Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Seeing that the newcomer was hostile, Crono dared not be careless, and his body began to swell rapidly.

Beneath the skin, some terrifying power is surging.

The bones are growing, the muscles are reorganizing, and the entire body is evolving in a more terrifying direction.

This is the vampire marquis's "three transformations".

In just a few seconds, Crono's height had increased from two meters to five meters.

His face became twisted and ferocious, and no trace of humanity could be seen in his blood-red eyes.

That face... resembled a hybrid of a lamprey and a deep-sea monster, its mouth filled with layers upon layers of sharp teeth.

"bring it on."

After transforming, Chrono let out a deafening roar:

"Let me see what this puppet you're really capable of!"

He raised his fist and slammed it down with all his might.

That punch was powerful enough to move mountains and fill seas; the air was torn apart in front of the fist, emitting a sharp whistling sound.

However, the headless body merely raised the longsword in its hand.

The sword flashed.

boom!
The shockwave from the explosion spread outwards, kicking up clouds of dust and debris.

When the dust settled, Chrono's expression froze.

His fist, powerful enough to crush everything, had half of his hand severed by an ordinary longsword.

"How is this possible? My power..."

"It's really strong."

a voice sounded.

The voice did not come from the headless body, but rather from some distant place.

"But power is something..."

"If you don't know how to use it, it's just a futile waste."

The shadow whistle moved again.

This time, the swordplay changed.

"Corona Sword Technique".

Ron's basic swordsmanship, which he studied during his apprenticeship in his youth, has been completely transformed over the decades.

He inhaled and gathered his strength; the sword light was like the first ray of dawn, gentle yet full of hope.

Holding their breath and concentrating, the sword intent gathered in the air; this was the silence just before the sun was about to leap over the horizon.

With a breath, he slashed out, his sword's momentum as intense, brilliant, and unstoppable as the midday sun!
Krono had never seen such swordsmanship before.

Every sword light precisely avoided his defense, and every attack landed exactly on his most vulnerable spot.

What's most terrifying is that the sun-attribute magic contained in those sword lights has a natural restraining effect on vampires.

Even for a marquis-level body, the healing speed of wounds is greatly reduced after being cut by sword light.

"What...what kind of swordsmanship is this?"

Krono staggered back, his body covered in wounds of all sizes.

"Corona Sword Technique".

Ron's voice came through:
"A secret technique inherited from the Sun Knights, which emphasizes using breathing to guide the body's rhythm, making the sword's momentum as fiery as the sun."

"certainly……"

His tone became full of nostalgia:
"After decades of practice, I have made some...improvements to it."

Shadow Whistle's sword stance suddenly changed.

While the previous attacks were sharp, they still retained a degree of conservatism.

But now, the sword light suddenly became violent.

This is the ultimate release after suppression.

With each swing of the sword, the sword energy condensed into a visible arc of light.

The sound of the arc of light cutting through the air was sharp and piercing, as if space itself was being sliced ​​apart.

Strangely, this power, capable of cleaving mountains, did not leak out in the slightest.

All the power was concentrated on the blade, forming an extremely narrow yet terrifying "killing line".

This is the difference between a true master swordsman and a beast.

After Chrono's third transformation, his power did indeed increase several times over.

Each of his punches could create a deep crater in the ground, and each of his roars could shatter the surrounding buildings.

However, most of this power was wasted on meaningless destruction.

Less than one-tenth of it actually affects the enemy.

And Shadow Whistle, or rather Ron who controls Shadow Whistle... every sword strike he makes is a masterful application of power.

There was no waste, no leakage, and everything was terrifyingly precise.

This is why a "headless puppet" was able to stand up to a marquis who could transform in three stages.

No, it's no longer just about confrontation.

"It's time to finish."

Ron delivered the verdict:
——Final Ceremony: The Fall of the Radiant Sun!
Shadow Whistle's figure suddenly rose higher, seemingly merging into the eternal twilight in the sky.

Then, a sword light descended from the sky.

That ray of light was like the sun falling to earth, intense, brilliant, and blinding.

Krono raised his arms with all his might to block.

But the sword light had already developed its own will and skillfully evaded his defense.

puff!
Blood splattered everywhere, and a huge head flew into the sky.

