Both gained a fraction of self-will at the same time. However, in the time Virala took to consume the data—carrying external influence—swarming him in the main hall, Brangara devoured most of the data in the entire fort.
At first, he was a bubbling ball of flesh, similar to Virala. However, as he gathered more pieces of Mystic Nature Art’s data, he was being purified internally. The external influence was removed while the data it inhibited became part of Brangara.
In such a fashion, he travelled through the fort, starting from its edges and made his way to the centre, where Virala was.
And now, in terms of percentage, Brangara controlled more than eighty percent of Mystic Nature Art’s power. He had also absorbed a majority of Virala’s data.
Best of all, since he was part of Virala’s build as a Mystic Human, Brangara wasn’t considered an external influence.
Boom!
The two individuals rammed into each other, producing a thunderclap as the fists of each shattered upon impact. However, the fragments that spilled out were data. Brangara sucked with force and consumed a majority of the data.
His body digested it and reinforced his body, regrowing his arm quickly, following which he cranked in a second punch. Conversely, Virala lost a portion of his data from the exchange, immediately noticing that he couldn’t recall a few instances of his life.
"This shouldn’t be possible! It makes no sense!" Virala cursed as he sidestepped and locked Brangara in an armbar. However, unlike in the past, Brangara was slippery like an eel and managed to free himself from the hold. ’He’s good at fighting, but he shouldn’t be as good at grappling and martial arts as me.’
"How much of my info did you make yours?" He roared and leapt back in alarm to see his shoulder get chomped off by the enemy.
"At present..." Brangara calmly analysed and gave an answer, "I hold around sixty percent of your data. Most of this data is about Mystic Nature Art and your Tertiary Body. There’s also stuff from your life on Earth."
"Interesting," Brangara grinned, "You were almost killed multiple times by furious husbands on Earth, huh?"
"Well, it’s kind of an irony." He scratched his cheek and eyed Virala, "You wanted my power and indeed obtained it. My data stops at the point under the Varahan Mansion in the Brimgan Empire when you consumed me. However, based on your memories..."
"Seems you’ve done quite a number on my family." His face sported a wide grin. However, his body language meant otherwise, intending to destroy the detestable foe before him, "Normally, such a compromising situation wouldn’t happen to a Mystic Human, unless of course..."
"They have the Nature of Cultivator, which I do." The Nature of Cultivator resulted in a scenario where Brangara was alive on Sumatra, even though Virala obtained Brangara’s body. And as long as the original’s Prana reaches this body’s data, it could trigger it into an awakening.
Even then, Virala ought to have been able to take care of it, if he had known in advance. He would simply have to prevent the data forming Brangara in his mindspace from gaining any more data.
Without Mystic Nature Art’s data, he wouldn’t be able to do anything. And over time, Virala’s will would simply drown and erase any self-will that was present in it. This would have been the case normally.
However, since Virala was rendered into a mindless state, it gave Brangara an opportunity when the Violet Mystic Path pulsed. He was no different from a split personality and hence, took advantage of the situation by relying on his stronger devouring capability.
Boom!
The Empyrean Boar King appeared in the fort and bit onto the Mystic Ewworm to crunch on the latter’s Tratham Tool. A powerful, crimson-hued force sent the Empyrean Boar King skidding away. However, a second later, it broke the sound barrier and rushed the Mystic Ewworm to clamp upon another body part.
"You lost another portion of your body." Brangara cackled as he slurped half of the Mystic Ewworm’s severed body and quickly integrated it into his being. He stole a portion of the Mystic Ewworm’s data too, which turned Virala’s transformation faulty.
Virala was forced to return to his human form when the Empyrean Boar King stomped on him with its hooves. "Urgh!"
"Grahh!" Virala screamed as the hooves destroyed his legs.
"I always wanted to do this." Reverting to human form, Brangara lifted Virala’s leg and munched on it. His legs pressed upon the latter’s chest and applied pressure, "The bodies of Mystic Humans serve as our Spirit Weapon. This is incredible, you know."
"It allows me to do this..." Saying so, he didn’t even flex his muscles. However, his heel dug into Virala’s chest and cratered it. The data fragments that spilled out turned into a stream and flowed into Brangara’s mouth.
"You think this is going to change anything?" Virala coughed as he grabbed Brangara’s leg firmly, slowly pushing it away, "This is my soul!"
"You’re not Brangara, even if you take over my body and mind!" Virala roared, "Even if you absorb me, I’ll be living within you! My mind is stronger! My will is more powerful! I will emerge eventually..."
Virala stopped speaking upon seeing Brangara stare at him with a warm gaze, "W-Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Most of what forms me belongs to you." Brangara patted his chest, "However..."
