Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 641 Who is the Judge?

The magical lights in the secret room illuminated the map on the wall with crystal clarity.

Ron stood in front of the sand table, his fingers lightly tracing the 3D projection.

"Everyone is here."

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the room.

Miller leaned against the wall, fiddling with a discarded bullet casing in his hand.

Silas pushed up his glasses, the rune projections spinning in front of his eyes, clearly he was already deducing something in his mind.

Edwin had just returned from Grey Tower, still carrying the residual heat of the furnace.

Although he hadn't been learning fire forging for long, his temperament had already undergone subtle changes.

No longer just a "warrior," his eyes now hold the composure of a "creator."

Several students stood in a row: Herman, Liss, Lucia... each of their faces was filled with tension and anticipation.

"time is limited."

Ron got straight to the point:
"According to my divination, Alex will sneak in through the underground waterway between 3 and 5 a.m. tomorrow."

"The target is Euphemia's secret chamber, and the purpose is to 'confirm' her condition."

"But what we need to do..."

His voice was low, like a hunter describing the setup of a trap:
"This 'confirmation' has become his funeral."

The projection on the sand table began to change.

The underground structure of Twilight City unfolds in three dimensions:

A complex network of waterways, abandoned storage rooms, and secret passages connecting the various areas...

“Alex is a marquis-level vampire with rich combat experience and extremely strong immortality.”

Ron pointed his finger to a node in the waterway:

“In a direct confrontation, even with contaminant weapons, I am not absolutely certain that I can contain them.”

"so……"

He looked at the crowd:
"We will not fight a direct battle; we need to set up sufficiently elaborate traps."

"trap?"

Miller frowned.

"Yes, a trap."

Ron spreads his arms:

"Remember, our goal is not to kill, but to 'wear down' the enemy."

"It made him feel that he had 'broken through' our defenses."

"It gives him a sense of accomplishment that is 'difficult but ultimately superior in skill'."

Miller then spoke up:

"So the first two layers of traps were actually 'feeding us tricks'?"

"To be precise, it's about 'training'."

Ron corrected:
"It's like training a wild animal—you can't show its full strength at the beginning, or you'll scare it away."

"You need to let it taste success, let it think 'I can win,' and gradually lower its guard..."

"Then……"

His hand clenched tightly:

"Strike when it is most relaxed."

The projections on the sand table continued to change.

At the end of the waterway, a spacious hall appeared.

Ron pointed to that area:

"This is the 'reception hall' in front of Euphemia's secret chamber, originally used to receive important guests."

"The space is large enough, the ceiling is high enough, and there are no unnecessary obstructions..."

"It is an ideal arena for duels."

He looked at the crowd:
“When Alex breaks through the first two traps, he will think he has 'won'.”

"He would think that as long as he broke down the door to the secret room, he could complete the mission."

"But he didn't know..."

A cold glint flashed in Ron's eyes:
"I will wait for him there."

"As the last, and only truly lethal—killer move."

The projection is off.

The secret room fell into darkness again, with only the magic lamp faintly glowing in the corner.

"Is there a problem?"

Ron asked.

"Have."

Silas adjusted his glasses:

"What if he breaks through the first two layers of traps too quickly, and we don't have time to react?"

"Will not."

Ron shook his head:

"The triggering of the rune mine array will transmit signals through resonance."

"Starting up the lava flow requires at least ten seconds of preheating."

"These time differences all need to be calculated precisely."

"As long as he moves at a 'normal' pace, everything will be interconnected."

"What if he doesn't go at 'normal' speed?"

Liz asked in a low voice:

"For example... he could unleash his full power and quickly break through all the defenses?"

"That's better."

Ron smiled faintly:
"If you unleash your full power, it will trigger something even more terrifying."

"That was actually my best opportunity."

After the meeting, Ron kept Edwin behind.

"By the way, I heard you and Gaetano upgraded your daggers together?"

He got straight to the point.

"Yes."

Edwin took a metal box out of his backpack:

"Lord Gaetano, you have reforged the blade material for me."

The box was opened, and inside were ten short knives neatly arranged.

These knives have a completely different texture compared to the versions made by the students before.

The blade is no longer just pure magic steel; its surface has faintly flowing dark red patterns, like solidified magma sealed within the metal.

