"You must be the 44th Empyrean Tusk's successor." Orakha muttered in relief as he observed his eyes tearing up subconsciously, "Damn, my instincts as a Mammoth Clansman are raving about now."
"You're…Orakha, right?" Gannala took a second guess, for even though she could feel that the other party was part of her immune system, there was something odd about him. It felt like he could or couldn't be a Mammoth Clansman, all at his sole discretion.
"Did Inala tell you about me?" Orakha let out a bright smile, "Please tell me he didn't reveal anything strange about me."
"I'm not sure," Gannala acted casual as she nonchalantly walked past Orakha and grabbed Asaeya. She carried her to the side and placed her on the ground, feeding her the contents of a vial to aid in her recovery.
All along, Gannala could feel Orakha's eyes on her, trailing her actions. Acting unconcerned, she said, "He did say you were very smart, probably the smartest of his friend circle,"
"But he also said that you're incredibly stupid."
"What the…hey, that's messed up," Orakha complained. His eyes then darted towards Asaeya as he asked, "Is this pretty lady your mother?"
"Is she pretty in your eyes?" Gannala asked back.
'Is she really four years old?' Orakha frowned mentally, feeling that Gannala was way smarter for her age, possessing not a single semblance of innocence and naivety that someone her age ought to have. She was more mature than most adults.
All along, even after seeing that Orakha had attacked Asaeya, she maintained her calm and acted natural while bringing Asaeya to safety and treated her. Her calmness, her collective analysis of the situation, and the confidence above all to act on her beliefs, all were terrifying.
"Yeah, very." Orakha nodded, expressing his interest, "Can you answer my question though? Is she your mother?"
"Well, what do you think?" Gannala answered with a question instead.
"I don't think you're related." Orakha analysed, "None of your features match, from your temperament to your physique. You look like a splitting image of Inala, so maybe your mother's traits weren't strong enough."
"You're right," Gannala patted Asaeya's forehead gently and observed the latter was recovering, still unconscious, "She's not my mother."
"Sweet!" Orakha grinned, "Then, you wouldn't mind if I make her the mother of my child, right?"
"Hold your horses, young man!" Gannala liked an annoyed kid as she approached Orakha, extending her hand for a handshake, "Introductions come first!"
"…" Upon seeing Gannala approach him, Orakha instinctively reacted and leaped behind, latching onto a corner of the ceiling in the living room like a lizard. His breathing was slightly haggard as he stared at her in alarm, "What are you doing?"
"Handshake…?" Gannala tilted her head in confusion, "Isn't that how we do things?"
"I'll pass," Orakha calmed himself and landed on the floor, dusting himself, "I don't believe in handshakes. We can talk from a distance."
"Distance?" Gannala smiled as her eyes formed crescent moons. An instant later, her figure flickered before Orakha, aiming a full-powered punch to his groin.
An energy barrier appeared over Orakha's groin, denting upon the impact. His face turned pale as he was sent flying out of the cave.
The cave was positioned close to the top of the Guna Cave region. Hence at its edge, there was a cliff, spanning a height of five kilometres. Sent flying by her punch, Orakha made an arc and fell through the height of five kilometres.
"Hmm…" Gannala stared at her fists to see that they were bruised, "He's strong."
Her Prana surged to her fist and instantly healed her bruise. She walked to the cave's entrance and peered out, hearing shockwaves from below as something seemed to be making its way up at a rapid speed.
Suddenly, an eerie energy serpent, shadowy in nature, almost a haze flared up and latched onto the wall of the cliff adjacent to the cave. It then reeled as its body shrunk, bringing up the figure of Orakha attached to its tail.
"It's too soon for you to beat up your beloved uncle!" Orakha shouted as he hovered a few metres away from Gannala, his body floating in the air, maintained and tethered by the shadowy serpent trailing out of his body.
"Why don't you start speaking, Orakha?" Gannala's expression turned frosty as she said, "Not a word uttered by you since the start has been the truth."
"Why have you come here?"
"I see, so that's how it is." Orakha nodded as he stared at Gannala, "So, you have already gone through all of Inala's memories."
"That's…" He exhaled softly before suddenly, intense killing intent radiated out of his being, "Annoying!"
"Do you seriously plan to kill your fellow Clansman for a treasure?" Gannala turned nervous upon seeing the extent of Prana radiating from Orakha, 'This guy is strong. His abilities seem complexly mysterious. If only I could touch his body once. I'll be able to figure out all his plans and secrets.'
Even though Gannala had inherited everything from the previous Gannala, she hadn't taken on her official post yet. Meaning, the Mammoth Clansmen part of the 44th Settlement hadn't touched her.
Only when this contact happens would her Prana naturally accept them as part of her immune system. When that happens, they'll innately become subservient to her, with their thoughts influenced for her benefit.
That was why Orakha was unwilling to touch her. Moreover, he didn't wish for Gannala to read his memories, for that would mean Inala would later come to know everything about him.
This was dangerous, since they were rivals gunning for the same set of treasures. If Inala were to know everything about Orakha, then it would be impossible for Orakha to win against Inala.
Based on the information he absorbed from the Transcendent Eater regarding Resha and the reincarnates, he understood that scheming types such as Inala and Virala were his worst opponents.
As long as Orakha loses initiative in terms of information, it would be impossible for him to win against those two.
Currently, in terms of strength, Resha was the strongest among the seven, followed by Orakha. In comparison, both Inala and Virala were damn weak. But in terms of their preparations and success rate in obtaining the Major Treasure of Attribute, they were leading everyone by a large margin.
'The one with the greatest possibility of obtaining the Attribute is either Inala or Virala. Everyone else is too far behind in their preparations.' Orakha knew this fact. Hence, he was unwilling to touch Gannala and reveal all his information.
If Gannala knows, she is bound to reveal it to Inala, her father.
"I have no intention of killing him. After all, he's a necessity in killing the Boar King." Orakha said, "But, I would love it if he's delayed. After all, I don't want him to comfortably plan and develop in the Brimgan Empire and get the Attribute. I know he's aiming for that. Hence,"
"I have to apologise in advance." The shadowy serpent vanished as Orakha's figure dropped down.
"You!" Gannala shouted in alarm as she arrived at the edge and looked out, alarmed upon seeing a horde of Pranic Beasts rushing in her direction. The Pranic Beasts aiming for her weren't just from the wilderness. But even the ones part of the Guna Caves were rushing towards her.
[Gannala! There's a wave!]
The Empyrean Zinger Queen's alarmed shout resounded as immediately, the ground tremored. Gannala stomped the ground in anger, "Orakha!"