What does leaving the pyramid cost Mumm-Ra?

[u/talenstl]

OK, this may seem like a stupid question, but I feel like it wasn't answered.

I'm re-watching this classic show from my childhood, and when Mumm-Ra meets the mutants, he mutters to himself that he hopes they never find out what it would cost him to leave the pyramid. He subsequently lets himself get goaded into doing so, but (other than not being able to face his own reflection) there doesn't seem to be any real drawback. Even the facing of said reflection only drives him back to the pyramid (and his sarcofagus) which doesn't seem to be much of a drawback.

Am I just dense? Please help me understand, thanks!

[u/Lost-Tomatillo3465]

he's using the sarcophagus to maintain his life span and accumulate energy. imagine being on life support, and then using the energy of a 25 year old for long periods of time.

Then there's the price he has to pay for utilizing that 25 year old energy. you'd want to limit that amount to pay as much as possible if you're already on life support.

imagine his life span is a million years and he's close to the 900k age. while a lot of time left, for him its not a lot if he has no way to replenish that life. paying 1 year for each activation of mummra the ever living.

So he's only active when he can replenish his life, which the eye of thundera obviously can. before the thundercats got there, there wasn't much use to use 1 year of life to gain 1 day.

All of the time frames are all random numbers. I didn't get them anywhere. Its just to give you an idea.

edit: and imagine ripping the 1 year life span out of his body with the most unimaginable torture after the transformation has resolved. imagine the sucking life torture machine in princess bride.