Abyss Seventh Floor, between the thrones.
The atmosphere within the space surrounded by thirteen thrones was more oppressive than ever before.
The air itself seemed compressed into substance, and each breath carried the terrifying pressure within.
The central gray vortex was now completely still, as if it too was shaken by the monumental project at hand.
Maggs’ body, formed of countless black threads, was currently separating countless hair-thin tendrils.
Each thread glimmered with different hues, representing the various ability fragments accumulated over the long years.
These threads wove an exceptionally intricate three-dimensional structure in the air, akin to a work of art beyond human comprehension.
"Progress status?"
Chai Ye’s three faces simultaneously inquired, with a voice filled with tiredness hard to conceal.
For this project, he had been burning origin power for several months.
The once-frenzied dragon head now appeared dull, and its signature golden scales had lost their luster.
"Far more complex than expected."
Maggs’ voice emerged from the myriad threads, carrying unprecedented solemnity:
"To fuse thirteen distinct Apostle essences is like forcibly letting fire coexist with ice, and unity of order and chaos."
He paused, a barely noticeable worry flashing across the mask with nine eyes:
"And to maintain the rational clarity of the host... this requires not only the balance of power but also precise understanding of the soul’s essence. A slight deviation could lead the host to collapse in an instant."
On the Fifth Throne, the "Daughter of Transformation" Isabella, who arrived later, showed fatigue on her half-perfect face.
The silver Scale Armor on her body was now dulled, and her once-elegant posture appeared somewhat wilting:
"The power we’ve invested is equivalent to recreating a common Apostle."
Her voice carried a hidden anxiety:
"If it fails again this time... our years of accumulation will be completely reset. More crucially, can we withstand another failure?"
"We won’t fail."
On the Third Throne, the "Invisible Mist" Nas’s cloud-like body’s numerous eyes gleamed with resolve:
"The timeline indicates that the success probability of this attempt is higher than ever before.
Though I can’t see the specific details, the trajectory of destiny is converging toward our predicted direction."
He paused, and his voice turned more mysterious:
"Moreover... there is some external influence affecting the energy balance throughout the Abyss. This influence might be an unexpected aid to our plan."
At this moment, Maggs suddenly ceased his work.
The precisely woven threads in the air paused, emitting unstable energy fluctuations:
"The Ranking Match’s warm-up is about to begin. I need to send a clone over to preside."
"Now?" Chai Ye’s three faces furrowed simultaneously, with the rational visage showing obvious discontent:
"Your divided attention will affect the stability of the seed. This level of fusion project cannot tolerate the slightest neglect."
The greedy face followed with a complaint:
"We’ve already invested so much origin power, now to interrupt the work..."
"Precisely why I must send the most basic clone."
Maggs’ tone carried helplessness, but his eyes revealed a peculiar gleam:
"But the Ranking Match concerns the entire Abyss’s power balance, and cannot be missed. Also..."
He paused, the nine eyes simultaneously turning toward a specific direction:
"I vaguely feel something unusual with the changes on the Fifth Floor lately. Especially the naturally chaotic Nari, her energy fluctuation pattern has completely changed."
"Changed?" Isabella keenly captured the critical information:
"What kind of change? I recall Nari’s chaotic essence was supposed to be uncontrollable."
Maggs’ thread-like body slightly contracted, a habitual action when deep in thought:
"This is precisely the perplexing point.
According to my observations, Nari’s current spirit state is more stable than at any historical period.
She can even engage in complex tactical thinking, which is impossible for inherent chaos."
Nas’s cloud of eyes began to turn uneasily:
"Anomaly exists on the timeline too, with Nari’s destiny trajectory becoming obscure, as if deliberately shielded by some formidable force."
"Could she have devoured some special existence?"
Chai Ye’s cunning face proposed a speculation:
"Or acquired an Abyss treasure that can stabilize rationality?"
Previously, Nari had shown off that so-called "treasure" to Chai Ye, who intended to keep it to himself, thus at this moment mislead the other Supreme Apostles accordingly.
"Not likely." Maggs shook his head:
"I have perception of almost every significant item in the Abyss, and no known treasure can so thoroughly alter the essence of inherent chaos."
As the apostles pondered, the space suddenly conveyed a subtle wave.
It was a transmission from deeper in the Abyss, carrying an oppressing sensation that made all apostles uneasy.
On Maggs’ mask, the nine eyes simultaneously contracted:
"It’s ’its’ will wave... seems our project has attracted the attention of deeper existence."
All apostles fell into silence.
They all knew that once that existence truly awoke, even Supreme Apostles would become precarious.