Even until his last breath, Crono couldn't believe it.

He, a noble marquis, had been defeated by a headless puppet.

And the defeat was so complete and so decisive.

His body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Shadow Sentry stood beside another headless body, his longsword slowly drooping.

A few drops of blood remained on the blade, shimmering eerily in the afterglow of the setting sun.

“Ralph…”

Silas's voice came through the communication crystal:

"What's the situation in the Eastern District?"

"Hayes has been tied down and is trying to bypass our defenses."

"After he activated his third transformation, Euphemia and Ivy were both seriously injured, and it is estimated that he can only hold out for another half hour."

"It's ok."

Ron's voice came from the shadow sentry's position:
"This part is over."

………………

Dusk falls on the city gate tower.

As the first rays of dawn (or rather, the brightest moment of the eternal twilight) fell upon the city walls, two brand-new "ornaments" were already hanging high.

Hayes, the youngest marquis of the Ya clan.

Krono, the Marquis of the Fang Clan, most renowned for his strength.

Their heads are now hanging side by side in the most conspicuous position on the city gate tower, their empty eye sockets facing into the distance, seemingly silently conveying some kind of warning.

Below the city gate, hundreds and thousands of residents of Twilight City gathered in the square.

Their faces wore a variety of expressions—surprise, excitement, tears welling up in their eyes…

"The Marquis... he really is the Marquis..."

An elderly vampire with white hair muttered to himself:
"The two marquises of the Ya clan were killed just like that..."

"It's not just about killing."

The young vampire beside him corrected him, his tone tinged with pride:

"They were defeated by the combined forces of our army, our defense system, our Daywalker warriors..."

"This war was a victory for Twilight City from the very beginning!"

Cheers erupted from the crowd.

Someone began to sing the city song of Twilight City—the one with lyrics written by Ron himself, "The Dawn Will Come."

The singing echoed in the square, and more and more people joined in, eventually creating a wave of sound that soared into the sky.

Above the city wall, Silas glanced at the "unseemly dead" head twice, then turned to the other side.

There, Euphemia was surrounded by a group of people.

Her injuries had been treated; her shoulder was wrapped in thick bandages, and although she looked a little pale, she was in surprisingly good spirits.

"Ms. Euphemia."

Silas walked over and bowed slightly:
You should take a rest.

"I am fine."

Euphemia shook her head, her gaze falling on the two heads atop the city gate tower:

"Compared to this minor injury, being able to see the enemy's head being hung up with my own eyes... that feeling is really great."

"Next..."

Euphemia's gaze turned to the distance:
"The Ya clan should be getting restless by now, right?"

Meanwhile, in the council hall of the Ya clan's ancestral land, a dozen elders sat on either side, each with varying degrees of astonishment and anger on their faces.

"Two marquises... just like that, gone?"

An old man asked in a trembling voice:

"Hayes and Chrono are the most elite fighting force of our clan!"

"The two of them together are enough to temporarily hold off a direct attack from a lower-ranking duke!"

"How could they... be defeated by that rabble from Twilight City?"

"Not just defeat."

Another middle-aged vampire gritted his teeth:
"Their heads have been hung on the city gate tower of Twilight City!"

"Just like Alex back then!"

"This is blatant humiliation!"

The noise in the council chamber grew louder and louder as everyone expressed their anger and dissatisfaction.

The figure in the main seat remained silent throughout.

Grand Duke Cassano sat quietly, his eyes half-closed, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding noise.

Until everyone gradually quieted down and waited for his statement.

"Are you done arguing?"

Cassano finally spoke, his voice as indifferent as a stagnant pool.

"The Grand Duke..."

A marquis tried to say something, but Cassano stopped him by raising his hand.

"Now that the argument is over, let's hear what I have to say."

He slowly opened his eyes, his scarlet pupils devoid of any emotion.

"First, immediately cease all military operations against Twilight City."

"Second, send envoys to Twilight City to discuss a ceasefire agreement."

"Third, prepare for compensation matters."

These words immediately caused an uproar in the council chamber.

"Your Excellency! You can't do this!"

