"And then what?" With this thought in mind, he continued to ask, trying to understand more details:
"I remember the ’Clock King’ never became the Witch King..."
Uther’s specter sighed:
"Yes, she successfully advanced to the rank of Great Wizard, and in the following centuries, also created many unprecedented Time Magic techniques.
But the end of the story... was not perfect."
He paused for a moment, his voice tinged with obvious sadness:
"During a massive ’Primordial Abyss’ erosion event in the later stages of the Second Era, the ’Clock King,’ as a rare time specialist, would be immensely beneficial if devoured by the Awakened.
Thus she faced the greatest pressure, attacked by as many as a dozen apostles."
"Even with her mastery of time, facing such a scale of enemies, she could only choose a nearly suicidal defense strategy.
That is, creating a huge ’Time Stasis Field’ that isolated the entire battlefield from the outside world."
"When all the dust settled, Erica’s spectral remains had long disappeared.
Only the ceaselessly layering clock chimes echoed over that ancient battlefield, and to this day, bells still resonate there."
Uther’s voice became extraordinarily heavy:
"Some say she died in the apostles’ siege, but more rumors suggest that she might have somehow transferred her consciousness into the anchor and chosen an entirely new way of existence.
This rumor has never been confirmed, and that anchor disappeared without a trace in the turmoil that followed."
This story left Ron deep in thought.
Perhaps this is also why the previous ’Silver Pocket Watch’ and Time Hound possess the ’Time Reset’ ability?
After all, according to what Uther just said, Erica integrated the structure of the ’Hound King’ when forging the Soul Anchor.
"A tragic and great story." Ron finally commented, his tone containing both respect for the great wizard and reflection on similar fates:
"Every path to power seems to be accompanied by corresponding costs."
"It’s not just about the cost, Ron."
Uther’s voice became extraordinarily heavy, and the specter dimmed slightly:
"Erica’s tragedy unveils the cruelest nature of this universe—what we wizards represent, orderly power, is forever the minority in the entire universe."
His specter swayed slowly in the air, the silver glow appearing particularly dim:
"You know, every time an Abyssal Explorer falls into the abyss, countless twisted creatures born from its power are nurtured within.
And when an Official Wizard falls there, the abyss segregates some unique abyss creatures as if enjoying a delicious snack..."
Uther’s voice carried a deep sense of powerlessness:
"What’s more terrifying is that those abyss creatures and apostles gain the knowledge and skills of the devoured each time they successfully devour a strong figure from our side.
An aberration originally acting only on instinct can gain a degree of intelligence and similar magic-like technique wisdom after devouring a Moon Level wizard."
He paused for a moment, his voice becoming darker:
"That’s why Erica faced a joint assault from over a dozen apostles; her mastery of time manipulation was a source of ’nutrition’ that chaos immensely craved.
Imagine, if those apostles succeeded in devouring her, they might gain the ability to manipulate time—a group of apostles able to reset battle outcomes and foresee future attacks would spell the end for the entire orderly world."
Uther’s specter shuddered slightly:
"The more powerful Erica became, the more deadly the allure of her to chaotic power.
Her very existence was a provocation to the abyss; her every breakthrough declared to those ravenous aberrations—here lies a bountiful feast."
His voice turned nearly despairing:
"The most ironic thing is, if Erica chose mediocrity, chose to be an ordinary wizard, she might have safely spent her life.
But it was her pursuit of power, her thirst for perfection, that pushed her to the inevitable abyss.
This is the fate of orderly power—we strive to become stronger to protect something, but the stronger we become, the more, and stronger, and more insane the enemies we face.
And once we are defeated, the benefits the enemy gains far exceed everything we have accumulated."
Uther’s specter became almost translucent:
"At the entrance of the Abyssal Research Center, there’s a warning:
’Order is like a candle flame, chaos like a wild wind; the brighter the flame, the fiercer the storm; once the fire is out, darkness is eternal.’
That’s why, even someone as strong as Erica ultimately had no choice but to perish with the enemy."
He sighed at last:
"Power is not a blessing, Ron.
In this universe, every strong person is prey in the eyes of chaos, a marked lamb.
Our so-called growth is nothing more than a countdown to our own demise."
"Professor, I will remember your teaching."
.........
After finishing the conversation with Uther, Ron returned to his residence with heavy thoughts.
The night was deep, the starry sky above the Central Lands still dazzling, but he had no heart to admire those distant lights.
His mind echoed with the information he had just heard:
The weakness of the Time Hound, the principles of the Three-Phase Shock Burst, the legendary story of the Clock King, the chaotic nature of the universe... Every detail was worth pondering over and over.
"Speaking of which, it’s been over two months since I returned from the Abyssal Outpost."
Ron sat at his desk, took out a detailed schedule record, and began sorting out the progress of this period: