Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 598 Believe it or not
Ron stood at the back of the group, his fingertips still tinged with faint magical energy.

"you……"

"Eyeball" looked at him with some shock:
"How do you know that sonic resonance can interfere with it?"

Ron withdrew his hand: "I don't know."

"I'm just betting that the essence of the 'Time-Devouring Leech' is an energy field."

Since it's an energy field, it must have a resonant frequency.

"Sonic oscillation is a spell I've been using since my apprenticeship, and it's the only method I'm confident I can precisely control the frequency of."

"so……"

He looked at everyone and said, "I took a gamble."

This explanation silenced everyone else.

Especially the "chains".

He had confidently swung the chain, only to be trapped by the "slowing field" and nearly become a burden.

Ironically, it was this "fortune teller" whom he despised who saved "Eyeball's" life at the crucial moment.

"Thank you."

The "eyeball" whispered its thanks.

Ron nodded without saying anything more.

Because he knew that the real test had only just begun.

Sure enough, after they had traveled about a kilometer, the golden path turned again.

This time, it led them into a canyon made of enormous skeletons.

Each of those skeletons was hundreds of meters long and had an eerie grayish-white color.

The surface is covered with countless holes, as if it had been gnawed by some kind of parasite.

Even more terrifying is that... deep within the canyon, several mutated creatures roam.

Those things looked like some kind of starfish at first glance, but they were four or five meters tall!
Each one is like a small building.

Beneath the translucent shell, countless thick tentacles can be clearly seen, constantly wriggling, coalescing, and separating.

"A distorted 'round starfish'..."

The sound of "squares" carried a hint of despair:
"This is a product of the special environment of the seventh layer..."

"It takes about ten ordinary starfish in a group to threaten a Moon-level star."

“But these mutants…” He gritted his teeth:

"Even a single one possesses combat power approaching that of a Moon-level being!"

"Moreover, their regenerative abilities are countless times stronger than those of ordinary starfish!"

"Unless more than 90% of its body is destroyed in one go, it will fully recover in one second!"

“What’s worse is…” “Eyeball” added, his voice trembling:
"They will cooperate in clusters through 'round resonance'."

"Once one of them is attacked, all the starfish will sense it and quickly concentrate their firepower to retaliate!"

"With multiple attacks focused on a single target, any defenses below the Dark Sun level will be instantly breached..."

"In other words..." Chains' face turned extremely grim:

"We must destroy more than 90 percent of all the starfish's bodies simultaneously within one second?"

"Otherwise, we'll be caught in their concentrated fire and reduced to ashes by their swarm attack?"

"Yes."

Fang Ge nodded, his tone heavy.

The problem is... there are at least five mutated starfish in the canyon.

To simultaneously eliminate five monsters with extremely high regenerative abilities and explosive power exceeding that of the Moon-level monsters within one second...

This was an almost impossible task for a team that had just endured the torment of the first stage and, although healed, was still weak.

"and many more……"

The "shadow man" suddenly spoke, his voice trembling:

"'The Mirror of What Should Be'...the path it guides passes right through the center of the canyon."

"So, we have to get through this circle of starfish?"

Everyone turned to look at the obsidian disc floating behind them.

On the mirror surface, the golden path is clearly visible.

It extends straight into the depths of the canyon, without making any detour.

"This..." "Eyeball" gritted his teeth:
"Is this mirror trying to send us to our deaths?"

"Or……"

The chains squinted:
"Does its calculated 'optimal solution' include the probability of us fighting and winning against these starfish?"

“If that’s the case…” “Fang Ge” said in a deep voice:

"That means that, theoretically, this battle can be won."

"We need to cooperate, and we can't afford to make any mistakes."

He looked at the crowd:
“'Chains,' your runic chains can block the regeneration circuit, that’s the key.”

“‘Eyeballs,’ your crystalline gaze can fixate on three targets at once, giving us time.”

“'Shadow Man,' your shadow spells can mislead and distract them.”