"We cannot bow down to Twilight City!"

"What about the feud between those two marquises? What about the reputation of the clan?"

Cassano remained indifferent:
"Revenge? How will you avenge it?"

"We have just lost two marquises, more than half of our three thousand elite troops have been killed or wounded, our supply lines have been cut off, and our border defenses have completely collapsed."

"Who can tell me, what are we going to do to get revenge?"

Am I supposed to risk being intercepted by that old hag Hilda and go myself?

Silence, dead silence.

"face?"

Cassano sneered:
"Only when you're alive can you have any dignity to speak of."

"If you're dead, you don't even deserve to be hung on the city wall for people to laugh at."

He stood up and looked around at everyone present:

"I know you are not reconciled, and neither am I."

"But the reality is, we lost."

"Since we've lost, we have to bear the consequences of that loss."

The meeting ended quickly, and the participants left one after another.

When only Cassano remained in the hall, the Grand Duke finally dropped his pretense.

His face twisted into a grimace, his chest heaving violently, as if some terrifying emotion was about to erupt.

Cassano suddenly raised his hand, wanting to smash the thing in front of him.

But when he realized that he had picked up a priceless antique vase, he stopped.

That was a gift given by a great shaman during a visit a thousand years ago, and it can fetch an astronomical price in the collector's circle.

"..."

Casano awkwardly put the vase back in its place and picked up a relatively ordinary earthenware pot next to it.

boom!
The sound of the shattering pottery jar echoed in the empty hall.

He picked up another one.

boom!
one more.

boom!
………………

In the territory of Grand Duchess Hilda, a formal joint declaration is being drafted.

"Given that the Fang Clan launched an unprovoked war of aggression against Twilight City and used excessive means in the war, severely disrupting the peace and order of the Chaotic Blood World..."

The drafter was Hilda's private secretary, a vampire count with exceptional literary talent.

"We—the Eye Clan, Gray Tower Academy, the Industrial Alliance, the Reform Alliance…—jointly express our strongest condemnation of the Fang Clan's actions."

"We demand that the Ya Clan immediately cease all military operations, issue a public apology to Twilight City, and compensate for the corresponding losses."

"If the Ya Clan refuses to comply with the above terms, we reserve the right to take further action."

After the statement was written, it was presented to Hilda.

The Grand Duchess, who had lived for eight thousand years, carefully reviewed it:
"good."

She signed her name at the end of the statement and then stamped it with the seal of the Eye Clan.

"Get others to sign as soon as possible, and then send them to the various clans."

The secretary bowed, accepted the order, and turned to leave.

Hilda sat alone in her study, gazing out the window at the blood moon that never sets.

“Ron Ralph…”

"Even though he is no longer here, the system he built can still exert such great power."

"It seems it's time to reassess our relationship with Twilight City."

In the underground laboratory of Twilight City.

Two headless marquis bodies lay quietly in the culture tank.

Although Hayes' body suffered some damage in the battle, its core structure remained intact.

Krono's body was much better off—descended by a single sword, he had almost no wounds except for his neck.

"Perfect experimental materials..."

Cedric stood before the culture tank, his eyes filled with fervor:
"Two marquis-level vampire bodies, these are extremely rare and precious resources."

"The next phase of the Daywalker Project can finally begin."

He turned to Silas beside him:
"Associate Professor Draven, please begin basic testing immediately and record all physiological data."

"Pay special attention to blood purity, residual extraordinary properties, and cell activity index."

"I need to figure out the essential difference between marquis-level vampires and ordinary vampires in the shortest possible time."

Silas nodded and quickly left.

In the lab, his research and development capabilities were indeed inferior to Cedric's.

So when the other party arrived, he volunteered to be their deputy, and incidentally... to provide some supervision.

Cedric stood there alone, gazing at the two sleeping bodies.

"When Associate Professor Ralph returns, I should be able to give him a surprise."

………………

The compensation from the Ya clan arrived quickly.

Thirty thousand magic stones in cash, mining rights to two border mines, and a humbly worded apology statement.

Of course, the heads of the two marquises were also redeemed, at the cost of an additional four thousand magic stones.

As for the body...