Followed by a grin, he pointed to his head, "This part will be me from now onwards. As long as I live as myself, I’ll be accumulating more data as myself."
"Your total worth of data is a bit over a century, including your life on Earth." Brangara crouched and patted Virala on the cheek, "Once I live past a century, our accumulations would be equal. And after that,"
As Virala’s face paled further, Brangara grinned sweetly, "You’ll become a minor facet of my mind. And from then on, you’ll continue to shrink until your memories will have a minimal to no influence on my actions."
"How long do you live anyway...?" Brangara tapped his chin, broke off Virala’s arm and munched on it, grinning in excitement, "Right, a whopping twenty thousand years."
"What’s a mere century against that?" As he said, his foot applied more pressure and splattered Virala’s body into data fragments. As they were inhaled, Brangara carefully distributed them across his body, "This way, his will won’t be collective enough to influence me."
"Ha...hahaha!" Brangara roared as he alone stood in the fort, which dissolved and vanished, reverting the place to a normal mindspace as all external influence had been erased. "I don’t have the ability to store Natures in this body. But it doesn’t matter,"
Secondary Body—Mystic Ewworm!
Tertiary Body—Empyrean Boar King!
"This will do! This...will do." Brangara roared in laughter and closed his eyes, synchronising with his body as he uttered, "It’s time I woke up."
...
Dralh Sea—Abode of the Mystics!
A Mystic Human held a large cleaver and approached a cave to stare at the bound body of a Mystic Ewworm. He moved his Tratham cleaver and placed it on the Mystic Ewworm’s tail.
"Heup!" A grunt from him, and the tail was severed, which was immediately packed by a team of Mystic Humans. This tail would soon grow into a Gold Ewworm, which formed the staple build of the Mystic Humans.
Through the Gold Ewworm, they could wield the power of a mineral Spirit Weapon, which had significant uses, especially Tratham, which perfectly complemented their build.
"We need two more," The Mystic Human with the Tratham cleaver said. He watched his companions feed the Mystic Ewworm some Pranic Beast meat, allowing it to swiftly regenerate its tail.
He then brought his cleaver down on its tail, when suddenly, a sharp clang resounded, "Eh?"
The Mystic Ewworm seemed to have vanished mysteriously, alarming the three Mystic Humans. Right as they were about to sound the alarm and begin a search, their hearts palpitated.
Thump! Thump!
Goosebumps appeared on their skin, causing patches to prickle so much they bled blood. Instinctively, the trio found themselves kneeling on the ground. Only then did they notice confident, loud footsteps before them.
The footsteps originated from the same place as the Mystic Ewworm, but the rhythm belonged to a human. However, a formless pressure hung overhead, preventing the Mystic Humans from squeaking even a single word.
"Kid," The Mystic Human with the Tratham Cleaver suddenly felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him, causing him to be drenched with sweat. A hand rested on his head, casual, but the weight was causing his skeleton to creak in response.
"Y-Yes," He didn’t know who the other party was. He wondered for a moment if it was Virala, but had no way to confirm. He had neither seen Virala in person before, nor was he able to lift his head to sneak a glance now.
"Who rules the Mystic Humans now?" Came the question.
"T-The Council," The Mystic Human answered.
"And they are?" The voice asked next.
"In the topmost floor of the palace." The Mystic Human responded. A second later, he gasped for air, noticing that he was able to breathe once again. Hurriedly, he and his two companions turned around, but there was no sign of anyone else in the place, "My...goodness!"
"I’m afraid we screwed up."
"The founder must have awakened from his madness," Another Mystic Human said in a hurry, "Quick! We need to alert the council of this..."
Meanwhile, at the Mystic Human Council, all Councilmen were seated except for the Chief. Ruvva was currently at the Brimgan Empire, preparing for the birth of the next Brimgan Emperor.
"We have encountered a strange Gold Grade Pranic Beast approximately 15,000 kilometres from here. Its capabilities would prove advantageous with our..." Councilman Hyak was relaying a report compiled by his subordinates when suddenly, one of them stood up with a start.
’This isn’t the behaviour befitting someone part of the Council.’ Councilman Hyak frowned as he addressed the individual, "Councilman Yoribu, please be seated..."
"G-Great-Grandfather...?" Yoribu exclaimed in shock at the individual who sauntered into the council room, "Is that you?"
"You are..." Brangara frowned in thought, "Who are you again?"
Tertiary Body Stage 1—Brangara!
In his appearance, Brangara eyed the Mystic Humans and then focused on Yoribu, "You smell like my kin. Who are you exactly?"