"but me……"

He took a deep breath, and the riddled-with-holes protective spell began to reform:
“I can build positions, provide amplification and protection.”

"As for 'fortune tellers'..."

He looked at Ron, somewhat unsure how to assign tasks:

"Your support spell just now might play a decisive role at a crucial moment."

This was the first time the team had actually started a tactical discussion.

Ron nodded without saying anything more.

He simply took out a few bottles of potions from his storage bag.

Some are scarlet like blood, some are emerald green like jade, and some shimmer with a silvery glow.

"This is a 'blood potion,' which can enhance the power of spells for a short period of time."

He handed a bottle of red potion to "Chains":
"The cost is increased consumption, and the duration is only five minutes."

"This is 'Resilient Heart,' which can strengthen defenses in a short period of time."

He handed a bottle of silver potion to "Cube":
"It should have an amplifying effect on your shield spells."

"This is a 'Perception Amplifier,' which can enhance the sharpness of one's mental abilities."

He handed a bottle of bright green potion to the "eyeball":
"Your crystallization gaze requires precise target locking, and this should help."

Finally, he looked at the "shadow man":
"Your shadow erosion is worsening, and the situation is dangerous."

"I have a bottle of 'purification potion' here. Although it cannot completely cure the disease, it can at least delay the disease for a while longer."

He handed over a bottle of potion that emitted a pale golden light.

The "shadow man" paused for a moment, then silently accepted it.

"it is good."

"Chains" gripped the red potion in his hand and took a deep breath:

"Then let's proceed according to 'Grid's' plan."

“I’ll deal with regeneration; you guys are in charge of unleashing the spells.”

"The battle must end within one second."

Everyone nodded and took their positions.

"Fang Ge" made the first move.

He stretched out his hands, and magic surged forth like a tide, constructing a complex six-pointed star array at the entrance of the canyon.

Every node of that magic circle was glowing, emitting stable and powerful energy fluctuations.

"The position is established!" he shouted softly. "Everyone, move into position!"

"Chain" downed the blood-refining potion in one gulp, and his aura instantly surged.

On his right arm, silver rune chains began to flash wildly, as if they had come to life.

He roared, and the chains shot out like angry snakes!

"Crash..."

The chain extended rapidly in mid-air, covering a distance of over a hundred meters in an instant, and precisely entangled the nearest mutated starfish.

The "restrained regeneration" property takes effect immediately!
The amber-like shell on the starfish's surface began to harden and crack rapidly, and the tentacles inside stopped wriggling.

Its regenerative ability has been forcibly cut off!

At the same time, the "eyeball" ingested a perception amplification agent, and the three eyeballs on the staff locked onto another starfish.

"Crystalized Gaze!"

She gave a low shout, and the eyeballs on the bone staff burst forth with silver light!
After being hit by the light, the three starfish were completely frozen in place, as if they had been subjected to a "freeze-in" spell!
The "shadow man" temporarily suppressed the shadow invasion with the help of the purifying potion.

With a wave of her hands, a vast expanse of shadow surged forth, enveloping the starfish entirely.

The starfish's senses were severely impaired, and they began to attack each other frantically, unable to distinguish friend from foe.

"It's now!"

Fang Ge roared, "Focus fire!"

Three people attacked at the same time!

The runic chains of "chains" tore apart the bound starfish like a meat grinder!
The crystallized gaze of the "eyeball," combined with the amplification spell of the "square," directly shattered the frozen starfish into powder!

The Shadow Man's shadow magic reaped the misled starfish amidst the chaos!

Everything is proceeding according to plan.

But just when everyone thought victory was in sight...

"careful!"

Ron suddenly shouted!

His inspiration suddenly gave him a frantic warning!
Because deep in the canyon, in the shadow of those skeletons…

The sixth starfish is slowly emerging!

"Damn it!"

The chains' expression changed drastically:

"The 'Mirror of What Should Be' didn't tell us there was a sixth one!"

