But Indra gave him no chance to speak. He ignored his attempts to intervene, his tone growing colder and blunter, every word cutting deep.
"You always criticize me for being extreme, for ruling through force."
"But at least I can see reality and listen to reason. If someone could truly convince me or defeat me, I might well change."
"Asura is different."
"He's weak and naive. He ignores the gap in strength and runs from reality."
"No matter how often reality slaps him in the face, no matter how clearly the facts are laid before him, he won't listen to anyone else's views."
"He stubbornly insists that his path is the only right one."
"If you disagree with him, you're an extremist!"
At that, Indra shifted his attack. With an almost mocking look, he stared straight at the conflicted Sage of Six Paths and delivered his sharpest question yet.
"Doesn't that sound... exactly like you, Father?"
Boom!
Those words struck like a thunderclap!
The air fell utterly still!
The Sage of Six Paths stiffened. Every plea, reassurance, and lesson poised on his lips lodged in his throat.
He stared blankly at his eldest son. For the first time, he saw a cold insight in his son's eyes that pierced through everything.
Asura's stubbornness came from him.
Asura's obstinacy was a copy of his own.
Indra watched his silent father coldly and continued in an even voice, tearing away the naive, gentle facade of both father and son.
"You've spent your entire life clinging to peace through mutual understanding, even though you know that road leads nowhere, that people's hearts are treacherous, and that a world in chaos cannot easily be pacified."
"But you never change. You only give ground, never reflecting on yourself."
"You accept only your own reasoning and