The indigo clouds above the arena rolled like tides, occasionally flashing with silver lightning.
Maggs’ eerie spider mask appeared even more sinister under the cloud’s reflection.
Ever since his previous remark, he began sending isolated mental waves toward the opponent to prevent interference:
"Nari..."
His voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, hiding an unfathomable danger underneath that calmness:
"Do you know? Seeing you now reminds me of events from a long, long time ago..."
Maggs’ figure gently drifted in the air, each movement carrying a kind of hypnotic rhythm:
"Back then, despite the chaos, you were at least... safe. No one felt threatened by your existence, nor did anyone want to harm you."
As he spoke, a complex emotion reminiscent of nostalgia flickered in his eyes:
"But look at you now... you’re going against the entire Abyss.
Although your strength has grown somewhat, do you think you alone can contend with our thirteen Supreme Apostles and countless other Apostles?"
Nari’s tentacles began to writhe uneasily upon hearing this.
Her massive body quivered slightly, with hundreds of eyes glimmering in confusion.
As a natural-born entity of Chaos, her thought process became clearer due to Ron’s Favor, yet she still felt bewildered by such suggestive words.
"I... I just want to protect my child..."
Nari’s voice carried a hint of uncertainty, as the instinct of motherhood clashed with rational thought:
"Is this wrong? Shouldn’t it be this way?"
Maggs astutely captured the wavering in her words.
At this moment, outright denial might trigger her rebellious emotions, so it was essential to go along with her words, then subtly guide her.
This is a negotiation technique.
With this in mind, he quickly adjusted his strategy.
Maggs’ voice became even more gentle, akin to a caring elder:
"Of course it’s not wrong; maternal love is the greatest emotion in the world.
But Nari, true love isn’t blind protection; it’s... wise choice."
His nine eyes began to flash rhythmically.
Each change in light conveyed subtle suggestions to Nari’s subconscious:
"Think about it, if he truly is as dangerous as I say, then continually indulging his greedy absorption of power, won’t it ultimately harm him?"
"You’ve seen the outcome of Eternal Hunting just now.
Such complete annihilation from the level of existence, where even the soul cannot be preserved..."
Maggs’ voice took on a tone of sympathy, as if he genuinely felt distressed for Nari’s predicament:
"We only wish to help him avoid that horrible fate.
Some necessary research, moderate disengagement from your power infusion, it’s all for his own good..."
Nari’s mind began to sink into deep conflict.
On one hand, her maternal instinct told her to protect her "child" at all costs.
On the other, Maggs’ words indeed touched upon her deepest fears.
What if Ron truly ends up self-destructing like Eternal Hunting?
"But, but..."
Her voice became stammering, eyes filled with pain and dilemma:
"If he loses the strength I give him, will he still... still love me as his mother?"
Maggs saw that Nari had completely fallen into the trap he set, and a hint of triumph flashed in his eyes.
He deliberately slowed his speech, making his voice more seductive:
"Nari, trust me, we’re all doing this for his benefit. And moreover..."
His nine eyes simultaneously turned toward Ron, still at the center of the battlefield, as his tone became more ’sincere’:
"Haven’t you noticed?
Since his appearance, many Apostles in the Abyss have cast strange glances at you.
Nightmare Queen Selena, Mad Bite Mogron, and Blood Tear Duke Asmond...
Though they appear fearful now, do you think this fear will last? Once they unite with other Apostles, relying on your strength alone..."
Maggs didn’t finish his words, but the implication was clear.
This hint pushed Nari’s fear to a new height.
She imagined a scene where she and Ron were besieged by the entire Abyss, and that despair made her tentacles quiver violently.
"What... what should I do?"
Nari’s voice became helpless and confused, like a child at a loss:
"I just want to protect him; I don’t want anyone to hurt him, but if my protection ends up harming him..."
At the moment Nari became completely trapped in mental chaos, Maggs acted decisively.
Without warning, without any sign, not even an intention of attack, hidden perfectly.
Countless fine, thread-like black strands surged out from the void.
These threads weren’t made of any material but were pure manifestations of the concept of "restraint."
"Since you’re still hesitating, let me make the decision for you."
Maggs’ voice turned cold and merciless, devoid of any prior pretended gentleness:
"After all, some choices are too important to leave to you, an impetuous Apostle driven by emotion alone."
The mental exchange between the two Apostles was rapid.
So much so that when Maggs launched his attack, Ron had just walked a few dozen meters in Nari’s direction.