Wizard: Unlimited Profession Slots Chapter 839 - 374: Will You Come Back Again? (Part 3)

"Enough!"

Miller's bellow resounded through the desolate canyon:

"If you persist in such talk, I shall gouge out your remaining eye too!"

Yet, even Miller himself couldn't entirely banish the oppressive despair clouding his heart.

He was far too acquainted with the Abyss's savage nature; those explorers who appeared mighty often met deaths far more pathetic than common folk in this domain.

Amidst this suffocating atmosphere, a minuscule beacon flickered into existence in the distant heavens.

Initially, this subtle shift went unnoticed by anyone.

But as the distant light gradually drew nearer, it began to emanate a soft, silvery luminescence, becoming strikingly conspicuous against the Abyss's grim surroundings.

"Hold on... what is that?"

Camilla was the first to perceive the anomaly, her voice laced with a mixture of anxiety and burgeoning hope:

"Something is rapidly approaching us!"

All three individuals immediately straightened, every trace of exhaustion and frustration supplanted by acute tension.

In the Abyss, any unknown object drawing near could signify an imminent, lethal peril.

Miller promptly lifted the monocular telescope he held – a specialized instrument fashioned from Abyss Crystal, designed to offer a precise view amidst turbulent energy fields.

Upon discerning the true form of the approaching entity, he was utterly astounded.

It presented as a semi-translucent sphere, within which intricate energy patterns swirled like a breathtaking aurora.

Encased within this bubble, a familiar silhouette was steadily descending.

"It’s Wizard Ralph!"

Miller cried out in elation, "He has returned! And... heavens, he appears completely unharmed!"

Blake and Camilla swiftly moved to Miller's side, the three of them clustering closely to peer through the telescope.

Ron, situated inside the bubble, indeed bore no discernible wounds, his attire immaculate, his demeanor tranquil.

"How could this be possible..."

Blake whispered, his artificial eye whirring erratically within its socket:

"To confront an Apostle-level menace single-handedly and emerge without a scratch... this is simply..."

"A miracle," Camilla interjected, her tone brimming with sheer incredulity, "It is an absolute miracle."

The bubble alighted gently upon the canyon's floor, and as it completely dissolved, Ron's figure materialized intact before the three.

His appearance, truth be told, showed no pronounced alterations, save for a palpable weariness in his gaze.

"Everyone, my apologies for keeping you waiting."

Ron's voice retained its calm cadence, yet the conviction within it resonated with a newfound depth:

"It appears I've returned at the most opportune moment."

The three exchanged glances, recognizing the identical astonishment mirrored in each other's eyes.

Throughout the annals of Abyss exploration, accounts of individuals returning safely after direct solo encounters with an Apostle could be enumerated on a single hand.

绬Wizard Ralph...绬

Miller's voice trembled slightly, a complex blend of relief at a comrade's safe return and profound bewilderment at this apparent impossibility:

"You... you truly sustained no injuries? No contamination? No... possession?"

In his extensive experiences within the Abyss, Miller had witnessed numerous explorers who seemed to have returned unscathed, only to be discovered deeply tainted and corrupted internally.

Such individuals projected an outward appearance of normalcy, yet beneath the surface, they had undergone irreversible transformations.

Some had their very souls usurped by the consciousness of Abyssal entities, while others became living vessels for insidious alien parasites.

Still others maintained their human guise, but their minds had been fundamentally reshaped, viewing their erstwhile companions as mere sustenance.

"I completely comprehend your reservations."

Ron nodded slowly, his expression conveying genuine understanding:

"In this perilous environment, vigilance is the paramount rule for survival. You possess the requisite detection apparatus; please, feel free to employ it."

This open acceptance of scrutiny considerably eased the trio's apprehension.

It was exceedingly rare for an individual who was truly contaminated or controlled to voluntarily request such an examination.

Blake promptly retrieved a complexly designed detection instrument from his Storage Bag.

As the scanning beam traversed Ron's form, the device began to emit a low, resonant hum.

The three watched the display intently, their breaths held in anticipation of the final verdict.

A brief interval later, the device illuminated with a steady, reassuring green light.

"Pollution Index: 0.2, well within the safety parameters."

Blake scrutinized the data presented, his voice thick with bafflement:

"How can this be? Enduring 72 hours within the Abyss's Fourth Layer, and the Pollution Index is actually lower than when you initially entered?"

Under typical circumstances, even the most seasoned explorers would experience a marked escalation in their Pollution Index after merely a few hours in the Abyss's Fourth Layer.

Yet, Ron not only remained untainted but exhibited an even greater degree of purity.

Camilla, in turn, produced a Spirit State Detector, an instrument capable of assessing the subject's mental acuity and the stability of their consciousness.

The readings proved equally astonishing:

"Spirit Stability: 99.1, Mental Clarity: 99.5..."

She gazed up at Ron, her eyes wide with disbelief:

"Wizard Ralph, these metrics are simply... unfathomably perfect.

Even within the most controlled laboratory settings, achieving such elevated mental states is exceedingly difficult."

Miller observed all of this in silence, his heart a battleground of doubt and shock. As the most seasoned leader, he possessed an intimate understanding of what such outcomes signified. It suggested either Ron had acquired an unprecedented Abyss adaptation technology, or his journey had been far more extraordinary than anyone initially conceived. "Are there any other items for verification?" Ron inquired with patience, producing two objects from his Storage Bag. "These ought to confirm my identity." The first was the Eyes of Time, a gift from Cassandra, its surface etched with intricate runes that emitted energy fluctuations distinct to Otherworld civilizations. These fluctuations were beyond forgery, rooted as they were in entirely different physical laws. The second item was Uther’s Emergency Communication Badge, still shimmering with the ethereal silver light of Void Power. The runes on the badge pulsed softly, a testament to the active energy contained within. Upon witnessing these two irrefutable artifacts, the trio’s skepticism began to dissipate. "Very well then..." Miller exhaled deeply, the tension on his face finally receding. "It appears our concerns were, in fact, unfounded. It is a profound relief to have you back safely." Yet, a spark of curiosity still flickered in his eyes. "If you are willing to share..." Miller ventured tentatively, but trailed off. Within the realm of Abyss exploration, an unspoken dictate prevailed: never compel a comrade to divulge experiences tied to life-and-death secrets. "The details involve certain… sensitive matters," Ron replied as anticipated, his tone remaining composed yet clearly delineating boundaries. "I will provide a comprehensive report to Professor Yutel upon our return to the Observation Station."