Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 527 Traveler's Tower: The Morning Star

As soon as the first rays of dawn pierced the atmosphere of Emerald Ring II, Ron left his dormitory.

Two hours before the open class, he did not go directly to the Meditation Dome, but instead came to a secluded path that passed the perimeter of the Crystal Tree.

This path is rarely used, and a special plant called "silent moss" grows on both sides.

When someone approaches, these mosses automatically release a slight sound-absorbing effect, providing a quiet space for passersby.

"Since someone wants to play games with me..."

Ron stopped under a silver-leaved tree.

He slowly took out the mysterious die, which was wrapped in layers of protective runes, from the deepest part of the storage bag.

The paradoxical dice changed dizzying colors in the morning light.

Each of its faces is engraved with a different number.

These figures continuously change as the observer's perspective shifts, as if refusing to be defined by any fixed perception.

"Then let luck be on my side."

He took a deep breath and focused all his attention on the challenge that was about to begin:

Let every scheme that is against me become an aid to my success.

Let those hidden enemies pave the way for my victory.

The dice spun in the air, the number on each face constantly changing.

One point, two points, three points...

As the rotation speed slows down, these regular dots begin to merge and twist, eventually forming a special symbol.

It was an image of an ouroboros with its head and tail biting each other, but the snake's body exhibited the topological structure of a Möbius strip.

This symbol represents "reversal," a fundamental inversion of the properties of things.

When the dice came to a complete stop, an extremely subtle force field began to spread around Ron.

This force field was so subtle that even he himself could hardly sense it, let alone other observers.

But it does exist, like an invisible film, quietly altering the flow of probability.

The cover of "The Complete Guide to Extraordinary Things" emitted a faint glow silently, and the pages turned automatically, revealing a line of text:
"When the despicable start to cheat, the wise should learn to play along."

Ron looked at the reminder and a knowing smile appeared on his lips.

The wisdom of the king of absurdity is always so precise.

Since the rules of the game have been secretly changed.

Therefore, the best strategy is to adapt to this change rather than fight against it.

He carefully put the paradoxical dice away again, then walked along the crystal path bathed in morning light toward the Meditation Dome.

When Ron and his twelve apprentices pushed open the heavy alloy doors of the Meditation Dome, the scene before them surprised him slightly.

The observation room was almost full.

Vinard stood in front of the highest monitoring station, his silver eyes scanning every detail below, as if trying to record everyone's every move.

Ella continued to hold the notebook in her hand, and judging from her indifferent expression, she seemed to be in a bad mood.

Alistair busily moved between various monitoring devices, adjusting certain parameters from time to time.

But the most eye-catching were the department heads who rarely appeared in public.

The intelligence chief, Ciel, is said to come from "The Dark Hut".

This was a lean, stern-faced middle-aged man who was observing the apprentices' reactions with his sharp, hawk-like eyes.

Tactical expert Gregory also unusually put down his simulation sand table to come and observe.

"Why is even Gregory here?"

Ella whispered to her husband:
“He is only interested in military exercises and live-fire training, and never participates in academic activities.”

"Perhaps it's because this course touched on the history of the Stoker Star."

Alistair answered while adjusting the mental fluctuation monitor:
"After all, that's an important project we're developing, and anything related to it could involve strategic intelligence."

But his expression showed some confusion, clearly indicating that this explanation did not completely dispel his doubts.

The apprentices keenly sensed this unusual level of attention.

Lila's third eye blinked uneasily, each blink catching the scrutinizing gazes from the observation deck.

Garen's metal arm was slightly warm from tension.

The resentment within him resonated with his emotions, emitting a faint, dark red glow.

West Germany's emerald green skin became even brighter, a natural reaction of people of Danasou descent when feeling stressed.

"tutor……"

An apprentice approached Ron timidly, his voice barely audible:

"If we mess up, will you be fired?"

Ron gently stroked the other person's hair and smiled warmly:
"Don't worry, what we're going to do today isn't something we're going to put on a show for others."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for all the apprentices to hear:

“Remember what I taught you before—don’t always focus on the outside world; true resonance comes from inner expectations.”

Seeing their mentor so calm and composed, the apprentices' tension eased somewhat.

Silas emerged from behind the technology console, a slightly stiff smile on his face:

"Mentor Ron, all systems have been debugged."

The Meditation Dome is ready to provide the most comprehensive technical support for your 'historical projection'.

His tone carried a secret anticipation, like a hunter waiting for his prey to step into his trap.

"Everyone, please assemble in the center of the dome."

Vinard's voice resonated throughout the space via the amplification system:

"The projection of history is about to begin."

As the last apprentice stepped into the ritual circle at the center of the dome, Silas lightly pressed a few control buttons.

Countless tiny runes began to light up on the inner wall of the dome, twinkling like stars.

"Apprentices, close your eyes and relax your minds."

Ron began to guide them into the appropriate mental state:
"Feel the flow of history and let your consciousness resonate with the past."

His historical research skills were fully utilized.

The moment it was fully activated, the environment inside the dome began to change drastically.