"This is a 'shape memory alloy'."

Edwin explained in detail:
“During the forging process, His Excellency Gaetano incorporated the ‘essence’ of the fire element into the metal structure.”

“These knives are not just weapons; in a way, they are ‘alive’.”

He picked up one of them and gently stroked the blade:
"Every time it pierces the target, the blade will 'remember' the opponent's scent."

"The destructive power against the same target will be increased on the next attack."

"and……"

Edwin handed the knife to Ron:

"This material is more resistant to corrosion from pollutants."

"Even with the highest concentration of chaotic enhanced contaminants, it can be guaranteed to last for at least five uses without damage."

Ron took the dagger and examined it closely.

The temperature emanating from the blade is peculiar, like holding a warm, living tissue.

Even more amazingly, when he infused magic into it, the patterns on the surface of the blade began to flow, like blood flowing in a vein.

"Good knife."

He sincerely praised:
"With these, the success rate will increase by at least 30%."

Ron sheathed the dagger and patted Edwin on the shoulder:

"Thanks for your hard work."

"This is what I should do."

Edwin shook his head:
"And... I also want to see how these knives perform in actual combat."

………………

In Euphemia's secret chamber, the vampire witch stood before an experimental table, looking at a "script" with a complicated expression.

"Master, do you really want me... to do this?"

Her voice trembled.

"Just do as instructed."

Ron's voice came through the communication crystal:
"Remember, reveal it 'casually,' not too deliberately."

"The best way is to let Ivan's remaining spies, whom I deliberately left behind, 'overhear' it."

Euphemia took a deep breath.

She certainly understood that this was bait, but the problem was...

"If Alex really believes it, then act ahead of time..."

"That's exactly what I want."

Ron interrupted her:
"Euphemisma, you need to understand one thing."

"In this game, we must take the initiative."

"Instead of passively waiting for the enemy to choose when to attack, we should take the initiative to 'invite' them to come when we are ready."

Communication ends.

Euphemia stood there, silent for a long time.

In the end, she still started to act according to the script.

First, gather a few "loyal" core members—including the two informants left behind by Ivan.

Then, in a "private" meeting, it was "casually" mentioned:

"Gentlemen, I must tell you some good news."

"After this period of adjustment, my condition has stabilized."

"Tonight at midnight, I will conduct the final 'promotion ceremony'."

"Once completed, the rejection reaction of the Chaos Transformation will be completely eliminated, and my power will be elevated to a whole new level."

She spoke very seriously, and even "mistakenly" revealed an excited expression at a crucial point.

The two eyeliners exchanged a glance, a barely perceptible glint in their eyes.

After the meeting, they spread the news as quickly as possible.

This message, after changing hands several times, eventually...

As Ron had predicted, it fell into the hands of Alex Valentine.

Twelve hours before the final battle, all the traps were in place on the third underground level of Twilight City.

Silas crouched at a point in the waterway, his fingers moving rapidly through the air, creating runes that appeared out of thin air and then precisely embedded themselves into the wall.

"Lock-up runes...stability-enhancing runes...space-compression runes..."

He silently calculated, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

This level of rune array consumes a great deal of mental energy.

But he dared not be careless in the slightest.

Because this is the first link in the entire chain of traps—if something goes wrong here, everything that follows will collapse.

Nearby, several students were helping with the setup.

Herman was in charge of connecting the energy circuits, Liss was adjusting the concentration of the rune ink, and Lucia was using a detector to repeatedly check the stability of each node...

"finished."

Silas finally straightened up and looked at the network of runes that covered a full fifty meters of waterway.

Under normal conditions, these runes are completely invisible, and even high-ranking vampires cannot detect them.

But once an "unauthorized" energy entity enters the range...

With a "boom," the entire network will be activated instantly, locking the intruder in place.

"Senior Silas."

Hermann walked over:
"I have a question."

"Tell me."

"Why not just use offensive runes?"

The silver-haired youth pointed to a certain node on the wall:
"With your abilities, you could easily set up offensive runes like 'Flame Burst' or 'Lightning Strike' here."

“Even if you can’t kill a marquis-level vampire, you can still inflict significant damage.”

Silas shook his head:

"That would expose our true intentions."

"Have you forgotten Associate Professor Ralph's core strategy?"