When the envoy from the Tooth Clan saw the two "well-preserved" bodies in the culture tank, his face turned ashen.

"This...this is not within the scope of the agreement!"

He protested in a trembling voice.

"It is indeed not within the scope of the agreement."

Euphemia didn't even glance at him:
"Because your agreement only mentioned the head."

"As for the body..."

A mocking smile curled at the corners of her lips:
"Those are spoils of war captured on the battlefield."

"According to the vampires' winner-takes-all rule, the spoils belong to the victor."

The messenger's face turned bright red, but he couldn't utter a word in rebuttal.

"Please convey this to Grand Duke Casano."

Euphemia concluded by saying:
"Twilight City welcomes peaceful coexistence, but is not afraid of any challenge."

"If he wants to try again..."

Her gaze fell on the direction of the city gate tower.

Although the head was gone, the dried bloodstains on the wall were still clearly visible:
"We're always here for you."

………………

At noon, the morning mist in the central region was being dispelled by the sunlight.

Ron stood at the agreed-upon location—the intersection of Truth Avenue and Starshine Street.

Here is a fountain where water freezes into various shapes in mid-air, showcasing the philosophical interplay between "flow" and "stillness".

"Wait for a long time?"

A familiar voice came from behind.

Eve was wearing a dark blue dress today, and her black hair was styled into an exquisite side braid.

"Just arrived."

Ron turned around and naturally reached out to take the small bag she was carrying, which contained several books that had just been borrowed from the Central Library:
"Did Ms. Vivian assign you reading again?"

"She's incredibly proactive right now."

Eve's tone carried a hint of helplessness:
"He probably wanted to make up for his previous guilt by working hard."

Every day they prepare a ton of materials for me, saying it's 'preparing me for breaking through to the Dark Sun level.'"

"That sounds like a good thing."

Ron glanced at the book titles—"Seventy-two Basic Architectures Constructed from Emptiness" and "The Theory of the Leap in the Essence of Life from Lunar to Dark Sun Levels"...

"They are all indeed useful."

"It is useful."

Eve took the book bag and casually put it into her spatial ring.
"The quantity is just too large. I suspect she wants to keep me so busy that I won't have time to think about anything else."

The two walked side by side toward the Eternal Gallery.

At this point in time, the central lands have not yet fully awakened.

Occasionally, you can see a few early-rising apprentices hurrying by, carrying thick notebooks in their hands, clearly heading to the library to reserve a spot.

You can also see some night shift alchemists dragging their tired bodies home, their bodies still carrying the smell of various materials.

"Shall we go to the Eternal Gallery?" Eve asked.

“Hmm.” Ron nodded. “I’d like to take another look at those paintings from last time.”

"Alright." Eve thought for a moment:

“Those paintings are definitely worth looking at repeatedly; you can discover new details every time you look at them.” When they arrived, there was already a long queue at the entrance of the Eternal Gallery.

Today is Stargazing Day, and many astrologers come here to find inspiration.

However, once the guards recognized Eve, they immediately and respectfully opened the VIP passage for them.

"Your Highness, and Associate Professor Ralph, please come in."

The guard bowed deeply:

"Today the gallery has updated a new batch of time-themed oil paintings, showcasing other possible future branches, which you two should find very interesting."

Eve nodded her thanks and walked into the gallery with Ron.

The interior remains exactly as I remember it.

The spiraling corridor is covered with "living" paintings on the walls.

Each painting showcases different possibilities, different futures, and different branches of destiny.

“Let’s look at those paintings from last time first,” Ron suggested.

"Ah."

Eve responded, and the two quickly found the familiar wall.

The first painting – [Timeline A: Choosing Calm]

The scene remains the same cozy manor, with sunlight streaming onto the grass as three children play and frolic.

This time, however, Ron noticed more details:

In a corner of the manor, there is a potion garden.

Although those plants were not as rare as those in the Central Land, they were well cared for, and each one was full of vitality.

The "future self" sits on a bench by the garden, holding a notebook in her hands, writing something down.

Meanwhile, "Eve of the Future" was playing with the children, her smile pure and content.

"It looks like..."

Eve said softly:
"You in that timeline still haven't given up on your research."

