"Hmm... That should be about enough."
Lumina wasn't a monster. She knew the punishment she had inflicted on Phantylia was severe and excruciatingly painful. After just half an Hour System Time, she decided to temporarily spare Little Phantylia.
"Aaaah... ah..."
First, Lumina lifted the sound suppression on Phantylia. Instantly, Phantylia's heart-wrenching, pain-filled cries echoed through the air once more.
However, compared to half an Hour System Time earlier, the cries were noticeably weaker. She must have grown tired of screaming...
Lumina extended a finger and gently tapped the green barrier. The pain tormenting Phantylia gradually subsided, and her agonizing cries slowly faded into silence.
"Well, Miss Phantylia," Lumina asked softly, a smile playing on her lips. "Do you finally understand your situation now?"
Through the green barrier, the golden flames flickered weakly, as if on the verge of extinguishing.
"Ha... ha... Under... understand..."
No one knew what Phantylia's spirit had endured during that half-Hour.
All that was certain was that after this half-Hour of adjustment... after this half-Hour of lessons, Phantylia's defiant arrogance vanished instantly.
Now, she resembled a lamb awaiting slaughter, radiating utter humility and vulnerability.
Lumina: o(*≧▽≦)ツ
Watching Phantylia's once-arrogant facade crumble into this cowardly posture, Lumina's heart brimmed with delight.
A mere Lord Ravager? Child's play!
"Ahem... Now that you understand your predicament, please answer one question truthfully."
Lumina flashed a radiant smile, her voice as gentle as a mother caring for her child.
"Let's say my barrier accidentally developed a flaw, allowing you to escape."
"And then I, too, accidentally sustained a fatal injury, collapsing to the ground, gasping for breath."
"And on your person, you happen to possess a power that could either save me or destroy me. What would you choose to do?"
Lumina spoke the words with a radiant smile, her gentle tone betraying no ulterior motive. This left Phantylia in thoughtful silence.
What is Lumina's goal? Phantylia didn't know. All she knew was that there was only one possible answer to this question...
"Though you're a bit mischievous, I believe you're a good person. I'll use the power at my disposal to save you."
Even as she spoke these words, Phantylia herself didn't believe them. But given Lumina's abilities—her power to bypass barriers and read minds—Phantylia had no choice but to deliver the line with utmost sincerity.
Moreover, after uttering the words, Phantylia deliberately altered her innermost thoughts to "Save Lumina" due to Lumina's mind-reading capabilities.
As a Lord Ravager, temporarily reshaping one's inner thoughts was a trivial matter.
Thus, Phantylia believed that Lumina would find no fault with her performance.
But... contrary to her expectations, Lumina's expression instantly turned icy upon hearing Phantylia's response.
"You're lying!"
Phantylia: ?
"Don't think I'm a fool." Sensing Phantylia's confusion and bewilderment, Lumina let out a cold laugh.
"After what I just did to you, you expect me to believe you'd save me?"
"What a joke! I'd sooner believe I'm the Aeon of Abundance herself than believe you'd save me."
Phantylia: ...
"I told you to answer truthfully. Stop dodging the question and give me a genuine answer."
Lumina's expression softened back into that gentle smile, but her finger twitched slightly, pointing directly at Phantylia.
It was as if she were saying: I'm telling you to answer truthfully, so give me the truth. No more lies or flattery. Or this finger might make you cry for a long, long time. ♪
"I'll answer! I'll answer!" As expected, when Phantylia saw Lumina raise her finger and point it at her, she instantly panicked.
The torment she had endured for nearly half an Hour had nearly traumatized her.
"I will genuinely revive you... but I'll tamper with the process to strip you of your power. If that fails, I'll seal you away and suppress your strength..."
"Then I'll inflict upon you every ounce of the Destruction I know!"
Because Lumina wanted to hear her true thoughts, Phantylia spoke these words with absolute sincerity, without a trace of falsehood.
If Lumina can torment me, why shouldn't I torment her in return?
The moment Lumina fell into her grasp, Phantylia would make her understand that imprisoning and toying with a Lord Ravager comes at a price!
Just you wait... Abundance's Abomination. Someday, somewhere, I'll make you pay...
"Aaaaaaaah! Aaaaaaaah!"
Before Phantylia could finish her train of thought, that agonizing pain she knew so well erupted once more within her soul, forcing her to emit a series of uncontrollable, anguished cries.
She was utterly bewildered. Why was she being punished even after truthfully revealing her innermost thoughts?
As confusion filled Phantylia's mind, Lumina spoke slowly, her voice soft but firm: "Now, Little Phantylia, I asked you to speak truthfully, not to boast."
"You wanted to trample on my face and unleash all kinds of Destruction upon me. How could I possibly resist punishing you properly?"
Phantylia: ...
Hearing Lumina's words, Phantylia finally understood.
What bullshit about answering the question? This was just Lumina's little amusement...