"...to confuse the opponent."

Hermann suddenly realized:

"If you use lethal runes in the first layer, the opponent will immediately become alert."

"He will realize that this is not a normal defense, but a trap specifically designed for him."

"By then, all subsequent arrangements will be ineffective."

"Yes."

Silas adjusted his glasses:

"So we have to pretend that we did our best but were not strong enough."

"Replace 'killing' with 'making it visible,' and replace 'severe damage' with 'delaying'."

"Make the other party feel that we really can't do anything about him."

"so……"

He looked into the darkness deep within the waterway:

"Only then will he rush headlong into the final duel without holding back."

Ron was now sitting in the divination chamber once again.

The smoke from the True Vision Incense had already enveloped the entire room, and the air was filled with a sweet, drowsy fragrance.

But his mind was clearer than ever.

"Final confirmation..."

He whispered:
"The guidance of fate, the revelation of the truth..."

"Tell me, how did this battle end?"

The tarot cards flew up again.

They rotate very slowly in the air, as if they were stuck in some kind of viscous medium.

Each flip of a card is accompanied by a slight tremor in the space.

Finally, a card escaped the vortex.

Slowly, slowly...

It landed in front of Ron.

[Judgment (Reversed)]

Ron stared at the card.

The upright Judgment card depicts angels blowing trumpets, the dead rising from the grave to receive the final judgment.

That was a scene of "judgment"—whether one was deeply sinful or had perfect virtue, one had to reveal everything before the angels.

But now... the cards are upside down.

Angels are below, their trumpets pointing toward hell.

The dead stood atop the grave, looking down at the judge who should have been high above them.

"A reversed Judgment is truly rare."

In the depths of Ron's pupils, starlight began to flow.

[Chronological Prophecy (Mastery)] With the hints from the divination cards, the imagery gradually became clear in his mind:

The clarion call is no longer a summons for the dead to accept judgment.

It then becomes... the declaration of the arbiter's own demise.

"This is not someone else judging me."

He gradually grasped its deeper meaning:
"This is my place to judge others."

The scene begins to change.

The angel's wings began to burn, the flames blood red, filled with violence and destruction.

This is the fire of hell, and the curse of immortality.

“Alex…”

Ron read the name aloud.

The "angel" in the picture began to twist and deform.

Wings transformed into bat wings, the holy robe into blood armor, and the horn in his hand into a blood-dripping spear.

But the scene didn't end there.

Those who "resurrected" from the grave began to approach the "angels".

Their movements were stiff and slow, like marionettes.

But when they touched the "angel"...

"laugh!"

The sound of corrosion could be heard.

The angel's skin began to fester, its flesh began to melt, and its bones began to break.

"Pollutants".

Ron understood the meaning of this image:

"The dead represent those lives devoured by vampires."

“They become ‘pollution,’ turning against the perpetrators.”

"This is cause and effect, this is reincarnation, this is..."

His voice became deeper:

"revenge."

At the end of the scene, the "angel" kneels on the ground.

His body was riddled with holes, and blood gushed out like a spring.

But he did not die, because he was "immortal".

He was just... kneeling.

They knelt before the "dead" in a humiliating and desperate manner.

It's like being judged!
"The reversed Judgment card."

Ron puts the cards away:

"Those who make the decisions will ultimately be judged."

"The rulers will eventually be judged."

"but me……"

He stood up, and the phantom of the [Threshold of Darkness] slowly unfolded behind him:

"He will be the executioner of this trial."

After the divination was over, Ron left the secret room.

Outside, Edwin, Silas, and Miller were waiting.

"Are you ready?"

He asked. "Anytime is fine."

The three of them said in unison.

"very good."

Ron looked out the window.

The blood moon hung high in the sky, and night had completely fallen.

………………

The midnight bells echoed over the city at dusk.

Alex Valentine stood atop the abandoned clock tower, his crimson eyes gazing down at the city shrouded in a blood moon.

The wind blew his black cloak, making a rustling sound.

"Time is up."

Behind him, several elite members of the Heart Clan knelt respectfully on one knee.

They were all count-level vampires, but in front of Alex, they didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

The Marquis's imposing presence enveloped the entire clock tower as if it were a tangible force, making the air thick and oppressive.

