>>213334736
He perceives a giant flaming eye because that is the spiritual form Sauron manifests because he is a paranoid maniac by this point in time. Sauron actually sucks. He is a brilliant politician, artist, builder, intelligence agent and logistician. Those are his divine strengths according to his nature and alignment. He absolutely is terrible at fighting, strategy, and pretty much everything to do with conflict. He absolutely worshiped Melkor because the pair completed and complemented each other's strengths.
By this time in history, Sauron has been defeated and humiliated time and time again. If this was an RTS game, Sauron is an absolutely newb who has maxed out his unit count and economy but knows in his heart he cannot micromanage his units in combat worth shit and is terrified to engage in any conclusive battle, especially knowing his opponent has a decisive game-ending superweapon they captured from him. His spiritual being manifests as a giant eye to others because he is absolutely paranoid, consumed with inner turmoil and is trying desperately to see a path to victory or his potential defeat coming. It isn't an image of projected strength, but rather Sauron knows the Developer Himself, is fucking around with the game's code to ensure Sauron loses no matter what he does.
