Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 535 You're not good enough!

The essence of a Dark Sun-level Time Hound, her hunting skills, her understanding of the power of time... these are all priceless treasures.

Ron reached into his chest and pulled out a silver pocket watch.

Nari sensed something was wrong with the other person, and his six arms twisted uneasily beneath his cloak:
“Honey, you seem a little… off. This kind of thinking is dangerous; what if that hound's consciousness corrupts you…”

"Mom, I know about the risks."

Ron glanced back at her:
"But some opportunities, once missed, will never come again."

Moreover, I have enough confidence to control this process.

Acelia pondered for a moment in his arms, then slowly nodded:
“Indeed, time-hunting hounds of this caliber are extremely rare. If we could safely acquire her abilities…”

She paused for a moment:
"However, devouring the consciousness of a Dark Sun-level being, even a remnant soul, is by no means a simple matter. Are you sure you can handle that kind of burden?"

There is only one way to find out the answer.

Ron held up the silver pocket watch, letting it gleam in the white light of the consciousness space:
"Moreover, this is exactly the moment the pocket watch has been waiting for."

He gently stroked the surface of the pocket watch:

“I’m sorry, Laira. Your knowledge and presence are very useful to me.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the pocket watch cover popped open with a "click".

A deep, swirling silver vortex gradually expanded, from which several chains shot out.

The chains moved faster than any conceivable speed, as if they had reached their target the moment they were launched.

This counterintuitive phenomenon reveals the essence of time manipulation.

In terms of time, the "process" and the "result" often occur simultaneously.

When the chains touched the core surface, the entire consciousness space emitted a piercing resonance.

It's like two time fluctuations of different frequencies colliding violently.

Laira immediately sensed the threat of death.

"no, do not want!"

Her voice came from the core, filled with despair and fear:
"You can't do this! I'm willing to surrender! I'm willing to become your servant! Just don't consume my existence!"

But Ron's expression remained unchanged.

At such a critical moment, any act of kindness is cruelty to oneself.

As a time hound, Laira is essentially a predator that feeds on other beings.

Now it's her turn to be the prey; this is simply a natural manifestation of cause and effect.

"too late."

He said calmly, "Since you chose to hunt me, you should be prepared to be killed in return."

The silver chains began to tighten, and with each tightening, the Core of Illusion emitted an even more piercing scream.

Laila let out a final, desperate scream:

“No! I have secrets! I know the weaknesses of the other hounds! I know Carlos and Fenrir's plans! I can…”

But she didn't finish her sentence.

The silver chains had completely bound the "Core of Light," then dragged it irresistibly into the vortex of the pocket watch.

As the last fragment was sucked into the vortex, the pocket watch's lid slammed shut with a dull, chewing sound.

Ron felt the pocket watch in his hand become scalding hot, like metal just taken out of a furnace.

He looked at the pocket watch and noticed a constantly struggling, shifting, and mesmerizing light and shadow beneath the crystal dial, like a storm trapped in amber.

That was the remnant soul of Leira. Although it had lost its independent consciousness, it still retained some kind of instinctive activity.

"Honey, how are you feeling?"

Nari looked at him with concern, her tentacles gently stroking his cheek:

"Are there any discomforts?"

"I...I'm fine."

Ron blinked, trying to concentrate:

"It just takes some time to get used to it."

Just then, the transparent panel in front of them began to appear:
[WARNING: Currently hunting a target 'Time Hound - Laira (Remnant Soul)' that is nearing its current hunting limit]

Current progress: 1%... Estimated completion time: Extremely long

After digesting the information, you will have the opportunity to acquire and analyze some of the target's core characteristics.

Cracks appeared in the pure white space at this moment, peeling away layer by layer like an eggshell.

Through the crack, one can see the view of the mirror labyrinth outside.

The singing mirrors were shaking violently, emitting piercing, distorted sounds.

"The labyrinth has lost its controller." Acelia immediately became restless:

"Laira's disappearance has caused the entire mental space to begin to collapse. We must leave here immediately!"

The entire Mirror Palace, a fragile illusion like glass, began its irreversible collapse after losing its master.

Countless shards of mirror fell like a torrential rain, each shard reflecting Laira's pained and resentful face.