The mysterious blue light gradually dissipated, replaced by a dim underground mine environment.

The damp air was filled with the smell of rusting metal, and in the distance came the heavy sound of hammering and low shouts.

When the apprentices opened their eyes, they found themselves deep in the mines of the planet Stoker.

But unlike what Ron had anticipated, this historical projection was exceptionally clear and real.

There's a sense of realism here that's almost physically tangible.

The apprentices could not only sense the workers' anger and despair, but also touch the rough tools and cold metal.

Lila stretched out her hand and stroked the rocks on the mine wall, surprised to find that she could feel the texture and temperature of the stone.

"Mentor...this sense of realism..." The three-eyed girl's voice was filled with shock.

Ron's alarm bells rang loudly.

He immediately activated the Observer's Eye and began to carefully scan the surrounding energy field structure.

Sure enough, he discovered an abnormal energy amplification phenomenon in the dome's energy regulation system.

Something was subtly amplifying the projection, making the experience more real and dangerous than expected.

But now there's no turning back.

The apprentices are already completely immersed in the historical scenes, and forcibly interrupting the projection could cause them psychological trauma.

"In that case..."

Ron made up his mind:
"Let us put on an even more spectacular performance on this enhanced stage of history."

Around them, the stokers of Stoker Star were gathered deep in the mine.

Anger, despair, and a desperate resolve were written on everyone's face.

They held various makeshift tools in their hands—hammers, pliers, and even parts salvaged from machines.

"Bros!"

A burly worker with "copper arms" stood in the center of the crowd.

His right arm, made entirely of copper alloy, gleamed in the dim light.

"We've had enough! We've had enough of the oppression from those high and mighty nobles!"

"Today is the day we reclaim our dignity!"

A low growl erupted from the crowd, but these sounds were absorbed by the mine walls, turning into a suppressed yet powerful resonance.

As Garen looked at the workers, he unconsciously clenched his fists.

He could sense a familiar anger emanating from these people—a resistance against injustice and a yearning for freedom.

After searching for a while, he spotted a familiar figure in the crowd.

He was a young "Golden Resentment" warrior, whose dark gold metal on his right arm was identical to Garen's metal arm.

"You...who are you?"

The young soldier noticed Garen's gaze and turned around alertly.

When he saw the gold mark on Garrain's arm, a look of surprise appeared in his eyes:

“You carry our presence, but your equipment… isn’t the style of the Stoker Star.”

Garen took a deep breath and mustered his courage to say:
“My name is Garen… If you are Kadrak, then…” His voice trembled slightly, “you should be my father.”

The young soldier's expression froze instantly.

He carefully examined Garen's face, then looked at that familiar, resentful golden arm.

“Kaderac…yes, that’s my name.”

The young Kadrak spoke slowly, his voice filled with disbelief:

“But you… how could you possibly be my son? You look only a few years younger than me.”

"Because we come from the future."

………………

Surrounded by the realism of historical projection, the apprentices quickly found their places.

After proving his identity, Garen immediately began to use the advanced forging techniques he had learned at Vinard College.

He stretched out his own resentful golden arm and lightly touched his father's metal arm; the two metals of the same origin produced a subtle resonance.

"This forging method..."

Kadrak watched in amazement as his son transformed a rough piece of scrap metal into a sharp combat dagger in just a few minutes.

Garren used the "structural reorganization" theory taught at the academy to make the lattice arrangement of metals more compact and ordered.

At the same time, he channeled his inner emotional energy into it.

That is a yearning for fairness and justice.

"The power of resentment gold lies in its ability to transform intense emotions into material force."

He explained to his father while he worked:

"If we can use positive emotions to forge it, the effect will be more lasting and stable."

Lila, on the other hand, used her third eye to provide the rebels with a tactical advantage.

She could sense the emotional state of the noble army and predict their course of action in advance.

“A group of ‘single goldsmiths’ is approaching from the left wing, and their emotional state shows a high degree of confidence and contempt.”

Lila's voice echoed softly in the mine:
"This means they were not prepared to face strong resistance."

If we can demonstrate unexpected combat power in the first wave of attacks, we can disrupt their rhythm.

Under her command, a small team of workers successfully evaded the ambush of the noble army and launched a counterattack at a crucial moment.

The plant communication abilities of West Germany played an unexpected role in the mining environment.

He discovered a special plant growing in the mine called "light-reflecting moss," which can store and release light energy.

"Friends, please light the way for us."

West Germany communicated with the moss with a gentle spiritual power: "Help us break the shackles of darkness."

Under his guidance, the moss in the mine began to emit a soft and steady light, providing the insurgents with perfect illumination and cover.

With the improvement of the rebels' equipment and morale, the real battle is about to begin.

Heavy footsteps echoed from the upper levels of the mine—the army of the blast furnace nobles was approaching.

"They're coming."

Kadrak gripped the warhammer, modified by his son, its metallic surface gleaming with a resolute light:
"Let these parasites see what true steel will is!"