But before he could finish speaking... Ron had already made his move.

He activated his bloodline ability, which required no prior preparation, and with a flick of his right hand, an arc of electricity shot out from his fingertip.

"Zi la..."

The electric arc struck the starfish's core with pinpoint accuracy!

The starfish trembled violently, and all its tentacles became paralyzed!
"Now!" Ron shouted.
"Its regeneration has been temporarily interrupted! It must be destroyed within one second!"

Seizing the opportunity, the "chains" shot out like a raging python, tightly binding the giant starfish!
The others poured out their full power, unleashing a torrential downpour of spells!

One second later.

The canyon was deathly silent.

All six starfish were destroyed.

Everyone was panting heavily, almost completely exhausted.

Especially the "chains"—a large portion of the runic chains on his right arm had shattered completely and was no longer usable.

The "square" shield spell is also nearing collapse.

The three eyeballs of the "eyeball" are so dim that they are almost extinguished.

The shadow of the "Shadow Man" began to erode her feet once again.

Only Ron, although his magic power was greatly depleted, still maintained a relatively complete fighting ability.

The battle ended, but the atmosphere became extremely strange.

The "shadow man" spoke first, his voice icy:

"'Diviner,' that lightning spell you just cast..."

"It almost illuminated my shadow and revealed the location of my 'eyeball'."

"If those starfish all focused their fire on her at the same time, she wouldn't even have a chance to activate the emergency teleportation."

These words caused the atmosphere to freeze.

"Chains" also frowned and looked at Ron:
"Indeed, the timing of your move was somewhat risky."

"If the angle of the electric arc were slightly off..."

Ron offered no explanation.

Because he knew that arguing was pointless.

In the eyes of these people, he was an "uninjured" anomaly.

Any explanation will be taken as an excuse.

at this time……

The "Mirror of What Should Be" suddenly emitted a blinding light.

On the mirror surface, the golden path began to shimmer intensely.

Then, two lines of text appeared:

"Shadow Man" - Correct

"Fortune Teller" - Risks

These two lines of text hung in mid-air like a judgment.

Everyone was stunned.

"This is……"

"Fang Ge" stared at the mirror in disbelief:

"A mirror...is judging our behavior?"

"It believes..."

The voice of "Eyeball" trembled slightly:
Is the questioning of the "shadow man" valid?

"And the intervention of the 'fortune teller'... is risky?"

Silence, dead silence.

Those two lines of text were like an invisible blade, precisely slicing through the surface harmony of the team.

The "shadow man" looked coldly at Ron.

Although her expression couldn't be seen, the "I already said it" vibe was almost palpable.

"Grid" fell into deep thought, his fingers tapping lightly on the edge of the shield, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound.

"Chain" clenched his fist, and the broken rune chain on his right arm cracked with a "crack" sound.

Only the "eyeballs" hesitated before speaking:
"But... the 'fortune teller' really did save me..."

"If his electric arc hadn't interrupted the sixth starfish's attack, I might already be..."

The "shadow man" interrupted coldly:
"But his actions did create risks."

"The judgment of a mirror is never wrong."

This statement is like a final verdict.

Ron looked at the "Mirror of Promise," his eyes becoming profound.

He finally understood the true horror of this trap...

This mirror does more than just provide path guidance.

It subtly and gradually becomes the "authority" within the team.

It becomes the sole standard for judging right and wrong, evaluating behavior, and even defining "truth".

When a mirror tells you "you're wrong," you instinctively question yourself.

Especially when this mirror is connected to a "super-large deduction array jointly constructed by three top wizards".

That kind of authority is almost unshakeable.

But the "magic mirror" he saw in the divination was warning him about this very thing—that one's appearance does not match one's inner thoughts.

What appears to be an "objective judgment" is actually a more covert form of "manipulation of will."

"Let's keep walking."

The "squares" broke the silence:
"In any case, we must reach the finish line within the allotted time."

"Internal conflicts can be resolved later."

