do you want him to do?"

"Since Lecturer Ralph is so 'time-conscious', I don't think he would mind doing some extra work to prove his sincerity."

Vinard brought up a 3D projection, which was a diagram of the bottom structure of the Starforged Titan.

The soles of the giant mech were covered with countless intricate rune circuits, each shimmering with energy of a different color.

"Foot cleaning and maintenance for Starforged Titans will be your main task during your first week after arrival."

Vinard's tone carried a hint of mischievousness:

"Don't underestimate this mission—the Titans' soles come into direct contact with a variety of complex geological environments, from corrosive acid swamps to highly radioactive crystalline plains."

Over time, a large amount of reactive pollutants will accumulate there.

The projection magnifies the image, revealing dazzling details on the surface of the sole:

"You need to clean not only physical dirt, but also various pollution residues, elemental deposits, and the occasional tiny otherworldly creatures that parasitize the gaps in the runes."

Vinard circled several areas on the projection with his finger:

“The working environment in these areas is extremely harsh—high temperatures, corrosion, radiation, and unpredictable chaotic reactions of elements.”

Ron listened to the task list and inwardly groaned.

But he also understood that this was Vinard's "punishment" for being late, and at the same time, a rigorous test of his abilities.

“Of course,” Vinard continued.

"If you feel these tasks are beyond your capabilities, you are free to leave. I will not force anyone to do work beyond their level."

The subtext of this statement is clear: either accept the rigorous test or give up this rare opportunity.

Yutel coughed a few times, and the light of the Void Corpse dimmed noticeably:
“Vinard, I vouch for his abilities, and…”

The old professor's voice became somewhat weak: "I may not have many more opportunities to plead for my students."

This sentence made the atmosphere heavy.

Vinard remained silent for a long time, the light in his silver eyes slowly stabilizing:
“Senior Yutel, I will consider your words.”

He looked at Ron again:
"Kid, if you're really ready, come to my base as soon as possible. I'll send you the coordinates via insignia."

"But I'm warning you, there won't be a second chance. If your performance disappoints me..."

Vinard didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning of the threat was clear.

The communication connection slowly disappeared, and the room returned to silence.

Yutel turned to Ron:
"That's just Vinard's personality; he's cold on the outside but warm on the inside."

Although he was stern in his words, he secretly admired true geniuses.

The old professor's tone was weary:

"But this time you really made him wait too long."

Upon arrival, you will inevitably face rigorous tests; be prepared.

Ron nodded. "I understand, Professor. This is the consequence I must bear."

“Let’s go.” Yutel gestured for him to follow.
"I'll take you to the management center to complete the passage procedures."

Teleportation access to the sixth level of the Abyss is quite complex and requires a detailed application process.

The two walked slowly along the main road of the observation station.

Ron noticed that the observation station, which served as an important passage to the sixth level of the abyss and even the other world, was unusually deserted.

Apart from a few researchers and guards, there were hardly any other foreign wizards to be seen.

The echoes of their footsteps reverberated through the corridor, which felt unsettlingly empty.

“Professor,” Ron couldn’t help but ask:

"Why is the observatory so quiet? Logically, this should be a busy transportation hub."

The old professor gave a wry smile: "This is a long story."

They stopped at a rest area, and Yutel carefully organized his thoughts:

"First of all, although the labyrinthine domain of the sixth level of the abyss is the largest transit platform for the official forces, it is not the only passage."

“Niji no In, one of the seven major schools, specializes in dimensional research.”

They possess independent and more stable 'quadrant routes' that allow them to directly reach certain otherworldly realms, completely bypassing the Abyss system.

The old professor's voice was tinged with helplessness:

"In addition, some ancient wizarding clans also possess unknown ancient teleportation arrays."

While these private channels are riskier, their advantage lies in the fact that they do not require official censorship.

They continued walking forward, passing through a closed area marked "Military Passage":

"Secondly, in order to support the war in the fourth quadrant, Cassandra also established 'breach bases' for purely military purposes."

“There is a large military teleportation portal there that leads directly to the front lines. All war-related supplies and personnel are moved through there, further diverting personnel from the observation station.”

Ron nodded thoughtfully, beginning to understand why the observatory was so deserted.

"Finally, and most importantly..."

Yutel's tone became more serious:

"Although I am nominally the stationmaster, security and teleportation authority are actually controlled by the three Star Ring-level exploration teams directly under Cassandra, and the three captains are all Dark Sun-level wizards."

They arrived at a heavy metal door marked "Management Center":

The "Eyes" team is dedicated to monitoring unusual activity in the abyss.