"It's just that the research direction has changed from 'pushing the limits' to 'cultivating life'."

Ron nodded; he could understand that "himself's" choice.

When you have the most precious things—family, loved ones, and a happy life—you will naturally want to protect them all.

The pursuit of power will take a back seat, replaced by cherishing the present moment.

"This kind of life..."

He pondered for a moment:
"Maybe it's not bad."

Eve turned her head to look at him, her eyes questioning:
"You mean...you don't actually hate this kind of life?"

Why should you hate it?

Ron countered:

"Three children, a manor, and a lovely wife by your side—this sounds like the future many people dream of."

"only……"

He frowned:
"What I'm worried about is whether I can enjoy this peace without regretting the choices I didn't make."

"Those unknowns that have not been explored, those limits that have not been broken, those truths that have not been touched..."

"They are like undercurrents hidden beneath the surface of the water, constantly reminding me that I could have gone further."

These words revealed the deepest inner conflict within him.

I don't dislike a peaceful life; in fact, I sometimes yearn for that kind of simple happiness.

But his thirst for knowledge and pursuit of power, these aspirations deeply rooted in his soul, prevented him from truly "stopping".

“I understand,” Eve said softly.

"Just as I cannot truly 'abandon' the responsibilities of the Crown Clan."

"Even sometimes I think, how wonderful it would be if I were just an ordinary wizard."

"No need to carry so many expectations, no need to deal with so many conspiracies and intrigues, no need to be constantly on guard against possible betrayal..."

"But these ideas are just ideas after all."

She gripped Ron's hand tightly:
"What truly makes us feel alive are precisely those 'burdens'."

They continued walking and came to the second painting.

Timeline B: The Pinnacle of Power

The scene depicted in this painting remains grand.

In the palace suspended among the stars, Ron received the scepter in the coronation ceremony, with Eve standing half a step behind him...

But this time Ron noticed some details in the corners of the image that he hadn't seen before:

Among those kneeling wizards, several faces were shrouded in black mist, clearly harboring ill intentions.

Tiny cracks were slowly spreading in the foundation of the palace;

While "Ron of the future" appeared dignified, his eyes held a deep weariness...

"Power is something..."

Eve smiled sarcastically:

"It may look glamorous, but it is actually the heaviest shackle."

“Look at those cracks.”

She pointed to the bottom of the screen: "That represents structural instability."

"No matter how high you climb or how steadily you sit, there will always be someone who wants to pull you down."

"Because in the game of power, there are no permanent winners."

"Only the temporarily leading 'survivors'."

Ron nodded in agreement.

He recalled his struggle with Nydiel at the observatory, and the schemes within the Alliance of Schools for the Crown Clan's power.

While playing politics can indeed bring status and resources, it also consumes a huge amount of energy and time.

"So this road..." he chuckled softly, "...is one that none of us want to take, right?"

“Of course,” Eve answered without hesitation.

“I would rather spend my time meditating than waste it on meaningless political games.”

The third painting – [Timeline C: Separation and Search]

The scene depicted in the painting remains oppressive.

A desolate ruin, a distorted sky, Eve, a thousand years later, stands alone in the center of the ruins, clutching a broken silver pocket watch in her hand.

Eve didn't even dare to look at the painting again:

"It took me so long to find you and rescue you..."

“During this time…” Her fingers gripped Ron’s hand tightly:
Do you know what I'm most afraid of?

"Not those battles, not those difficulties, not even the passage of time."

"I'm afraid that when I finally find you, you'll have already forgotten me."

"I'm afraid that when I rescue you, you'll have become a complete stranger."

"Fear... All this effort, in the end, only earned me a cold response—'Who are you?'"

Ron pulled her into his arms.

He could feel Eve trembling.

This painting touched upon her deepest fear—losing him, or worse, having a man who was "alive but no longer recognized her."

"Will not."

Ron whispered in her ear:
"No matter how much time has passed, no matter what has happened..."

I will always remember you.

Eve hugged him tightly, and only let go after a long time.

"Let's go."

She wiped her eyes:

"Let's go see the fourth one."

[Timeline D: Surpassing Together]

This painting remains the most beautiful—an endless sea of ​​stars, with two people standing side by side on the surface of a planet, overlooking the new world that is being born.

