This is a perfect balance.
"Mom can feel this connection..."
Nari carefully perceives the subtle resonance between the puppet and the magic sword.
"That’s right." Ron nodded:
"No matter where I am, I can sense your condition through this connection. If you encounter any danger or difficulty, I will be able to detect it immediately."
Upon hearing this promise, the tentacles began to swing joyfully, but then suddenly stopped as if realizing something.
"Well... since you’re going back, shall I leave you a little gift before you go?"
Nari suddenly suggested.
Saying this, she began to mobilize the chaos power inside her, but this time not for battle, but for creation.
A few precious abyss crystals were condensed, unlike the ordinary companions of tears seen earlier.
These actively consumed power-condensed abyss crystals contain concentrated abyssal energy, their mere presence exuding an impressive magic potency.
Ron wanted to express his gratitude, but seeing the slightly swaying tentacles and the hundreds of unfriendly eyes, he swallowed his words.
"So, until next time."
He silently accepted the abyss crystals and began to mobilize the magic power inside him: "Take care, Mom."
As Ron said his goodbye, a special bubble separated from the deep parts of Nari’s body.
"This bubble will escort you safely back to the surface."
She explained: "Moreover, it will provide protection when you face danger. As long as Mom is alive, it will never fail."
"Goodbye, my child..."
Nari’s voice resonated throughout the space, chanting ancient blessings as she did so:
"May the stars light your path, may knowledge guide your way..."
The bubble began to rise slowly, ascending layer by layer through the seawater, floating toward the upper levels of the abyss.
Through the semi-transparent bubble wall, Ron took one last look at the huge yet gentle figure.
Nari was watching him with all her eyes, bidding him farewell as he departed.
Meanwhile, in her embrace, the stand-in puppet waved goodbye as well, this small figure holding all the warmth Ron left behind.
As the distance grew, Nari’s figure gradually blurred.
"What an incredibly precious bounty..."
He silently appraised the entirety of this exploratory experience.
The relationship forged with Nari provided him not only with strong backing but also a new understanding of the abyss.
The bubble continued ascending, passing through the twisted jungle of the abyss fourth layer and the black sand wilderness of the third floor, ultimately reaching the relatively safe second layer.
Throughout the ascent, those initially dangerous abyssal creatures kept a respectful distance from the bubble.
They could sense the terrifying pressure contained within, emanating from the ancient power deep within the abyss.
.........
Miller sat on a giant spine bone, the timer in his hand ticking rhythmically, each sound striking his tense nerves.
As a veteran who had explored the abyss for over twenty years, he had seen far too many companions who never returned.
The empty bunks and unclaimed belongings formed the darkest parts of his memory.
"One hour and seventeen minutes left."
His voice echoed in the canyon, filled with barely restrained tension.
Although he verbally affirmed Ron’s ability, facing an Apostle level threat, any rational analysis seemed impotent.
Blake crouched nearby, his prosthetic eye spinning uneasily in its socket, emitting subtle mechanical friction sounds.
This eye was lost ten years ago during an exploration when an abyss worm’s tentacle pierced his left eye socket like lightning.
Though the prosthetic provided enhanced night vision, the pain and fear of losing part of his body gave him the most direct understanding of the abyss’s dangers.
"Boss..."
Blake’s voice was somewhat hoarse, his war axe repeatedly wiped clean, its blade reflecting the canyon’s eerie glow:
"I think we should prepare for the worst; promises... sometimes in the abyss, they’re just a joke."
His words cast an even heavier atmosphere over the team.
In the history of abyss exploration, countless brave wizards had confidently ventured into perilous zones, never to return again.
"Blake, shut your crow mouth."
Camilla glared at him, but her voice carried noticeable tremors.
Her hands unconsciously gripped the magic wand, her knuckles turning pale from the exertion.
As the team’s most meticulous member and only woman, she understood better than anyone the abyss’s ruthless attitude toward life.
The twisted tentacles, corrosive toxins, and pollution that could directly erode sanity...
Each threat enough to instantly obliterate a powerful wizard.
"I’m just saying..."
Blake continued his pessimistic view:
"Wizard Ralph may be formidable, but facing an Apostle level existence... that’s a terrifying creature capable of contending with a Great Wizard."
He looked into the depths of the canyon with his prosthetic eye, where the darkness seemed to wriggle with life:
"Moreover, Apostles are extremely volatile emotionally. They might be ’friendly’ at one moment, and the next, they could rage and kill over a slight offense."
This worry was justified.
Abyssal Apostles, though powerful, often had thinking patterns vastly different from humans.
Many explorers lost their lives due to misinterpreting an Apostle’s logic during seemingly safe interactions.