The first to appear at the mine entrance was a member of the "Steelheart Marquis" guard, dressed in magnificent golden armor.

His entire body had undergone a high degree of metallization, and his skin shone like polished steel.

"That's really disappointing."

The guards looked down at the insurgent workers below with disdain:
"I thought you guys would bring some interesting challenges, but you're just a bunch of rats with scrap metal."

He extended his right hand and unleashed the essence of the "Pure Gold Combat Technique".

The blood in the arm transformed into flowing liquid metal, forming a three-meter-long whip in the air.

The whip was as flexible as a living thing, and each swing of it produced a piercing sound as it cut through the air.

"Feel the absolute power emanating from those in power!"

The steel whip lashed out at the workers at the front, tearing the air in its wake and leaving charred marks.

The leader, Kadrak, suddenly raised his warhammer, and the ruby ​​clashed with the pure gold, bursting into dazzling sparks.

His weapon was not only not destroyed, but it also deflected the Marquis's golden whip back.

"This is impossible!"

The guards looked on in disbelief.

"How could this scrap metal possibly compete with pure metal?"

"Because we are forging not just metal, but also will."

Garen stepped out from the back of the group, and the gold tattoo on his right arm began to emit a unique light:
"What you nobles rely on is nothing more than the inertia of bloodline."

As the battle escalated, more noble troops poured into the mines.

This includes several "Single Metal Warriors"—elite warriors who specialize in a particular metal.

A steel expert wielded a massive two-handed sword, and with each swing, the sharpness and weight of the blade would surge, generating a power capable of shattering mountains and splitting rocks.

A copper specialist transformed his armor into a conductive network, with lightning flowing across the metal surface to form a dazzling lightning shield.

But the most terrifying thing was the leader of the "All-Gold Warriors" who came with the team.

His body can be decomposed and reassembled at will, and can even temporarily "exist in multiple locations".

"What a noisy bug."

The sound of the "All-Golden Knight" was as harsh as the friction of metal.
"Then let me end this boring game."

As he spoke, his body suddenly transformed into countless metal fragments, which rained down on the rebel army like a storm.

Each fragment carried a deadly edge, enough to pierce through armor.

At this moment, the rebels' "trick of extortion" revealed its true power.

Faced with a hopeless situation, the workers' anger and resentment reached their peak.

These emotions are absorbed by the Resentment Weapon and transformed into real power.

Their weapons began to glow with a dark red hue, becoming sharper with despair and more solid with rage.

"So that we no longer have to live on our knees!"

The workers roared in unison, brandishing weapons imbued with the power of their emotions, and engaged in a desperate battle with the noble army.

In this fierce battle, two very different metals collided head-on:

The nobles' "pure gold tactics" represent a pursuit of perfection and order, but also imply rigidity and inflexibility.

Although the workers' "art of resentment" is crude and unstable, it contains the primal power of change and breakthrough.

Ron stood at the edge of the battlefield, carefully observing every detail of the battle.

As a guide for historical projection, he can sense the subtle changes in the flow of energy throughout the scene.

But as the intensity of the battle increased, he began to sense anomalies in the dome's energy regulation system.

That “deliberate vulnerability” became increasingly apparent, like a string about to break.

He activated the Observer's Eye to examine the system's operational status more closely.

Sure enough, he found the problem on the frequency monitoring panel of the core resonant crystal.

The standard operating frequency should be 15 kilomomes, but the current reading is only 14.55 kilomomes.

This seemingly minor difference is precisely the trap that Silas has carefully set.

A 3% frequency reduction will not have any impact under normal circumstances.

However, in the current environment of intense mental projection, this difference is like a crack in a dam, which could lead to a catastrophic collapse at any time.

"There really was a trap..."

Ron sneered inwardly, but he didn't panic.

He took out divination cards from his pocket and performed another quick divination.

The Traveler (Upright)

The Tower (Reversed)

[Morning Star] (Upright)

The message conveyed on the cards is very clear:
The Traveler symbolizes bravely stepping into the unknown, representing a new beginning and a fearless spirit of exploration.

This card encourages risk-taking and breaking traditional boundaries, suggesting that the current crisis is actually an excellent opportunity for a breakthrough.

The Tower, when reversed, signifies overturning; there may be shocks and chaos, but it will not cause fundamental collapse.

Crises contain opportunities for reconstruction; old constraints will be broken to make way for new development.

The Morning Star represents hope, guidance, and inspiration.

This card foretells a clear direction in the darkness, that difficulties will eventually pass, and that truth will be revealed.

The overall information from the divination convinced Ron that:

Even when faced with carefully designed traps (the traveler's adventure begins) and seemingly dangerous trials (the reversed Tower), one will ultimately receive hope and the right guidance (the morning star).

The overall result is undoubtedly positive.

"Since fate has already pointed the way..."

He put the divination cards away:
"Then let's make this game even more thorough."

In the observation room, Silas watched the energy readings on the monitoring panel climb steadily, but he didn't feel as excited as he had imagined.

Everything was proceeding according to his plan.

(End of this chapter)