This time, the background of the image contains even more details:

In the distant starry sky, there are countless similar "figures".

Those were all beings who had broken through to the level of Witch King, and they were each exploring different star fields and researching different mysteries.

"Ron of the future" and "Eve of the future" are a pair among this group of "Star Explorers".

They are not alone, but they are not bound either.

Everyone is pursuing their own path. When we occasionally meet, we exchange ideas and then continue on our separate ways.

"This is the future I want."

Eve's voice became firm:
"It's not about being trapped in one place, nor is it about giving up everything for a certain goal."

She looked at Ron:
"As long as we are together, we can always find meaning in this endless universe."

"Perhaps we will create a new world, perhaps we will unravel the ultimate mystery, or perhaps we will simply enjoy the process of exploration..."

"None of that matters."

"The important thing is..."

She squeezed his hand: "We're together."

The two stood in front of the painting for a long time, as if trying to etch every detail of the painting into their hearts.

"correct."

Eve suddenly remembered something:
"The guard said there are new paintings updated today, shall we go take a look?"

"it is good."

The two continued upwards along the spiral corridor.

Soon, they arrived at a newly opened exhibition area.

The paintings here are noticeably "fresher," with the timestamps on the frames generated only in the last few days.

The title of the first new painting stunned both Ron and Eve:

Timeline E: Incomplete Eternity

The scene depicts the ancestral homeland of the Wangguan clan.

In the center of the ancestral land, there is a crystal coffin, inside which lies "the future Ron".

He looks almost exactly the same as he does now; time has completely stood still for him.

Beside the coffin, "Eve of the Future" stood quietly.

She has become a great wizard, or perhaps even higher.

The ethereal body unfolded behind her, like a purple moon.

But her eyes were terrifyingly empty.

Like a beautifully crafted doll, it is left with only programmed movements, but has lost its "soul".

In the corner of the image, there is a line of small text:
He failed in his breakthrough attempt, and his soul fell into eternal slumber.

She succeeded, but lost the meaning to continue.

So she sealed herself away, exchanging eternal waiting for a false sense of companionship.

"This……"

Eve's face turned deathly pale.

The future depicted in this painting is even more brutal than "separation and search".

At least in timeline C, she eventually found him and rescued him.

But in this timeline... Ron is already "dead".

Although the body is still there and the person appears to be alive, they have completely lost consciousness.

In order to be able to "accompany" him, Eve chose to seal herself away, turning herself into a "gravekeeper" who felt neither pain nor joy.

“I won’t let that happen.” Ron gripped his partner’s hand tightly.
"This is just one of the worst possibilities, and it doesn't mean it will definitely happen."

"But..." Eve's voice trembled slightly:

"What if...it really happens?"

"If something goes wrong when you break through to the Great Wizard level, if your soul truly falls into a permanent slumber..."

"I……"

She bit her lip:
"I don't know if I'll really end up like the one in the painting, sealing myself away and choosing that... zombie-like eternity..."

Ron held her tightly: "Listen to me, Eve."

"If... I mean if, that situation really happened."

His voice became unusually serious: "I hope you won't make the choice depicted in the painting."

"I hope you can keep moving forward and see the scenery we promised to see together..."

"Then……"

"If possible, come visit me occasionally and tell me about your experiences."

"Even when I'm asleep, I can still 'hear' your voice."

Eve knew her fiancé was right, and reason told her she should accept his suggestion.

But emotionally, she simply couldn't imagine how she would go on if she really lost him.

"But I...I can't do it..."

"Mentor, I really can't do it."

"Without you, the world has lost its color for me."

“Let’s not talk about this,” Ron quickly reassured her. “It’s just the worst of a million possibilities.”

"If we are careful enough and work hard enough, we can completely avoid it."

“And…” he pointed to the other side of the corridor:
"Look, there are other new paintings over there. Maybe a better future awaits us."

The two walked toward another new painting, the title of which was:
[Timeline F: An Unexpected Surprise]

The scene depicts a cozy room.

"Eve of the future" sat on the bed, holding a swaddled baby in her arms.

