Angel observed Maguston carefully, trying to see how he resisted the fruit’s allure.
However, after observing for a while, he couldn’t discern any trick.
It wasn’t that Angel’s observational skills were weak, but the current situation didn’t allow him to extend his spiritual tendrils, making it hard to fully understand with just sensory observation.
Yet, even though nothing was apparent externally, Angel vaguely felt a familiar yet unfamiliar aura quietly emanating from Maguston’s position.
"A very faint mysterious aura," Angel muttered to himself, detecting a slight mysterious aura on Maguston.
Compared to the overwhelming waves emitted by the Mysterious Fruit, the mysterious aura on Maguston was as weak as a leaf boat in a storm, perpetually on the brink of destruction.
"Is it a Mysterious Object? A Mysterious Object that can ward off attraction?"
Angel continued to analyze, and just as he finished speaking, the Observer beside him said, "It’s rare to find a Mysterious Object specifically targeted against another Mysterious Object in this world."
Does such a Mysterious Object exist? Naturally, it does. However, such a coincidence occurring at this moment was something the Observer did not believe.
"Then how does Maguston ward off the attraction?" Angel asked curiously.
The Observer glanced lightly at Maguston, a formless distortion flashed in his eyes.
After a while, the Observer withdrew his gaze: "It’s not a complete Mysterious Object, just a failed product, or rather, a semi-finished product."
"Half-step Mystic?"
"If you wish to call it that, so be it." The Observer nodded indifferently, "Moreover, this semi-finished product is not specifically for warding off the attraction. It’s aimed at space, and it seems to stabilize and isolate a part of the space."
The Observer paused and continued, "However, simply isolating space doesn’t eliminate the attraction; it can only reduce part of it. The reason he’s held on until now is because of the Body of Falsehood."
Angel: "Body of Falsehood? Did Maguston hide in the gap between the Void and reality?"
The Observer nodded, "Yes, he’s using the effect of the semi-finished product to isolate space, temporarily reducing the attraction, allowing him to employ the Body of Falsehood. Upon forcefully entering the false state, the influence of the attraction is naturally limited."
So that is how it is. Angel nodded in sudden understanding.
It’s a decent method. Although not as one-off as President Zhuguang’s, entering the false state not only lets Maguston evade the attraction but also allows him to return to reality at any time, making his influence on the Material Realm far more significant than leaders like Zhuguang. However, the Spell Technique of the Body of Falsehood is fairly simple for Space Mages, but for mages of other branches, it’s quite challenging. Maguston managed it because he inherently possesses a space-related talent, something difficult for others to replicate.
"Perhaps he saw the state of Zhuguang and the others over there and thought of using the Body of Falsehood to evade the attraction." The Observer speculated on Maguston’s line of reasoning, admiring his adaptive thinking. However, amidst his admiration, there was a tinge of regret in his eyes: "But while this method allows him to escape from the attraction, it isn’t sustainable."
"After using the Body of Falsehood, maintaining the physical body in the gap of the Void requires excessive computing power, which is extremely draining on the mind. Magic Power and spiritual power can be replenished by other means, but the mental drain is hard to compensate for in a short period."
In other words, it is almost impossible for Maguston to maintain the Body of Falsehood continuously.
Currently, he’s caught in a predicament where if his mind can’t hold up, he will inevitably fall back to reality. Once back in reality, he surely faces death.
It’s a deadlock unless Maguston can return at the moment when the Mysterious Fruit surpasses its limit and advances to the rank of Disorderly Object, then forcibly open the Plane Corridor to escape, giving him a slim chance of survival.
However, seizing the right moment isn’t easy; moreover, whether Maguston can hold on until that moment is uncertain.
Time continues to pass.
"I’m unwilling, I’m unwilling—" A loud shout echoed from afar, coming from a mage situated near the periphery.
His roar did not signify a chance at survival; it indicated that he had reached his limit.
Mages who could still hold on wouldn’t casually speak, not wanting to release that breath of tenacity in their hearts.
Sure enough, after this mage’s angry roar, the clarity in his eyes completely vanished, replaced by crimson. At that moment, he seemed like a red-eyed demon, striding rapidly towards the Mysterious Fruit.
The outcome was self-evident, the blood rain blossoming all around said it all.
Before this, many mages had already died, but his death was still symbolic.
Because his name was Modi.
From the Heavenly Tree, known as the "Wheel Warlock" of the famous "Flower and Moon," importantly, he was a... True Knowledge Wizard.
Even though Modi had only just managed to step onto the path of True Knowledge, with his potential almost exhausted, leaving little room for advancement, he was still a True Knowledge Wizard, the first to die in this upheaval.
His death became a flag demarcating dawn from dusk. Clearly telling others that the sky had changed.
Even True Knowledge Wizards had no chance of escape in this bloody feast.
The despair surged rapidly through most of those remaining due to Modi’s death.
In this ever-oscillating uncertainty, with no clear path ahead, several other mages could no longer hold on, their eyes turning red as they charged resolutely towards the Mysterious Fruit.
Once the dam of death breached again, it wasn’t merely one or two that were overwhelmed. More mages followed in Modi’s footsteps.
The Mysterious Fruit grew even more radiant.
The red light it emitted was as dreamlike as a jewel transcended.
But this jewel-like radiance appeared to others as a deadly yet beguiling poison.
Watching this scene before him, Angel heaved a deep sigh: Previously, he thought that with President Zhuguang’s persuasion, perhaps the crowd here would largely disperse.
Indeed, they were largely diminished.
However, this "diminished" wasn’t leaving the Mist Belt but had entirely departed from the world.
In mere minutes, only two or three out of ten remained, and in the foreseeable future, even these remaining mages would further dwindle, until everything settled down.
Thump—Thump—
The rapid heartbeat sounded from the Mysterious Fruit.
Its frequency almost reached a beat per second, and a thick white mist began to swirl around the Mysterious Fruit, distorting the surrounding air.