"Remember the Grand Duke's orders."

Alex did not turn around, his gaze still fixed on the massive complex of buildings hidden in the shadows in the distance:

"I'll go check on the woman's condition. You guys stay on the perimeter and wait."

"If all goes well, we can take over Twilight City before dawn."

"What if, in the event of an accident..."

He paused, a cold glint flashing in his crimson eyes:

"Then follow the backup plan and clean up the entire city."

"Yes, my lord!"

The members of the "recycling team" responded in unison.

Alex leaped from the clock tower, which was tens of meters high.

His body began to disintegrate in mid-air.

The flesh and blood transformed into countless tiny blood mist particles, which gleamed with an eerie dark red luster under the moonlight.

The blood mist seemed to writhe, coalesce, and disperse as if it were alive, eventually condensing into a nearly transparent, misty fluid that silently slid down to the ground.

【Blood Mist】This is a high-level blood magic spell that only vampire marquises can master.

In this state, physical attacks are almost ineffective, and conventional spells will pass right through them.

The blood mist can also penetrate into any tiny crevice.

Whether it's tightly closed doors and windows, narrow ventilation ducts, or even tiny cracks between bricks, nothing can stop the blood mist from seeping in.

This is also why Alex chose the underground waterways; their intricate pipe system is the most suitable passage for the Blood Mist to stealthily navigate.

The blood mist silently slid across the street, through the shadows, and along a pre-surveyed route, disappeared into a hidden sewer entrance.

Darkness surged in like ink.

But for vampires, darkness is synonymous with home.

Alex recalled in his mind the route Ivan had taken.

Turn left and walk 30 meters past the abandoned reservoir;

Continue along the main pipe for another two hundred meters, and you'll reach the area directly beneath Euphemia's secret chamber. Everything is going according to plan.

But just as the blood mist passed through a corner...

"Woooooooo..."

The air suddenly trembled.

It was an extremely faint vibration, like the ripples created when a dragonfly's wings skim across the water.

Alex, however, became alert.

Experienced soldiers have an almost instinctive intuition for danger.

This tremor is wrong.

But before he could react...

"boom!"

The entire waterway came to life.

The walls, ceiling, floor—every surface of everything lit up simultaneously with a dense array of silver-blue runes!

The runes, like awakened stars, shone with a blinding light in the darkness.

They connect, resonate, and intertwine with each other, forming a three-dimensional magic array covering the entire area in less than a second!

——【Locked Rune Array - Revealed】

"I knew it wouldn't be that easy!"

Alex cursed inwardly.

He immediately tried to change the direction of the blood mist, attempting to flow backward.

However, the magical field released by those runes has formed an invisible "cage", compressing, distorting and sealing the space itself!
The blood mist could not be escaped.

Worse still, those runes began to emit a peculiar frequency.

That frequency precisely countered the vampire's "blood mist" state.

Like a magnet attracting iron filings, it forcibly pulls at each and every blood mist particle.
"That's too late!"

An invisible force was pressing in from all directions.

The blood mist was forcibly compressed, and the distance between the particles was brought closer and closer.
"boom!"

The blood mist suddenly condensed, and Alex's body was forcibly restored to human form!
He knelt on one knee, panting heavily.

Although it was only a forced transformation that lasted for a few seconds, the burden on the body and mind was extremely heavy.

"...The wizards really only know how to use such petty tricks."

Alex slowly stood up, his crimson eyes scanning the still-flickering runes around him.

He could tell that the designer of this magic circle was quite skilled.

The runes are arranged with extreme precision, and the energy circuits are optimized to the extreme.

If it were an ordinary marquis-level vampire, they might actually suffer considerable damage.

Unfortunately, he encountered himself, Alex Valentine.

The strongest marquis of the Heart Clan, a war maniac nicknamed "Blood Fang".

"let me see."

Alex cracked his neck, and his bones made a series of snapping sounds.

"How much effort you put into this toy."

He took a deep breath.

My chest heaved violently, and my heart began to beat rapidly like a war drum.

"Thump thump" "Thump thump" "Thump thump"...

With each heartbeat, a burst of magical power surges.

Alex's skin began to turn red.

Blood flows rapidly beneath the skin, causing blood vessels to bulge out, resembling bluish-black earthworms wriggling under the skin.