In the swaddling clothes was a newborn baby, tiny and wrinkled, sleeping peacefully.

"Ron from the future" stood by the bed, his expression a mixture of shock, surprise, and bewilderment.

The caption in the corner of the image reads:

Between the Lunar and Dark Sun classes, life still retains the possibility of "creation".

This was an accident, and also a miracle.

Their arrival disrupted all plans, but it also proved that happiness can still arrive even on the most difficult path.

“This…is completely different from the first painting.”

Eve remembered that scene from timeline A.

That was Ron's "escape happiness," a choice he made willingly when he gave up everything at the Moonlight level and ran off to the countryside with her after she broke through to become a formal wizard.

That future has three children and a peaceful life on the estate, but it also means that they have given up their pursuit of upward mobility.

And in this painting...

"Look at the notes."

Ron also noticed the differences from the first painting:

"Saying I'm already at the Dark Sun level is probably because I've just returned from the Chaotic Blood World."

And you... at the Moon Rank, should have already completely secured the Crown Clan's position.

"None of us are running away; we are all still fighting on our own paths."

Eve's face turned even redder.

She understood what this meant, of course.

Even though they are all striving desperately for their respective goals, even though they face countless challenges and dangers...

They still express their love in the most intimate way during their rare moments together.

And life is quietly conceived at such moments.

Eve looked at the tiny baby in the picture and hesitated before asking:

"Then, mentor, would you like it?"

"what do you want?"

"child."

Eve said softly:
"If we really had a child now."

"Do you feel it's a burden?"

"Do you feel that this is hindering your progress?"

This question made Ron think deeply.

To be honest, he had never seriously considered the identity of "being a father" before this.

The path of a wizard is inherently fraught with danger, and one may encounter misfortune at any moment.

Having children under these circumstances seems like... an irresponsible act.

But when he looked at the little life in the picture, he felt an indescribable stirring in his heart.

"I do not know."

He answered honestly:

"Reason tells me that children can indeed become a burden, a distraction, and an increase in vulnerabilities."

“But…” He looked at Eve:

"If that child is ours, then it is the continuation of your and my lives."

“I think…” Ron smiled, “I don’t think I’ll hate it.”

“I might even be looking forward to it.”

"I look forward to seeing him grow up, teaching him magic, and watching him walk his own path."

Hearing this answer, Eve finally felt relieved.

Her biggest worry was that the other party would reject the child because it would "affect her cultivation."

Now it seems that at least his attitude was open, and even somewhat expectant.

"That……"

Eve said cautiously:

"If in the future, I mean in the future..."

"If I get pregnant unexpectedly, you won't be angry, will you?"

Ron chuckled: "Fool, why would you get angry about something like this?"

"If it really happens, then it will be a blessing for us."

He reached out and gently flicked her nose:

"but……"

"It's best to let nature take its course when it comes to having children."

“Deliberately pursuing or deliberately avoiding will disrupt the original rhythm.”

Eve nodded, a happy smile spreading across her face.

Just then, a familiar voice suddenly rang in Ron's mind:

"Baby~"

"Mom's all taken care of things here~"

Nari's voice was filled with contentment and languor:
"The chaotic nature of those unlucky guys has been completely digested by Mom~"

"Now Mom feels... mmm~ so full~ so satisfied~"

Ron responded in his mind, "Thank you for your hard work, Mom."

"It's not hard at all~"

Nari's voice became excited:
"And guess what good things Mommy brought back for you, sweetheart?"

Is it that 'throne seed'?

"Correct answer~"

Nari said proudly:

"This seed contains the primal power of thirteen Supreme Apostles."

"Although each portion isn't particularly large, when added together..."

"My dear, if you can completely refine and absorb it, you might just reach the standard to break through to the Great Wizard realm!"

This news shocked Ron.

The primal power of the thirteen Supreme Apostles... Each Supreme Apostle is equivalent to a top-tier Grand Wizard.

Although only "a portion" of their power is retained in the seeds.

But thirteen portions combined... if fully absorbed, plus the ever-flowing blessings from both "Stoker Star" and "Twilight City," would indeed be enough to propel him to the rank of Grand Wizard. (End of Chapter)