The 'Recycling' team is responsible for recovering lost relics;
"Border Guard" team, to prevent the surge of abyssal creatures.

“All transmissions through the observation station must undergo an extremely cumbersome review process.” Yutel sighed softly.

"Many wizards who don't want to cause trouble would rather choose other methods."

This makes the observatory more of a pure scientific research outpost than a busy transportation hub.

The door sensed Yutel's identity and slid open automatically.

Inside is a high-tech control room, with walls covered with large displays that monitor the conditions at each level of the abyss in real time.

A middle-aged woman in a dark blue uniform stood up to greet him; the badge on her chest indicated that she was the deputy captain of the "Border Guard" team.

“Professor Yutel,” she said respectfully, bowing, “what assistance do you require?”

"Grant this lecturer Ralph teleportation access to the Vinard Archmage Base."

Yutel briefly explained his purpose.

"Understood. I need to check the relevant invitation certificate and destination coordinates."

Just as she was about to retrieve the standard forms, a wall in the control room suddenly lit up with a blinding red light.

A sharp alarm sounded, and all staff immediately went on high alert.

"Abnormal energy fluctuations detected in the fifth layer of the abyss!"

"The fluctuation intensity exceeds the safety threshold by 200%!"

"The source location...cannot be determined, it seems to be moving!"

The female vice-captain's face immediately turned pale, and she quickly operated the control panel:
"Immediately notify the 'Eye' team to conduct a deep scan! At the same time, send an emergency report to headquarters!"

Yutel and Ron exchanged a worried look.

The fifth level of the abyss, that's Nari's domain...

"Warning! High-speed movement of a colossal life form detected!"

"Energy Level Assessment: Apostle Level!"

"Direction of movement: Up! Target suspected to be the fourth boundary!"

The technician on duty spoke in a slightly shrill voice due to panic.

His fingers flew across the console, trying to get more detailed data.

On the main monitoring screen, the originally regular energy waveform diagram turned into violently oscillating seismic waves.

"Activate Level 1 combat readiness protocol immediately!"

The female deputy captain's voice echoed throughout the entire observation station via the intercom system:
"All non-combat personnel, proceed to emergency shelter immediately! Repeat: All non-combat personnel, evacuate immediately!"

She turned to the communications operator beside her:
"Send an emergency alert to headquarters—the Overlord-level Apostle 'Eye of the Abyss,' Nari, is suspected of deviating from its designated area and entering a shallower region!"

Amid the chaos, the control room door was violently pushed open.

Leading the group is Lewis, the captain of the "Eye" team. This Dark Sun-level wizard, specializing in perception, is fully in battle mode.

“The monitoring data has been confirmed,”

His voice was as cold as a machine:
"The source of the abnormal energy is moving upwards at a rate of 12 units per second."

At this speed, it will reach the safety boundary between the fourth and third layers in 8 minutes and 47 seconds.

Following closely behind is Magda, the leader of the "Recycling" team. This witch, who specializes in analysis, has completely mechanized her left arm.

The surface of the metal arm is covered with sophisticated sensors and computing devices, performing high-speed data processing.

"Based on comparisons with historical records." Her voice had a metallic quality.

“The last time Nari left the domain was a year ago, which directly led to the reconstruction of the ecosystem in part of the fourth layer of the Abyss.”

Mechanical fingers moved rapidly through the air, projecting a series of holographic charts:

"The energy release at the time caused a 'chaotic storm' that lasted for a week, completely destroying 13 small exploration bases and causing incalculable losses."

The last to rush in was Balthazar Tesh, the captain of the "Border Guards".

This short, stocky battle wizard exuded a steely, murderous aura.

"The defenses are in place." His voice boomed like thunder.
"All passages from the first to the third level have been locked down to the highest level, and the thirty-two rune turrets have entered charging mode."

He shook his head heavily:

"But to be honest, if Nari is really determined to go up, our defenses can only buy us time to evacuate at most."

The atmosphere inside the control room became as silent as a graveyard.

The three captains simultaneously turned their gazes to Yutel, awaiting the decision of the supreme commander.

Everyone's expression was unusually solemn; they knew all too well the powerlessness they felt when facing a supreme apostle.

However, Yutel did not rush to issue orders.

He noticed the subtle change in the young man's expression beside him.

It wasn't fear or confusion, but a concern that was almost...worrying.

"Ron," the old professor asked softly, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"What are your thoughts on the situation at the boundary between the fourth and fifth layers of the Abyss?"