——【A Transformation - Blood Surge】

"Roar!"

A deep growl welled up from the depths of his throat.

Alex opened his mouth, revealing sharp fangs, and his hands transformed into five jet-black claws.

Behind him, two enormous bat wings burst forth from his shoulder blades with a tearing sound!

"A mere rune array."

Alex's voice became hoarse and unpleasant:
"You dare block my way?"

He stomped his foot hard on the ground!
"Boom!"

The entire waterway was shaking!

The Marquis-level power was unleashed at full force, and the shockwave spread outwards like a tsunami!

The runes on the wall began to flicker violently, attempting to absorb this power, to disperse, transform, and dissolve it.
But Alex's power was too violent.

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

One rune after another began to crumble.

The silvery-blue light gradually dimmed, the energy circuits began to break under overload, and the entire structure of the magic array began to collapse.
Alex stood still, his bat wings slowly folding.

His breathing was a little rapid.

Although the crack was successful, this forced breakthrough method is also a drain on oneself.

He looked at the rune marks on the ground, now shattered into powder:

"It seems that Ron Ralph is only capable of this much."

Alex chuckled, then vanished back into a cloud of blood and continued forward.

But he didn't notice that in a corner deep within the waterway, a hidden monitoring rune was silently recording everything.

Meanwhile, in the control room on the third basement level of Twilight City...

"The rune array has been broken. Proceed to the target."

Silas wrote a line in his notebook:

“Power assessment: Exceeds the Marquis level standard, burst intensity is 10% higher than predicted.”

"Phase one, completed."

He looked at Edwin beside him:
"Prepare to activate the second line of defense."

The giant with copper-colored skin nodded and placed his hand on a special valve.

The valve connected to a furnace deeper inside, where primordial magma drawn from the depths of the earth accumulated.
The blood mist flowed rapidly through the waterway.

Alex felt a little more relaxed. Although he had encountered a rune trap, it was easier to break through than he had imagined.

But just as he was crossing a wide intersection...

"Click..."

A barely perceptible sound was heard.

That was the sound of a mechanical device starting up, almost imperceptible, drowned out by the dripping water in the waterway.

But Alex's intuition warned him once again!

He suddenly stepped back.

“Boom, boom, boom!!!”

The ground in the waterway suddenly cracked open!

No, it's not as simple as just "cracked".

The entire ground was torn open from below by some terrifying force, revealing a pool of flowing crimson magma!

"what?!"

Alex's eyes widened.

For a moment, he even doubted that he was seeing things.

How could there be magma in an underground sewer?!

But the facts are right in front of us.

The crimson lava surged from the cracks like an enraged beast, igniting and melting everything around it!
The walls of the waterway began to melt upon contact with the magma, and the stone bricks turned into liquid and flowed down.

The air was heated to the point of distortion, and the heat wave hit us as if it were a tangible force.

Even the residual sewage in the waterways gradually evaporated into white steam, emitting a piercing hissing sound.
——【Lava Hell - Activated】!
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"

Alex retreated frantically.

But the lava was erupting too quickly.

They were being "controlled" by some force, pouring out like a flood!

In just three seconds, the entire intersection was engulfed in flames!
If it were just ordinary lava, a powerhouse of Alex's caliber could easily grit his teeth and force his way through, let alone take a bath in it.

However, this is clearly some kind of environmental modification spell infused with magic.

This spell is the most effective counter to his Blood Mist.

The roaring fire elemental made it impossible for his blood mist to even be maintained under the high temperature.

Alex had no choice but to reveal his true form again, and as soon as he appeared, a terrifying burning sensation rushed towards him!

My skin was burned, my blood started to boil, and even breathing became difficult.

Each breath felt like swallowing flames!

"Roar!"

Alex roared, and a deep red mist of blood erupted from his body.

——【Blood Shield】

This blood shield can withstand most attacks, but at a huge cost.

Every second the blood shield lasts, it frantically depletes his blood reserves.

The consumption of blood means a weakening of regenerative abilities and a decrease in combat effectiveness.
Even worse, the lava continued to gush out!

They surged in from all directions, blocking all escape routes!
Alex looked around, quickly searching for an exit:

Ahead, lava poured down like a waterfall;

The area behind them was already sealed off by a sea of fire;

On both sides, the walls are melting and collapsing.

