"Why did you help Bael?" Huo Ling asked in some confusion.
Tiamat did not conceal the reason. "Because I don't like Zariel. Since a devil wanted to cause Zariel some trouble, of course I wouldn't refuse."
Tiamat had been the Lord of Avernus two generations ago. Though she did not manage Avernus much, its annual revenues were still staggering.
She had lost the position of Lord, and it was hard for Tiamat to feel pleased about Zariel, her successor.
Tiamat smiled wickedly. "When Bael came to me, I had no reason to refuse. He traded vast resources for secret arts from me."
"Zariel is probably suffering torture every day now. Every inch of flesh on her body is shaved away with a blade and delivered into Bael's belly for him to devour and absorb."
Huo Ling said, "Is that the effect of the secret art? Why is it so cruel? It seems less like a secret art and more like a method of torture. If he is devouring and absorbing Zariel's power, shouldn't he simply swallow her whole?"
Tiamat laughed. "That's right. I improved this secret art. The devouring process is slowed down, but that does not come without benefits."
"Zariel's suffering will last longer, and Bael's absorption of power will be steadier. If he swallowed Zariel whole, Bael would waste at least more than half of Zariel's power."
"But this method greatly reduces the proportion of wasted power, allowing him to claim nearly all of Zariel's strength as his own."
"At the same time, Bael can torture Zariel throughout the process. Can you think of any better method?" Tiamat's laughter brimmed with twisted evil.
"Then, if Bael learns that I have set my sights on him, will he speed up his devouring of Zariel?" Huo Ling thought of another