This suggestion was tacitly approved by everyone.

The five set off again, but their formation had subtly changed...

"Chains" led the way, using the broken rune chains to explore the path.

The "square" followed closely behind, maintaining the shield spell.

The "eyeball" and the "shadow man" are placed side by side in the middle.

Ron was intentionally or unintentionally isolated at the back of the group.

That position is both "defender" and "the one being monitored".

………………

After traveling for about half an hour, the golden path suddenly split in two in the chaotic mist ahead.

That split was like a whole blood vessel suddenly being torn into two branches, each radiating a strange attraction.

Everyone stopped.

This is a crossroads carved out by distorted spacetime.

A path extends to the left, leading to a crystal bridge formed from pure energy.

Beneath the bridge lies a bottomless void rift, the edges of which bear the remnants of some ancient seal.

Above this path, the "Mirror of What Should Be" projects a clear line of text:

Threat Level: Low
Resonance of Order: 97%
Suitable for transporting 'the core of order', estimated loss: 0.3%.

Another path winds to the right, leading to a narrow pass entangled in vines from the abyss.

Through the gaps between the vines, one could see bottomless darkness, and from time to time, the panting of some kind of giant beast could be heard.

The mirror image appears above this path:
Threat Level: High
Chaotic concentration: Abnormal

Number of high-energy chaotic sources detected: 3-5, must be eliminated.

Estimated loss: 12%-18%.

Silence spread among the five people like solidified mercury.

Everyone could feel the suffocating tension in the air, as if something was about to explode at any moment.

At this moment, the golden characters also began to arrange themselves into a clear task assignment:

[Start showing the optimal solution] [Path α (Crystal Bridge): Shadow Man, Grid]

Mission: Escort the 'Core of Order' to the final beacon.
Success rate: 94.7%.

[Path β (Vine Pass): Diviner, Chains, Eyeball]

Mission: Eliminate sources of chaotic threats and ensure the safety of your escape route.

Success rate: 87.3%.

[Dividing forces can improve overall efficiency by 42%, and is expected to arrive at the finish line 17 minutes earlier.]

These data are accurate to one decimal place, like a cold calculator assessing the value of their lives.

"Fang Ge" spoke first, his voice revealing a cautious consideration:
"This allocation... seems to be a reasonable plan based on our respective abilities and characteristics."

He pushed up glasses that weren't actually on his nose:

"The Shadow Man is highly mobile, and my shield spell excels in defense, making them more suitable for escorting the core."

The diviner's previously demonstrated auxiliary abilities, combined with the chain attacks and eye control... logically speaking, this division of labor is flawless.

"Chain" narrowed his eyes, and the broken rune chain on his right arm made a faint "click" sound.

He carefully examined the two paths, his gaze lingering on the data in the mirror for a long time.

"94.7% and 87.3%..."

The man pondered, his tone carrying a rational consideration:

"From a purely probabilistic point of view, these two numbers are already quite optimistic in an environment like the Chaotic Corridor."

"But the problem is..."

He turned to the others:

"Do we really need to split up and act separately?"
Although the mirror offered this solution, my intuition told me that maintaining the team's integrity might be safer.

The "eyeball" stares intently at the wriggling vines deep within the β path.

The three eyeballs on her staff moved simultaneously, trying to pierce the darkness and see the threat within.

After a moment, she slowly spoke:
“Those sources of chaos do exist; I can sense at least four high-energy reaction points.”

She then looked at Ron:

"However, the fortune teller's judgment saved me when I was dealing with the Time-Eating Leech and the Singing Starfish."

I think perhaps we should listen to his opinion?

This sentence subtly changed the atmosphere.

The figure of the "shadow man" trembled slightly in the shadows.

Her eroded shadow spread, contracted, and spread again on the ground like a living thing, each fluctuation revealing her inner anxiety.

"It's not that I don't believe in the abilities of fortune tellers..."