Without hesitation, Alex used his legs to propel himself forward like a cannonball!

Bat wings spread out behind him, carrying him gliding above the "ocean" of lava.

He suddenly punched the ceiling above his head!
"Open it!!"

The entire waterway trembled under that punch!

The rune-reinforced ceiling was blasted open, leaving a huge hole, and rubble and dirt rained down!

Alex used his legs to propel himself into the air.

He abandoned the original route and chose the most violent and quickest way: to directly destroy the structure and forcefully break through!
Lava surged below, and waves of heat chased after him.

Alex landed heavily, panting heavily.

He determined the direction.

We're very close to Euphemia's secret chamber now, separated by only one floor.
Alex took a deep breath, and his body once again turned into a blood mist.

The blood mist seeped through the cracks in the storage room and climbed up the walls.

Soon, he arrived at a huge iron gate.

The door was covered with intricate protective runes, each one glowing faintly.

But just as Alex was about to break down the door...

"Squeak..."

The door opened by itself, and darkness surged out like a tide.

Something is waiting in the darkness.

Alex's blood mist lingered for a moment before slowly passing through the crack in the door.

When he reformed into human form, he found himself in a vast, empty hall.

In the very center of the hall, a young man stood quietly.

He was wearing a wizard's robe, and a silver pocket watch chain swayed slightly on his chest.

The expression on his face was as cold as ice, but his deep eyes concealed something that Alex could not understand.
"welcome."

The young wizard spoke with sarcasm:

"Your Excellency Alex, you must have had a long and arduous journey."

As he began to speak, projections suddenly lit up the walls around the hall.

Alex wasn't sure what the other person meant, so he squinted at the projection, his pupils suddenly contracting...

That's the image of the Grand Duke!
In the scene, the Grand Duke's phantom image majestically overlooks the several vampires below:
"Remember, the core of this mission is 'confirmation' rather than 'killing'."

"Ron Ralph has a complicated background and is connected to several Witch-kings."

"You can defeat him, seize the formula, or even severely injure him—but you must never kill him!"

"We cannot afford to become mortal enemies, do you understand?"

After the projection finished, the hall fell silent again.

Alex's face turned extremely ugly.

How could this conversation have been recorded by an outsider?!

unless
“Those three good-for-nothings, Ivan, have been exposed.”

Although the statement is in the form of a question, it is actually an affirmative statement.

Those three good-for-nothings fell into the other side's hands, which is why I was targeted like this even before I entered the door.

"It does not matter."

Ron waved his hand:

"The important thing is, Lord Alex, did you see that?"

His tone became sharper:

"Your superiors do not allow you to go all out."

“He warned me that I could not kill him, could not hurt him too badly, and could not even become his enemy.”

"He bound your hands and feet tightly and then made you carry out this doomed mission."

Ron took a step forward, and the phantom of the [Threshold of Darkness] slowly unfolded behind him.

It was an abstract human figure, draped in a black veil, its body composed of flowing starlight.

The tightly closed "mysterious door" on his chest opened and closed slightly with each breath.

"But I don't have that kind of restriction."

After listening to Ron's words, Alex remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he burst out laughing.

The laughter was extremely hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing against a rusty iron plate.

“Ha…hahaha…hahahaha!”

Alex arched his body, clutching his stomach with both hands, his shoulders heaving violently.

He looked as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world, laughing so hard he could barely breathe.

"You... this is what you rely on?"

He raised his head, his scarlet eyes fixed on Ron, filled with mockery:
"Using the Grand Duke's orders to provoke me? To make me feel bound? Restricted?"

"Kid, you're so naive!"

Alex suddenly stood up straight, his bat wings unfurling behind him:

Do you think I'm the kind of person who cares about 'rules'?

"Do you think I would be held back by the Grand Duke's warning?"

He took a step forward, each step causing fine cracks to appear in the marble floor:

"Let me tell you a fact."

"I stopped caring about those damn orders a long time ago!"

Alex's voice was like the roar of a wild beast:

"The Grand Duke said 'we cannot kill'? He said 'we cannot make enemies'?"

"But do you know?"

He pointed to his skin, charred black by the lava:

"You've pushed me to this point, slapping me hard across the face twice!"