Thud!
Wittral felt all strength leave his legs as he slumped to the ground. He stared at Inala with a saddened gaze and asked, trying to brace himself mentally but failing to gather the necessary strength to do so, "How…long…do you have?"
"Why are you like that?" Instead of the sombre atmosphere that Wittral exuded, Inala glared at him with an admonishing tone, "I'm not going to die, alright?"
"Ugh, you're being too dramatic!"
"You…you'll be alright?" Wittral said, brimming with strength upon seeing Inala nod. He got up and asked in a hurry, "What needs to be done to cure you?"
"Well, as for the Sumatra Gold, I already told you the process. As long as I become proficient in using Subtle Terrain Domination, I'll be able to cure myself." Inala spoke with hope in his tone, "As for this gender conflict, I wouldn't have selected this if I didn't have a solution for it in the first place."
"Stop beating the bush and get to the point," Wittral said in restlessness.
"Well, let me explain in the simplest terms. You know my teacher, right?" Seeing Wittral nod, Inala continued to speak, "The plan was to enter the Mystic Grade using a Zinger's power. Things became messed up thanks to Loot's intervention. But that day at the Dralh Sea, when the Boar King came and said he'll offer his support, I got to thinking."
"Through the Boar King's power, I could take advantage of what my teacher planned and even raise the chance of success." Inala continued, "Just through his power, we could swap our hearts and regain our Spirit Containers alongside each other's Primary Nature as our Secondary Nature."
"Yeah, I understood that part clearly." Wittral nodded. "And I'm thankful for that. Because through you, I gained hope."
"My thoughts didn't end at that, since we had the Boar King's support." Inala revealed a deep smile, "By splitting the genders into different entities, I can develop as two individuals. And finally, once I fuse them into a singular entity, I'll evolve into a Mystic Grade Zinger."
"That…is your goal?" Wittral frowned, "But how will you do that?"
"My grandfather stumbled upon an ancient document when he fled the Brimgan Empire. He researched it for many centuries and finally figured out that it was created by the Brimgan Founder." Inala spoke.
"Brimgan Founder?" Wittral frowned, "Is he the one said to have strength on par with a Mystic Empyrean Tentacle?"
"No, that was someone else." Inala shook his head, "The Brimgan Founder is the one who made it possible for life to thrive on the Northern Lakes and Southern Veins."
"Well, that's not that impressive." Wittral's eye twitched, "I mean, any Empyrean Snapper could casually live in this region."
"Listen patiently. This happened when the Cooter Clan didn't even exist." Inala expressed a tinge of anger and continued, stressing each word, "He was an enigma, alright?"
"Sure, sure." Wittral shrugged.
"Anyway, in the map he left behind, there was information about a certain something." Inala looked around in seriousness, expressing secrecy as he whispered, "A Major Treasure."
"What? Is that the truth?" Wittral found it hard to believe. A Major Treasure wasn't something that could be mentioned casually. Even the Cooter Clan only had one and that was created after careful preparation by a bunch of powerful Cooter Clansmen from the first generation.
"Yes," Inala nodded in seriousness, "In thirteen years, it'll appear. As long as I obtain it, my two genders will fuse into one and I'll become a Mystic Grade Zinger. But, once the Major Treasure reveals itself, everyone in the Brimgan Empire will fight for its ownership. That's the prime issue we face at present."
"Sorry, Wittral. I tried to hide it from you as best as I could." Inala smiled helplessly, "I knew you would worry about me…"
"No, it is my right to worry about you." Wittral said in seriousness, "Besides, it's just the Free Humans that we have to face. Thirteen years is more than enough for me to grow very strong. No matter what, that Major Treasure is yours. I'll ensure that you're cured."
"R-Really? You'll go through all that for me?" Inala asked, his eyes moist.
"Of course!" Wittral patted his chest, smug, thinking upon seeing Inala's expression, 'I should appear damn cool in her eyes. She's fallen hard for me and will continue to be more and more smithen.'
That was pretty much his focal point in the entire conversation. As for the powerful Brimgan Empire Royals that would be aiming for the Major Treasure? He'll kill them all. Once he transforms into an Empyrean Snapper, they won't be worth much.
Irrespective of the range they boast, their Spirit Weapons would have to touch him to harm him. But as long as it enters his range, he'll actively be trying to control it. The Brimgan Empire royals would be worrying about not losing control over their Spirit Weapon.
And if they were to unleash long-ranged attacks, that would prove even more futile. After all, in a range of 180 metres around himself, he, Wittral, was absolute. That was what it meant to be an Empyrean Snapper, one of the two races worshipped as a Deity in Sumatra Continent.
"Wait, if it's a Major Treasure, wouldn't it affect its surroundings?" Wittral frowned all of a sudden as he recalled the information present in his various inheritances, "Considering the speciality of the Brimgan Empire, and how this Major Treasure is hidden in the same region, then it must have influenced an aquatic terrain."
"Is that correct?" He asked, smirking smugly upon seeing Inala's shock, "Seems my analysis is right on the dot. Can you give me everything you know about the Major Treasure?"
"Sure," Inala said and transferred the knowledge to Wittral using the Water Slip Skill. There wasn't much, since his knowledge stemmed from Sumatra Chronicles. He didn't transfer it as is but instead gave it a slight twist. And the result?
"As I expected." Wittral nodded once he comprehended the Water Slip, staring at Inala to say, "This isn't a map per se, but the Brimgan Founder's will. In case he fails to become a Transcendent, he was sure he'd become a Major Treasure. Hence, he left behind this will so that one of his descendants could claim it."
"But it has been encoded cunningly. Unless it's someone with as much inherited knowledge as me, it'll be impossible to decode the hidden meaning and realise that this is the Brimgan Founder's will." Wittral concluded based on the information in the Water Slip, which was exactly the conclusion Inala wanted him to reach.
Hence why he modified the information and created the code, having already prepared it a couple of days ago. Since Wittral was very smart, Inala used that smartness against him. After all, if faced with a puzzle, smart people would generally solve the puzzle, since they were obviously capable of it.
And since they figured out the answer on their own, they'll be confident in it, a trap smart people would often fall for.
Inala had sprung the same trap for Wittral and ensnared him perfectly into it. Now, the latter began to give pointers to Inala regarding making preparations for claiming the Major Treasure.
With a gentle smile, Inala listened with rapt attention, muttering in the end, "I thought only I was smart. You're continuing to surprise me, Wittral. You're almost as smart as me."
"As if," Wittral rolled his eyes and laughed arrogantly, "I'm obviously smarter than you, Amita."
The duo argued lightheartedly, engaging in casual banter.