Those faces overlapped in the shattered reflections, and the sharp sound of breaking glass echoed in the air, like a million souls wailing at the same time.

Ron held Azalea tightly and rushed towards the exit with Nari.

The mirrored floor beneath their feet began to crack, revealing a bottomless void below.

"Quick!" Nari shielded the two with her six arms, her cloak fluttering as she ran.
"This space is about to completely collapse!"

As the three stepped out of the broken archway, the Mirror Palace behind them completely collapsed into a flickering point of light, then vanished without a trace like a bubble.

The whole process was eerily quiet, as if everything that had just happened was just a dazzling dream.

Outside, it was still that crystal forest, but the malicious whispers that had filled the air had vanished.

Instead, there is a reassuring tranquility, like a clear morning after a storm.

"Whoosh—Bang! Whoosh—Bang!"

Firework-like sounds exploded through the forest.

Three magic rabbits hopped out from the colorful smoke and applauded them.

The golden rabbit spun around three times, growing larger with each spin, eventually settling at about half a person's height.

"Congratulations! Congratulations! You've successfully seen through the 'story' behind the 'story'! Laira's library is now completely closed!"

The silver rabbit circled Ron once, its little nose twitching as if it were sniffing for some special scent.

"Huh? Your aura seems a little different. There's an added... um, kaleidoscope-like feeling."

Ron gently stroked the silver pocket watch on his chest, and could feel the struggling, hazy light and shadow within it.

He chose a relatively vague explanation:

"I just took advantage of the moment when Leira collapsed to capture the remaining energy in its core. I guess you could call it spoils of war."

The bronze rabbit immediately jumped up and said in an exaggerated tone, as if to say, "You've hit the jackpot!"

"This is a good thing! Although you can't fully digest it yet, the fact that you have the core means that you have formed a deep bond with Laira."

The golden rabbit added excitedly, waving its little paws in the air:

"That's right! It's like owning the copyright to a book!"
You can 'recreate' her from a specific period at any time—that is, summon her [historical projection] to fight for you!

“Historical projection…” Ron repeated the word.

The only projector I currently have available is the Salin projector, which I obtained by chance.

Since the previous battle hadn't put him in a real predicament, he didn't use it for the time being.

It seems that we now have an extra combat unit available for use?
Aseria, arms crossed, analyzed the situation with an air of maturity:

"Laira is skilled in illusion and mental attacks; fighting in the mental realm is her specialty."

Her historical projections may play a surprising role in the challenges to come.

The silver-haired girl's voice held a hint of mockery as she spoke:
“Using hunting dogs against hunting dogs is a countermeasure that they probably didn’t expect.”

Nari, however, had some concerns:
"But... wouldn't keeping something so dangerous around risk a backlash?"

"Mom, you don't need to worry about that."

Ron comforted her while carefully activating the Dream Core in his pocket, which was not yet fully digested.

A blurry, mindless phantom of Laira flashed past him, like a ghost in a black and white silent film.

The figure maintained the form of a librarian, but its eyes were empty and its movements were stiff, clearly indicating that it had lost its independent will.

"Look, because the traces of its existence are not complete, Laiira has the ability but lacks autonomy."

Moreover, the power of a pocket watch far surpasses that of an ordinary hunting dog, enough to ensure control.

The three rabbits nodded in satisfaction, and then began to show them the way to the next level.

"Fenrir's Alchemy Amusement Park is just to the south!"

The golden rabbit pointed in a direction that emitted a rust-red light:

"But be careful, Fenrir's rule is 'creation,' but what he hates most is 'completeness'!"

Silver Rabbit added, "He likes to take things apart and put them back together, and he hates 'boring toys' that stay the same!"

The bronze rabbit gave a final reminder:
"Have fun! Remember, in his amusement park, broken is often more valuable than whole!"

After saying that, the three rabbits merged back into one, becoming the familiar three-headed rabbit again.

It hopped and skipped away into the depths of the forest, leaving behind a faint, iridescent mist that slowly dissipated in the air.

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

After leaving the Crystal Forest, the scenery before us changed drastically.

That fresh, dreamy atmosphere has been replaced by a brutal, industrial feel.

The air became heavy and sticky, filled with a mixture of engine oil, rust, and a faint smell of blood.