The "shadow man's" voice was low and hoarse, carrying a clear sense of struggle:
"But my shadow erosion has reached a critical point."

Every minute I delay worsens my condition.

"The α path provided by the mirror has low threat level, which means I can reach the destination with minimal combat expenditure..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but everyone understood what she meant.

For her, time is life.

"Fang Ge" was silent for a moment, then rationally analyzed:
“I understand the Shadow Man’s situation, and from another perspective…”

He looked at that "mirror of what ought to be":
"This is the work of an alchemy master, and behind it is a super-large deduction array jointly constructed by three top wizards."

Its computing power truly far surpasses that of any one of us.

His voice became more serious:

"We avoided many traps earlier because we followed the guidance of the mirror."

The two remaining dangers are both things we can overcome with our own abilities.

This fact is obvious to all.

But just then, Ron slowly took out the divination cards from his pocket again.

His actions drew everyone's attention.

The "chains" frowned:
"Diviner, at this point, you still want to do another divination?"

Ron didn't say much and began to shuffle the cards silently.

"To reveal the truth, to show the way..."

The divination cards in his hands seemed to leap, tumble, and recombine like living things.

Finally, the three cards flew out of the deck, hovered in mid-air, and slowly flipped.

The first card is still the Tower (reversed).

In the video, a magnificent tower is collapsing, with lightning striking from the sky and shattering the top.

People fell from the tower, their postures contorted in despair.

Because it's reversed, the whole image has an even more eerie feel.

It was as if the tower was collapsing, rather than people were actively heading towards destruction.

The second card – The Devil (upright).

In the image, a devil with goat horns sits on a throne, while two humans bound by chains kneel before him.

But upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that the chains are actually quite loose, and they can break free at any time if they wish.

But they didn't—they had become accustomed to being bound, accustomed to obeying, and accustomed to letting others make decisions for them.

The third card – [The Choice] (reversed).

In the image, a young man stands on the edge of a cliff, about to take his next step.

He stood on a bottomless abyss, yet he still wore a smile, as if he were completely unaware of the danger.

Beside him, a small dog was trying to tug at his clothes, trying to stop him from moving forward.

However, because it is reversed, the whole image presents a contradictory meaning:

Was his choice leading to destruction, or were others wrongly preventing him from exploring the unknown?
The three cards hovered in mid-air, emitting an ominous silver glow.

Ron opened his eyes.

"The Tower reversed represents an impending disaster caused by wrong decisions."

But disaster was not inevitable; we simply chose the wrong path.

"The Devil upright represents bondage and obedience."

We are bound by a seemingly powerful and authoritative force, losing our ability to make our own judgments.

"【Choice】Reversed..."

His gaze swept over the group, especially the "shadow man" and the "square":
"This is the most crucial card."

It is warning us that what seems like a crazy choice may be the only way out.

The path that seems rational and safe actually leads to an abyss.

"The combined meaning of the three cards..."

Ron's voice became unusually firm:
"If we divide our forces according to the mirror's instructions, we will encounter disaster."

The "optimal solution" given by the mirror is precisely the "chains" in the "Devil" card.

It seems to be helping us, but in reality, it's binding our judgment, leading us willingly towards destruction.

"The only way out."

He looked towards the void between the α and β paths, where chaotic energy surged:
"Right there, in the place the mirror doesn't show us."

This interpretation left everyone speechless.

"Square" stared at the three divination cards, his brow furrowed:
"Your divination is indeed very logical."

"But the problem is..."

He looked at Ron, his tone clearly showing struggle:
"The interpretation of divination cards is inherently highly subjective."

The same cards can lead to completely different conclusions depending on the diviner.

"What the mirror provides is a deduction based on objective data."

"If I had to choose between 'subjective interpretation' and 'objective data'..."

His answer was already quite obvious.

The "chains" are also caught in a dilemma:
“I admit, the fortune teller’s predictions seem to make a lot of sense.”

"but……"

He looked at the "mirror of what ought to be":
"Behind it are three top-tier wizards, and countless real-world tests..."

Why should we believe in a deck of cards but not in the wisdom accumulated by such a vast system?

This question struck at the deepest conflict in the hearts of those present.

Reason told them they should trust the mirror.

But their intuition, and the abilities Ron had previously demonstrated, prevented them from completely ignoring the warning.

The "eyeball" hesitated for a long time before finally speaking:
"Fortune teller... I believe in your fortune-telling abilities, really."

"But could you... give us some more specific reasons?"

Even the three eyeballs on her cane sensed their owner's struggle and began to roll around erratically.
"For example, where might a mirror go wrong?"

What specific threats might the α or β path encounter?

How do we take that 'third way'?

"If you could give a more specific answer, perhaps people would be more likely to accept it..."

Ron remained silent.

He understood what "eyeballs" meant; the other person was trying to help him persuade others.

The problem is that divination itself is not a "precise" discipline.

It showcases possibilities, trends, and symbols, but lacks many specific details.

This is precisely where its strength lies, and also its greatest limitation.

Just then, the "Mirror of Promise" suddenly emitted a sharp, explosive sound!

The entire mirror began to tremble violently, and the golden path, like a disturbed holographic projection, kept flashing, twisting, and then reassembling!

On the mirror, new prompts refresh at an extremely fast speed:

[WARNING! Path stability has decreased!]

[Threat level increased: Alpha path – Low → Medium; Beta path – High → Extremely High!]

[Unknown interference factors detected; simulation accuracy drops to 78%!]

Make a decision within 60 seconds, or both paths will completely fail!

[Countdown: 59...58...57...]

"Damn it!"

Chains' face turned ashen:

"How could this suddenly happen?!"

The "Shadow Woman" was extremely anxious; her shadow, stimulated by the chaotic energy, was visibly deteriorating.
"We must make a decision immediately! If we delay any longer, I won't even have the strength to walk!"

"Grid" gritted his teeth, his gaze shifting back and forth between the mirror and Ron:

"The mirror says... the accuracy of the deduction has decreased... which means it's also uncertain now..."

"But even 78% accuracy is better than no guidance at all..."

His voice was filled with struggle.

This is a cruel choice...

Is it about trusting a predictive system that is less accurate but still powerful?
Or should we believe a prophetic divination that is full of symbolism but lacks specific details?
【45......44......43......】

The countdown continues.

Just when everyone was caught in a state of anxiety, hesitation, and indecision...

Ron suddenly looked up at the Mirror of Promise.

His inspiration was flashing wildly, and a detail he had overlooked suddenly flashed into his mind.

The strange judgment the mirror gave after the recent crisis ended:

"Shadow Man" - Correct

[“Fortune Teller” – Risks]

That judgment, seemingly objective, was actually full of distorted logic.

His electric arc did indeed save the "eyeball," that's a fact.

However, the mirror used the reason that "it may cause risks" to define a "life-saving move" as a "wrong decision".

What is it doing?
In this way, it subtly establishes its "absolute authority".

It is telling everyone:

Only my judgment is correct. Any action that deviates from my guidance, even if the outcome is good, must be defined as "risk".

This is not guiding, this is domesticating.

"I understand!"

Ron murmured:

"This mirror was never meant to 'help' us in the first place."

He turned around abruptly, his gaze fixed on the void between the α and β paths, where chaotic energy surged!
【32......31......30......】

There's no time to explain.

Ron knew that, given the current situation, no matter what he said, these people trapped in the "rationality trap" would not be able to accept it in a short time.

They need to see evidence, they need to see that "non-existent" path.

He took a deep breath and suddenly activated [Time Manipulation]!
An invisible ripple of time spread out from him, like a transparent spider web enveloping everything around him.

Under the influence of this ability, the whole world seemed to be slowed down.

The action of the "Mirror of What Should Be" projecting a golden path was forcibly slowed down by 0.1 seconds.

