Rushing across the Dralh Sea while sustaining grievous injuries was a woman in jet-black clothes. She was the leader of Leh Island in the current quarter. Of course, she wasn't the original, but a puppet acting as her.
The Ralral puppet sped towards an island, having lost both her limbs in the process. She roared upon seeing the island approach her view, "Help! HELP!"
Roit Island!
It was one of the largest islands in the Dralh Sea's outer zone, spanning an area of 112 square kilometres. It was a large mining hub, with over 15,000 Free Humans mining into the island nonstop.
Due to the size and scale of the island, a larger team was typically dispatched here, ranging around forty Cooter Clansmen, led by a master at the 2-Life Stage.
Seated in a house along the banks of the island were two Cooter Clansmen, playing a game where they moved coloured rocks on a checkered board. Suddenly, the eyes of the two shot to the side upon hearing a faint cry for help.
They noticed Ralral's figure in the Dralh Sea, swarmed by a group of Iron Grade Pranic beasts. "Quick! One of our Clansmen is in danger!"
The two Cooter Clansmen rushed out into the sea when a jet-black cloud approached them in a hurry, "Bring it to the leader!"
Ralral puppet shouted in desperation, "Hurry! Wittral is in danger…"
Her defences came undone right at this moment as an Iron Grade Pranic Beast used the chance to lop her head off. In a matter of seconds, they clobbered through her body, leaving nothing behind.
"No!" The two Cooter Clansmen shouted as they attacked the Pranic Beasts, growling in anger upon seeing the latter flee.
"We need to bring this to the leader." One of them noticed two vials in the cloud, with one of them addressed to the Settlement Leader that Wittral usually reported to.
The cloud dissipated as he grabbed the two vials, noticing that they were Water Slips. He turned around and sped through the water, soon reaching their base to give them to the leader, "Leader!"
"A Clansman brought this in a rush!" He said, thinking for a moment before speaking, "I think that was Ralral, leader of Leh Island."
"Ralral died?" The leader frowned and grabbed the second vial, downing its contents without hesitation. A moment later, Prana billowed out of him in absolute horror, "NOOO!"
"What happened, leader?" The Cooter Clansmen felt worry upon seeing his leader's reaction.
"We need to notify the Clan immediately." The leader said and stared at the first Water Slip, "Wittral is in danger."
"The Boar King has arrived!"
"Everyone, come with me!" He rallied up all the Cooter Clansmen on the island, not caring whether or not their absence would cause the deaths of all the Free Humans there.
They created a cloudy boat and charged at their top speed, making a beeline to their base in the Dralh Sea's inner zone. The Leader was in charge of accelerating the boat while the rest of the Cooter Clansmen were in charge of defence.
"Argh!" A Pranic Beast leaped out and clamped upon a Cooter Clansman at the edge, pulling him into the water. Normally if this happens, they would retaliate, for the Clansman was still alive, protected by the cloudy defence he had erected.
But when pressed for time, they couldn't afford to delay by even a second.
"I'm sorry." The leader said as he continued to accelerate the boat, muttering solemnly as they abandoned their comrade, "If I were to be caught by a Pranic Beast, do the same."
He pointed at the Water Slip in his possession, "This needs to be sent to the Settlement Leader, no matter the cost!"
"Yes, Leader!" Everyone shouted as they rushed with reckless abandon, losing many Clansmen in the process.
Dralh Sea—Inner Zone!
The Roit Island Leader arrived at the island surrounded by four Empyrean Snappers, the sole survivor of his group. Everyone gave their lives to ensure he survived long enough to reach here. Even he died once.
Thankfully, he had a spare life, hence managed to arrive. He quickly rushed up the mountain as the guards parted way upon seeing his flustered urgency.
"Settlement Leader!" He roared upon tumbling into a stone hut, extending the Water Slip to the annoyed old man as he fainted in exhaustion.
"Kids these days are damn rude," The old man commented and grabbed the Water Slip, frowning as he wondered what it might be. He casually uncorked it and downed its contents.
…
"W-What is your motive?" Wittral gasped in exhaustion, wounded all over as he glared weakly at the domineering figure of the Boar King on an island of grey sand. "Why are you targeting us?"
"Why else do you think?" The Boar King laughed casually as he nonchalantly took a seat on a dune, staring at Wittral in amusement, "I want your Natures."
"Don't you already have two of them?" Wittral growled in anger, "Why do you keep targeting us when we have no enmity between us?"
"You're right in saying that we have no enmity," The Boar King shrugged, "But I have one with the Mammoth Clan. After their recent merger, they have gotten stronger and are gradually regaining their original glory. I simply require strong natures to face them."
"And you're the perfect fit." He grinned, "Subtle Terrain Domination will be a great weapon against the Mammoth Clan. So, I'm hunting you guys to make preparations to kill the Mammoth Clan."
"Does that explain my motive?" He laughed, casual in his tone, as if he were merely buying groceries in the market.
"T-Then why haven't you killed me yet?" Wittral asked, coughing out blood, "If you want my Nature, then take it. I'll fight until my last breath."
"I'm not a marine creature. So, it's a pain to chase after the Cooter Clan." The Boar King yawned in annoyance, "Instead, I'm luring them to this place. You're simply bait for that."
"Wittral, the first perfect Empyrean Snapper." He laughed, "I'm sure a good number of Empyrean Snappers will come to your rescue. I'll hunt them then. So, send a distress signal to your Clan. I'll allow it."
…
"Wittral!" The old man screamed in fluster upon seeing the message. Wittral was his Clan's hope. He didn't want any harm to befall their first perfect Deity.
The old man rushed out and summoned the other three Settlement Leaders, transferring the same details to them through his Water Slip skill. Two of them instantly charged out and made a beeline toward the core region of the Dralh Sea, intending to inform their Chief.
Only he could stand up to the Boar King and rally all the Empyrean Snappers. Without a large army of Empyrean Snappers, it was suicidal to face the Boar King.
While two Settlement Leaders went to inform the Cooter Clan Chief, the remaining two spread across the Dralh Sea's interior zone to rally the rest of the Settlement Leaders. They had to form an army exclusively of Empyrean Snappers and Settlement Leaders to face the Boar King.
Anyone else would be too weak to even touch the Boar King, not to mention scratch him. There was a flurry of activity in the Dralh Sea as the Silver Grade Pranic Beasts and above retreated deeper into the water in fear, for the Cooter Clan had begun mobilising its force.
It was sparked by four Empyrean Snappers, pinnacle lifeforms that have been acting no different to islands for many centuries began to move, generating rumbling tsunamis in response.