"Blake." Miller’s voice was as solid as a rock, instantly cutting off his companion’s words.
He slowly stood up, his eyes, having endured countless Abyss explorations, swept over each team member.
"You are all my comrades who’ve been through life and death with me, you should know when to make the right judgment."
His words were short and powerful, each word striking the hearts of the team members like a hammer:
"In the Abyss, letting emotions rule is deadlier than any monster or curse. If Mr. Ron says he needs to act alone, then he certainly has his reasons."
Miller’s gaze finally rested on Ron, full of trust:
"We are neither babysitters nor burdens. Since he resolutely chose this path, we must give corresponding trust."
Camilla placed the last Healing Potion into the Storage Bag.
"At least..." she turned to Ron, "at least take the emergency flare. If you really encounter a situation you can’t handle..."
"It’s useless." Ron’s voice was as calm as discussing experimental data:
"Apostle-level beings typically have a Perception radius of hundreds of miles.
Any Magic Power fluctuations, including flares, would only expose positions and add unnecessary variables."
His gaze swept across each team member, his voice carrying an indisputable decision:
"Trust my analysis, this is the optimal solution."
Miller gave Ron a deep look, finally nodding slowly.
As a veteran explorer, he knew where their limits were.
"Understood. Seventy-two hours." The old soldier’s voice was heavy like a dull knife slicing meat:
"If you haven’t returned, we will report to the Observation station according to the plan."
He paused:
"May knowledge illuminate your path, Mr. Ron."
When Miller’s squad’s figures completely disappeared into the twisted organ jungle, the Flesh and Blood Forest returned to silence.
Only the liquid seeping from the surface of the "trees" continued to drip slowly, each drop resonating with a Rhythm like a heartbeat.
Ron put away the last bit of warmth from his expression, his gaze turning icy cold.
Facing the impending danger alone, what surged from deep within was not fear, but a near-pathological excitement.
"Every true breakthrough requires corresponding risks."
He gently caressed the Storage Bag at his waist, feeling the state of "Explorer One" through the Spiritual Link.
The Golem was operating steadily deep within the forest, all systems showing normal.
The air was filled with a mix of death and despair, every breath seemed to swallow the resentment of countless departed souls.
But Ron had long since fully adapted to such an environment, even beginning to appreciate the primordial beauty within.
"Now, it’s time to confirm the specific status of the Stand-In Puppet."
He closed his eyes, and began to deeply engage the Spiritual Link with the puppet.
As his consciousness extended, his Perception instantly spanned enormous distances, reaching the depths of the Sea of Darkness...
......
In the depths of the Sea of Darkness, the oppressive darkness surged with unimaginably vast existences.
Nari’s body, like moving mountains, swam slowly at the sea bottom with each breath causing great fluctuations in the seawater.
Yet at this moment, this fearful existence that made countless explorers dread, showed a completely different side.
"My little darling, how do you feel today?"
Nari’s face, covered with countless eyes, approached the nutrient sac, its voice in the Consciousness Domain soft as a lullaby.
"Yesterday, Mother went to the sixth layer especially to find the freshest ’Fruit of Time’ for you."
It carefully took out a peculiar fruit shimmering with silver light.
The fruit’s surface flowed with liquid time, merely watching it allowed one to feel the weight of ages.
The Stand-In Puppet floated quietly in the specially made sac, after this period of meticulous care, it had begun to exude a subtle life aura.
Suddenly, the runes on the puppet’s surface began to flash fiercely, brighter than ever before, illuminating the entire sac like a mini-sun.
All of Nari’s eyes instantly widened, its massive body halted:
"Darling? What’s wrong?"
It was somewhat nervous, countless tentacles began to gently stroke the surface of the sac:
"Are you uncomfortable somewhere? Or hungry? Mother will immediately find you something tastier..."
Just then, a miracle occurred for Nari, unprecedented.
The puppet began to "speak."
Not with sound, but as a stream of information directly transmitted to the depths of Nari’s consciousness.
This mode of communication made it so excited it almost lost its mind, all tentacles danced wildly in the seawater, stirring a massive whirlpool.
"Ma... Mother..."
The information from the puppet was intermittent, carrying the peculiar innocence and confusion of a newborn:
"I... I can feel... such a strange feeling... like... like there’s another me..."
Nari felt its heart almost stop beating—if that bizarre Energy Core could be considered a heart.
The puppet’s communication was so precious, so long-desired, that for a moment it didn’t know how to respond.
"My darling can talk! My darling can communicate with Mother!"
Nari’s voice echoed throughout the entire vault, filled with pure joy.
After a brief emotional surge, Nari soon noticed the key information in the puppet’s words.
As an ancient being who lived for thousands of years, even with a mind as simple as a child, its understanding of life phenomena far exceeded ordinary beings:
"Another you? Darling, are you saying... you have another form?"
"No... not another form..."
The puppet’s consciousness began to become clearer, as if it were learning how to express better:
"It’s... a symbiotic body... two bodies... one soul... the main body is... very far, far away..."
This explanation plunged Nari into deep confusion.
It had seen countless peculiar life forms, but this situation unfolding in front of it...
"Do you mean..." Nari asked cautiously, afraid to disturb the child’s thoughts:
"You have another body? Like... like some deep-sea jellyfish splitting off a satellite body?"
"Yes, dear Mother."
The puppet’s response became more fluent, as if its ability to express was rapidly growing along with the dialogue:
"Moreover... only when the two bodies merge can I realize my true potential.
Just like you hope, becoming stronger, to bring you more stable power."
Upon hearing this, Nari’s expression began to subtly change.
"But... but where is the other body then?"
It asked anxiously, its massive eye sweeping the vault, as if the "form" were hidden in some corner:
"Mother can go and bring it back! No matter how far, no matter how dangerous, Mother will bring back your other half!"
Nari’s promise was so sincere, so unconditional.
That even the puppet... or rather, Ron far away in the Flesh and Blood Forest felt a subtle sense of guilt.
"No need for you to search personally, dear Mother."
The puppet’s voice became more tender, filled with gratitude for this care:
"Actually, my other half has sensed my location and is on its way here. It can find the exact direction through our symbiotic link."
This news made Nari tremble with excitement, but soon it realized something:
"But... but what if the other apostles discover the existence of your other half?"
The puppet was silent for a moment, then responded in a tone almost sorrowfully:
"It is very weak, dear Mother. Just an ordinary Wizard body without special abilities like mine. If discovered by other apostles..."
"No!"
Nari’s thoughts erupted into a tidal wave, sending the surrounding sea area into a raging surge, nearby Abyssal creatures frightened into fleeing:
"No one can harm my child! No one can!"