Inside the arena, an apocalyptic scene was unfolding.
The Void Essence scattered after Maggs’ avatar was crushed, spreading and expanding rapidly through the air like an invisible plague.
Those black Energy Threads, imbued with the essence of the Supreme Apostle, were no less than the deadliest poison for weaker creatures.
"Ahhhhhh..."
A bat-shaped Awakened, who had just escaped near the exit, suddenly began to convulse violently.
The blood vessels on its wings swelled as if inflated, and its originally jet-black fur began to sprout countless tiny tentacles.
These tentacles extended madly outward, trying to grasp any target they could reach.
But more terrifying was that during this process, the bat Awakened remained conscious.
It could clearly feel every change in its body, the strange pleasure brought by each newly born tentacle, and the horrific process of its sanity gradually being distorted.
"Kill... kill me... I beg you..."
It pleaded with its last shred of sanity.
Yet, the other refugees around had long been scared out of their wits, not daring to come close.
Soon, this bat completely lost its original form, turning into a mass of wriggling black flesh.
Countless tentacles stretched out from this mass, frantically hunting all surrounding creatures.
Anything touched by them was dragged in without resistance, becoming sustenance for the further expansion of this twisted monster.
Interestingly, however, these tentacles, though wildly swinging, never extended towards the center of the arena where Nari was located.
As if there was a kind of forbidden line there, even the completely mindless aberrations instinctively avoided it.
Similar tragedies were unfolding simultaneously in various corners of the arena.
But all the chaos shared one common trait.
No matter how out of control the aberrations became, they would instinctively veer away from the storm’s heart, where Nari stood.
A group of demons who had planned to escape together began to fuse under the Erosion of the Void Essence.
Their bodies stuck together like melting wax.
Their bones rearranged, blood vessels intertwined, eventually forming a grotesque Giant Beast with dozens of faces.
Each face retained its expression from life—fear, despair, anger, pain, resembling a living portrait of Hell.
Chillingly, these faces could still think and speak independently.
They began accusing each other’s sins, clamoring that the others should be held responsible for their fate, their voices rising in a mad chorus like patients in a lunatic asylum.
"It’s all your fault! If you hadn’t insisted on grabbing the front row seats..."
"Shut up! It was you who wanted to watch this damned match!"
"We’re all going to die... we’re all turning into monsters..."
"Someone save us... someone kill us..."
In the stands, even the slightly stronger Awakened couldn’t escape unscathed.
A spider-shaped Awakened with six arms was originally trying to escape using space teleportation.
But the Erosion from the Void Essence had fatally distorted its Space Perception Ability.
The Teleportation Gate did open, but it connected only to its own internal organs.
All six arms extended into different Teleportation Gates and then emerged from its chest, abdomen, and back.
It began tearing itself apart from the inside, each piece of flesh maintaining an eerie connection through the Teleportation Gates.
This self-disassembly process lasted for dozens of minutes, during which the Awakened emitted bizarre cries resembling both laughter and weeping.
Ultimately, it became a three-dimensional labyrinth composed of countless chunks of flesh and Teleportation Gates.
Any creature entering it would become lost in an endless spatial loop.
Amidst this sea of chaos and distortion, the Abyssal Creatures displayed their most primal malice and desire.
Some powerful beings lucky enough to escape the Erosion of the Void Essence didn’t aid the sufferers but instead began exploiting the situation.
"Hahaha! These fools!"
A Demon Awakened covered in bone armor gleefully harvested the mutated victims while letting out frenzied laughter:
"Thanks to the Supreme Apostle’s gift! Though these essences are dangerous, they are the best enhancement material for beings like us at this level!"
More bone spikes began to sprout on its armor, with each devoured aberration providing a noticeable boost in strength.
To it, this disaster wasn’t a tragedy but a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Elsewhere, several uniquely formed Awakened formed a temporary hunting squad.
They specifically targeted those who were in a semi-deformed state.
These victims still retained their original abilities, and devouring them could yield enhancements from the Void Essence, making them the ideal prey.
Throughout the process, their movements were extremely cautious, not daring to make any loud noises, nor to approach the central area of the arena.
"Over there! The creature with eyes and three heads!"
The scout in the group excitedly pointed to a struggling victim, whispering:
"Its degree of mutation is just right. Devouring it won’t lead to complete loss of control, and it has the right amount of energy essence!"
"Surround it! Quickly! Before it fully mutates!"
"Move fast... while Lord Nari is too busy to notice us..."
"Remember the distribution rules, I want its heart, you can have the rest!"
In the Abyss, this kind of exploitation and plunder of the weak is a matter of course.