This question drew everyone's attention to Ron in the control room.

Ron was silent for a moment, seemingly considering how to answer.

“I think,” he finally spoke, his tone unusually cautious.

"Perhaps we shouldn't prematurely characterize this phenomenon as a 'threat'."

Lewis's gaze immediately locked onto him: "What's your judgment based on?"

"The logic behind the actions of the apostles is often beyond our comprehension."

Ron chose a relatively safe angle:

“If Nari really intended to attack, given her abilities, there was absolutely no need for her to make such a ‘conspicuous’ movement.”

Magda's mechanical fingers stopped operating and stared coldly at Ron:

"So, what kind of thing do you think would make an apostle leave the field he depends on for survival?"

“I don’t know the specifics either.” Ron shook his head, feigning ignorance.

“But I think it’s too late for us to discuss defensive measures now if Nari really wants to cause damage.”

Just as the atmosphere was becoming increasingly negative, the monitoring equipment transmitted new data changes.

"The energy fluctuations are beginning to slow down!" the on-duty technician reported excitedly.
"Movement speed has dropped from 12 units per second to 8 units... 7 units... now it's 5 units!"

The energy curve on the main screen began to flatten out, and the glaring red alert gradually turned into a relatively mild orange warning.

The giant point of light representing Nari stopped moving upwards.

It only began a slow, circular voyage near the fourth boundary.

“What does this mean?” Balthazar frowned, his metallic eyebrows furrowing. “What is she… waiting for?”

Lewis's perception extended further, attempting to decipher the meaning of this unusual behavior:
"It doesn't seem like preparation for an attack, nor does it seem like a prelude to territory expansion... more like some kind of... vigilance?"

Yutel glanced thoughtfully at Ron.

"Perhaps," he said slowly.
"We should proceed with the transmission arrangements according to normal procedures."

If Nari is indeed waiting for something, then fulfilling her expectations might be safer than resorting to forceful defense.

The three captains exchanged a glance.

Although this suggestion may sound risky, it seems to be the only reasonable option under the current circumstances.

After all, if Nari is truly hostile, no amount of protective measures will help.

........................

An hour later, the additionally reinforced submersible slowly left the platform.

Besides Ron, the device also carried three other researchers heading to different alternate world bases.

They were all experienced scholars, but faced with the current unusual situation, each of them wore a clearly tense expression.

The pilot of the descent device was a seasoned abyss guide who had been working on this route for over twenty years.

Even he had never encountered such a special situation—conducting a diving mission under the watchful eyes of the Overlord Apostle.

As the device crossed the fourth boundary, everyone felt a massive and profound fluctuation of consciousness:

Nari’s enormous body floated in the darkness like a nebula, its countless tentacles stretching out at will, like the most beautiful jellyfish in the sea.

Her size was so enormous that the submersible looked like a tiny speck of dust in comparison.

As the submersible passed by her, Nari made no threatening moves.

She simply gazed quietly at the small vessel, as if silently offering a blessing to someone inside.

Ron looked into countless eyes through the observation window, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

In that brief moment, he heard the other person's gentle voice:
"Go, my child. No matter how long you are gone, I will wait for you to come home."

A slender tentacle gently stroked the submersible, its movement as tender as a mother tidying her child's clothes.

The contact with the tentacles did not cause any damage.

Conversely, the shield becomes more stable under such contact, and its anti-interference capability is significantly improved.

This is Nari's final blessing for this journey.

As the diving device completely disappeared, Nari slowly turned around and swam deeper into the abyss.

........................

Inside the control room of the observation station, all the monitoring equipment displayed the same result:
"Energy fluctuations have been reduced to within the standard range."

“The Overlord Apostle ‘Eye of the Abyss’ Nari has returned to the fifth core area.”

"Threat level downgraded to green - no abnormal status."

The three captains almost simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief, their tense nerves finally relaxing.

Lewis rubbed his temples wearily:

"It seems that Instructor Ralph's judgment was correct."

Magda's robotic arm stopped its high-speed calculations and emitted a faint cooling sound:
"The emotional complexity of the born apostles far exceeds our understanding, and simply viewing them as a source of threat may indeed be a cognitive limitation."

Balthazar laughed gruffly:
"Ha! Who would have thought that Nari, who makes the entire fifth floor tremble, would have such a... gentle side."

Yutel looked at the abyss monitoring screen in the distance, which had returned to calm, and smiled knowingly.

As Ron's mentor, he understood the young man's unique qualities better than anyone else.

(End of this chapter)