It's that 0.1 second!
It's this brief, almost imperceptible "logical delay"!
In the chaotic void between paths α and β, which should have been "empty"...

A thorny path of possibilities, almost swallowed by chaos, has been exposed!

It's like a torn wound, struggling to exist in the cracks between chaos and order.

"That is……"

Her "eyeballs" widened, all three of them focused on the suddenly appearing road:
"That road, does it really exist?!"

Even "square" was stunned:
"How is that possible? The mirror clearly said that it's impassable there."

But before they could react...

Ron had already grabbed the "Core of Order" from the back of the "square".

While everyone else was still affected by the time slowdown and their thinking hadn't fully recovered, he was the first to rush onto this "path of possibility"!
"boom!"

The moment his feet stepped onto that layer of crystal, the whole world emitted a piercing wail.

That was the sound of "ought to be" colliding with "is", the echo of the "only solution" being forcibly broken.

Time resumed its normal flow.

"what?!"

"Chains" was the first to react; his eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.
"He...he took the core and charged into the void?!"

"and many more!"

"Fang Ge" shouted, his voice filled with anxiety:
"Fortune teller! That road is too dangerous!"

The "shadow woman" screamed, but her voice was filled with more panic than anger:
"He took the core with him! If anything happens to the core, we're all doomed!"

"But he... he really was walking on that road..."

"Eyeball" muttered to itself, its gaze fixed intently on Ron's retreating figure:
“That road really exists; the fortune teller was right.”

【28......27......26......】

The countdown continues!
If we don't take action soon, both the α and β paths will completely collapse!
"Chase!"

Chains gritted their teeth and made a decision:
"No matter what, we can't lose sight of our core principles! We must keep up!"

This reason immediately convinced everyone.

Because the core is in Ron's hands.

Because the assessment rules require them to escort the core to the finish line.

Because they had no other choice.

The four looked at each other, and "Fang Ge" was the first to take a step:
"Damn it! I just wanted to pass the test, how did it turn out like this..."

The "eyeball" followed closely behind, her bone staff gripped tightly in her hand:
"The fortune teller saved my life before. This time, I choose to believe him!"

"Chains," gritting its teeth and dragging its broken right arm, used the few remaining runic chains to hook onto the crystal fragments in front of it:
"If he killed me, I'll haunt him even as a ghost..."

As for the "shadow man," she was the last one.

She stood there, looking at the twisted and dangerous road, and then at the alpha path that was about to collapse.

Reason told her she should follow.

But her body, her eroding shadow... is constantly emitting desperate cries.

"Damn..."

The witch gritted her teeth and finally embarked on the "path of possibility".

[Countdown: 03...02...01...]

The moment all five embarked on the "Path of Possibilities"—

The α-path and β-path, as expected, collapsed.

The crystal bridge shattered into countless crystal fragments amidst a piercing shattering sound, and was swallowed by the chaotic void.

Those crystal fragments, which were originally as smooth as a mirror, twisted into all sorts of bizarre shapes as they fell into the abyss.

Some turned into crying faces, some into outstretched hands, and some into indescribable twisted organs.

Several ferocious giant beasts charged out from the vine-covered pass.

They roared and pounced on the empty entrance. Finding no target, they began to tear each other apart in a frenzy, eventually turning into pieces in their rage.

The fragments fell to the ground and immediately began to wriggle and coalesce, attempting to reform into a new life form...

If they really split their forces... the outcome is self-evident.

The "Mirror of Promise" trembled violently, the golden path on its surface vanished completely, replaced by a chaotic red alert:

[Error! Error! Logical conflict!]

Unauthorized path detected!

[The assessor deviated from the deduction results!]

[Uncalculable! Unpredictable! Uncontrollable...]

"Click..."

The first crack appeared on the mirror.

Then the second, the third...

This "perfect guide," which only recognizes "ought to be" and only believes in "optimal solutions," is heading towards destruction through the collapse of its own logic.

(End of this chapter)