"If I continue like this..."
He imagined his future self, picturing what he would be like years later when he became a Great Wizard.
Would he become like Cassandra, endlessly plundering and slaughtering?
Would he, for the sake of research, sacrifice anyone around him without hesitation?
This possibility filled him with deep fear.
"No... I can’t become like that..."
Ron took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.
Ali’s memories were like a mirror, making him see what he was losing.
Emotion, compassion, reverence for life...
These precious qualities were slowly fading away.
Perhaps Uther’s warning at that time meant this.
The acquisition of power always comes at a cost, the key is to ensure that one does not lose the most important things in the pursuit of power.
He needed emotional anchors, something to remind him of his humanity.
Eve, Nari, Dale, Ailan... and his family far away, they were his most precious treasures in this ruthless world.
But just as he was lost in thought, a silver light suddenly erupted from deep within the Memory Crystal.
It wasn’t Ali’s memory, but a completely different kind of information.
Advanced, sophisticated, with a complexity beyond human comprehension.
The foundational theory of Curse Reversal...
Ron’s thoughts were instantly pulled back to reality.
This was the knowledge that the King of Illusions had once promised him, but he never expected it to be delivered in this way.
The Memory Crystal had always been sealed in the safest storage room at the Observation Station, surrounded by multiple protective and surveillance systems.
How had the other party implanted information silently without alerting anyone?
This stealthy infiltration ability made him once again realize the terrifying nature of an existence at the level of the Witch King.
[Forbidden knowledge detected: Curse Reversal (Prototype)]
[Current mastery level: Prototype (5/100)]
The knowledge surged into his consciousness like a tide, but this time Ron did not fully immerse himself in it.
The impact of Ali’s memory was too great, prompting him to view these powers from a different perspective.
The core principle of Curse Reversal is based on the reverse operation of causality...
Any supernatural effect applied to a target would leave a causal imprint in the structure of reality...
The sophistication of the theory was indeed impressive, but Ron was now more concerned about the cost of using such power.
Every reversal inflicts damage on the user’s soul, and each success could lead one to become more addicted to the power itself.
Isn’t this just another form of alienation?
"Power is always a double-edged sword..."
He gently stroked the Memory Crystal, contemplating the true intentions of the King of Illusions.
There was no way it was a coincidence for the other party to choose this timing and this method to deliver the knowledge.
Perhaps He also realized the change in Ron’s heart, or perhaps this was a kind of reminder and warning.
The Memory Crystal had always been in the highest security storage room at the Observation Station, surrounded by not only physical protection but also direct surveillance from Uther’s Void Power.
If the King of Illusions could implant information into it at will...
Then where could she not reach? What secrets could she not unravel?
This realization sent a chill through Ron.
In this game, he thought he was a player, but perhaps from the beginning to the end, he was just a pawn.
Those seemingly autonomous choices, those seemingly coincidental encounters, how much of it was truly accidental?
Outside the Observation Station, a blood moon hung high in the eerie night sky.
Those living structures continued their eternal breathing, emitting heavy panting like a Giant Beast.
In this oppressive atmosphere, Ron felt unprecedented confusion.
Yet reflecting on the experience he just had, it also brought him a kind of revelation.
Human emotions are undoubtedly extremely precious.
They can drive an ordinary woman to silently walk towards death, and they can allow a cold wizard to rediscover himself.
"I can’t let myself become a slave on the path of pursuing power..."
He carefully put away the Memory Crystal, making a decision in his heart.
The night grew deeper, and the Observation Station was enveloped in deathly silence.
Only in the distance came the low hum from the depths of the Abyss, reminding everyone how close this place was to that endless dark pit.
But for Ron, the sound of breathing from the Abyss strangely brought him comfort.
At least, deep in that darkness, there was a "Mother" who was willing to protect him unconditionally waiting.
Nari’s love might be twisted, but it was indeed sincere.
This emotion might be one of the important supports for him to fight against the darkness within.
"Perhaps... this emotional connection is also a way to retain the anchor of humanity..."
A realization slowly emerged in his heart: "The existence of social relationships and emotional connections is the foundation of being human..."
......
In the guest room area of the Abyssal Observation Station, the night was as thick as ink.
Chloe sat alone in the center of the room, a "Celestial Sphere" Crystal inherited from Astraea placed before her.
The nebula within the crystal slowly rotated, emitting a dreamlike silver-blue glow.
But at the moment, the girl’s mood was far from being as serene as this glow.
"More than a week..."
She gently caressed the crystal pendant on her chest, her voice carrying an unmistakable anxiety:
"I’ve finally waited for his return, but..."
Thinking about that brief encounter in the passage tonight, Chloe’s mood grew more complex.
Ron’s polite detachment, that eagerness to leave, all clearly conveyed one message—her place in his heart was negligible.
"Publication of the paper in the ’Deconstruction’ journal... the public recognition from Great Wizard Weinard..."
She murmured the news circulating within the Observation Station these days, her unease growing stronger.
Every rumor confirmed the accuracy of what she had predicted—Ron was indeed a key figure at the crossroads of fate.
But at the same time, these rumors made her aware of a harsh reality:
His status was climbing at an astonishing pace, while she remained an obscure novice from a peripheral Astrology Association.
"Offering timely help versus embellishing success..."
Chloe shook her head with a bitter smile, recalling the words her mentor Astraea had once said:
"A true wise person always appears when others need help the most. But now... does he still need my help?"
She knew the answer.
Given Ron’s current status and connections, there was no shortage of young witches eager to curry favor with him.
Those daughters from noble families, those academically talented rising stars, and those professionals with special skills...
By comparison, what could she offer?
Divination? Prediction?
This ability, while precious, did not hold much appeal for Ron, who reportedly already had quite a decent divination ability, according to Uther.
"Perhaps... perhaps I was wrong from the start..."
Just as she was trapped in self-doubt, there was a gentle knock on the door.
"Little Chloe?"
Uther’s gentle voice came from outside the door:
"Not resting yet? I sense your emotional fluctuations quite intensely."
"Come in, Professor."
Chloe quickly stood up, straightening her somewhat disheveled robe.
Uther’s gaze swept over the divination tools on the table, a look of understanding in his eyes:
"Worried about someone special?"