“The aura here…” Acelia frowned:
"It's full of forced alchemical fluctuations, quite different from Vinard's precise skills; it's more like a crude patchwork process."

Nari tightened his cloak, his arms wriggling nervously beneath the fabric:
“I can sense a lot of twisted life force; they… they seem to be in a lot of pain.”

As they continued onward, a dilapidated amusement park appeared at the edge of the rusty wasteland.

That amusement park was once glorious, and the remaining decorations reveal the designer's ingenuity.

But now, everything has been twisted and transformed by some insane force. Half of the Ferris wheel has collapsed, and the rest groans painfully in the wind.

The cockpits have been transformed into all sorts of bizarre containers, some with unidentified liquid specimens hanging from them, and others shimmering with eerie light.

The carousel is still running slowly, but the horses are no longer recognizable.

Some were fitted with real animal heads, while others had their bodies hollowed out.

The intermittent music, like the groans of a dying man, echoed in the empty park.

“This is a nightmare…” Nari sighed softly.

As the three stepped onto the edge of the amusement park, a group of "stitched clowns" silently emerged from the shadows.

They used to be employees of this amusement park—ticket sellers, performers, cleaners.

But Fenrir "remodeled" them with his brutal alchemy.

Each clown's body is pierced by metal frames and pipes, with gears and pistons at the joints.

His face was covered in eerie paint, and even in pain, he could not change his expression.

"Gluck... cluck..."

They made a sound like rusty gears turning.

The clowns moved slowly around the three, using their bodies and laughter to drive them toward the center of the amusement park, like sheepdogs herding sheep.

"They...they still retain a shred of humanity."

Nari's voice trembled:

"Although they are distorted, I can feel their deep-seated pain and longing."

Acelia observed the behavior patterns of these stitched-together clowns:
"Their behavior is very regular, as if they are executing some kind of preset program."

This must be Fenrir's instruction—to lead the challenger to the designated location.

"In that case, we'll play along with their 'performance'."

Ron made a decision.

In this mental space, blind resistance often triggers more serious consequences.

In the very center of the amusement park, atop the wreckage of a carousel, sat a terrifying figure.

That was the incarnation of Fenrir, the second elite hunting dog—a muscular, burly man.

His body was covered in hideous scars and crude metal implants.

His left arm was completely mechanized, and he carried a giant wrench, taller than himself, on his right shoulder.

When Fenrir saw the three arrive, an extremely impatient look appeared in his eyes.

He swung the wrench forcefully, slamming it against the pillar of the carousel, producing a deafening metallic clang.
"It's finally here! Hurry up! Create a 'toy' that's fun enough for me!"

As he spoke, Fenrir pointed with his wrench to a huge "furnace of life" behind him, which resembled a beating heart.

The furnace is about three stories high and its surface is covered with red pipes that look like veins.

Countless pipes extend out like octopus tentacles, connecting all the facilities in the amusement park.

At its core is a huge transparent chamber filled with a golden-red alchemical solution.

The furnace is constantly drawing energy and matter from various pipes.

Then more twisted, failed creatures spewed out from several outlets at the top.

Some of those creatures only had a few seconds to live; they collapsed to the ground as soon as they were spat out.
Some let out painful howls and crawled around with their mutilated bodies.

Fenrir roared:

"This piece of junk is about to go out of control. It was supposed to be my proudest creation, but now it's turned into a garbage-making machine!"

He angrily kicked a half-finished creature that was still twitching at his feet:
"The rules are simple: before it completely explodes, put materials into it and 'create' a 'new toy' that satisfies me!"

Fenrir's eyes gleamed with extreme madness:
"I'm satisfied. You've passed."

If I'm not satisfied, or the furnace explodes... you'll all stay here forever as my new decorations!

As he finished speaking, the Furnace of Life emitted a muffled roar, and the pointer on the thermometer swung wildly.

The countdown has begun.

The numbers on the top of the furnace are jumping and slowly decreasing.

"Let me try it first."

Azalea jumped down from Ron's side and said firmly.

"Pandora once taught me the design principles of alchemical constructs."

Such a runaway furnace requires a stable regulator to balance the internal energy flow.

She directed Ron to begin collecting materials at the amusement park.

This place is littered with all sorts of discarded mechanical parts.

The carousel's drive gears, the roller coaster's energy crystals, and even some intricate rune circuit boards.

Under normal circumstances, these are all top-quality materials for making alchemical constructs.

"First, we need a core power gear to regulate the furnace's rotation speed..."

Acelia meticulously designed the structure of the construct.

Fenrir smiled mockingly from her throne as Ron picked up a gear as instructed.

He casually waved the wrench, and an invisible wave swept across the entire amusement park.

The originally sturdy metal gears immediately became more fragile than wafer biscuits.

As soon as Ron touched it, it cracked into several pieces with a "crack".

"The materials are rubbish!" Fenrir grinned maliciously. "How can you make an interesting toy from this junk?"

Azalea frowned, but did not give up.

She adjusted her strategy, pointing towards the energy crystals embedded in the facility:
“Those crystals should be more stable; we’ll use them to build an energy regulation system…”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Fenrir unleashed its power once more.

All the crystals began to fluctuate violently, their internal energy churning like magma.

The once calm and stable magic storage body has now become a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.

"Hahaha...you don't pass!"
"You can't even achieve this basic energy balance, yet you dare to dream of regulating my furnace?"

Fenrir recklessly trampled on the edges of the rules of the game, but he did not directly stop their actions.

Instead, he merely interferes with the creative process within the rules by altering the "environment" itself.

This approach is both consistent with the challenge's premise and brimming with malice.

"That despicable bastard!" Azalea's face turned red with anger.

Seeing Azalea suffer repeated setbacks, Nari could no longer hold back.

"Enough! What kind of skill is it to bully children!"

She suddenly ripped open the cloak, revealing part of her true form.

Several tentacles danced wildly in the air, each radiating a chaotic pressure from the depths of the abyss:
"I'll solve this problem in the most direct way!"

The power of chaos surged forth like a tide, and Nari reached out his hand toward the out-of-control Furnace of Life.

She intends to use her Apostle-level power to extract matter from the furnace and conjure a living being out of thin air.

This approach is crude and direct, completely skipping the complex alchemical process.

Fenrir, instead of stopping him, grinned triumphantly.

He secretly increased the furnace's energy output, making the life essence within the furnace even more volatile and unstable.

The substance that Nari grabbed gradually spiraled out of control, expanding wildly in her hands.

Flesh, bones, nerves, and all kinds of life tissues grow wildly under the catalysis of chaotic forces.

In less than ten seconds, a huge lump of flesh covered with eyeballs and tentacles took shape in mid-air.

“Ss ...

The mass of flesh emitted a deafening shriek, and countless eyeballs spun wildly, all staring in different directions.

Its very existence is a desecration of reason; merely gazing at it is a form of spiritual pollution.

"This is interesting!"

Fenrir rose excitedly from his throne, brandishing his giant wrench and roaring:
"True creation should be like this—wild, chaotic, and destructive beauty!"

The wrench spun in his hand, carrying immense force as it slammed into the lump of flesh.

The tentacle mass resisted desperately, with countless tentacles trying to entangle the wrench.

But all resistance is futile in the face of Fenrir's tyrannical power.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

With several muffled thuds, the mass of flesh was smashed to pieces, and fragments of blood and flesh rained down.

"Unfortunately, it's still a failure." Fenrir shook his head and sighed.

"You're not up to par either! This thing isn't durable enough; the destruction process is too brief."

Nari was utterly enraged as he watched his creation being so violently destroyed, coupled with the hounds' wanton mockery.

Countless tentacles danced wildly in the air, and the power of chaos swept through the entire amusement park like a storm:
"You madman! I'll tear you to pieces!"

"Mom, calm down!"

Ron rushed forward and, together with Azalea, calmed the furious Nari down:

"This is exactly the reaction he wants to see. The angrier you are, the more you fall into his trap."

Acelia also whispered words of comfort from the side:
“Nari, we need to rethink our strategy.”

Simply resorting to brute force will only lead us into his trap.

With the two comforting him, Nari's anger gradually subsided.

She hid her tentacles under her cloak again, but a flame of resentment still burned in her eyes.

Ron began to observe all of this carefully, recalling the Magic Rabbit's hints in his mind.

Fenrir hates completeness the most...

"It's easy to take good things apart, but it's not so easy to put them back together..."

(End of this chapter)