"If it's just that, then you're unnecessary." The Mammoth Clan Virala shrugged and stared at Raaha, "I can easily accomplish it, Chief."
"Too bad, you can't anymore." Virala laughed, "I've already used that method against her kids once. So she must be actively preparing countermeasures for it now. By the time you reach the Varahan Enclave, she'll be ready to counter you."
"All you'll achieve is giving her the power of Weaponisation." Virala clapped as he stared at his Mammoth Clan self in disdain, "If you aren't aware of what's happening, do me a favour and shut the fuck up. Don't embarrass my brain cells."
The Mammoth Clan Virala wanted to argue but when a stream of information flooded his mind space, thanks to Gannala, he could only shut up, for the other party was speaking the truth. "Tch!"
"But know this, Chief." The Mammoth Clan Virala stared at Raaha to address, "Even I won't trust myself. There is absolutely zero guarantee of this bastard keeping up with his promise."
"Besides, he knows our powers while we have no idea of what he's planning and why he wants Nature Weapons of powerful Pranic Beasts, a good majority of which are at the Gold Grade." He concluded, "We'll be working ourselves to the bone for his benefit."
It was a solid point, especially when the person who said it was the same individual, but one whose loyalty was absolutely geared towards the Mammoth Clan. Raaha fell silent in response, leaning against trusting Virala.
Until now, Raaha only tolerated Virala's actions because he was a Mystic Path and had a sizeable possibility of realising the Mammoth Clan's dreams. But the Virala that wasn't a Mammoth Clansman wasn't someone whose actions and existence Raaha would overlook.
"Just to make it easier for you to make up your mind," As if he had expected such a reaction, Virala pointed at the tunnel whose entrance was reduced to the ground, "There's a lot of resources coming out from it. They all belong to the Brimgan Empire."
"And currently, there's a frightening existence guarding it. With the passage of every day, he's growing stronger with no signs of stopping." Virala laughed, "And I've already made preparations to signal him. Once I do, he'll be here in less than three minutes, considering his current position."
He faced Gannala, "Why don't you tell everyone the fate of the Mammoth Clan in Sumatra Chronicles following the Second Major Disaster after Brandal Brimgan's declaration?"
"Want a repeat of it?"
"Are you threatening us now?" Gannala felt angry. She had yet to fully digest the fact of Inala becoming the Royal Zinger. And now, staring at Virala only served to further ignite her anger.
"The moment you transform, he'll see us." Virala pointed in the direction of the Brimgan Empire, "His attention is already on this place thanks to the sand tornado that appeared before. The only reason he hasn't investigated this place yet is due to the current state of the Brimgan Empire."
"But…" He didn't complete his sentence, pausing purposefully, "A hundred Royals died mysteriously. Now, there are Empyrean Tusks in human form and someone who could create tunnels underground seamlessly. Isn't it a wonderful coincidence?"
"Well, that's still a milder threat." Virala casually pointed at Orakha, "This guy refined Brandal Brimgan into a Minor Treasure. That reason is enough for his children to hunt the Mammoth Clan with boundless hatred."
"Oh, there's one more. It's even better, so calm down." He stared at Gannala, "Ruvva is my daughter. But she's also Yarsha Zahara's daughter."
"Considering her character, she'll do everything in her power to reclaim Ruvva. She'll use Grehha's knowledge of the Mammoth Clan to devise enough traps that you guys won't even know what hit you." He bowed a little towards Gannala, "She already stole valuable secrets of the Mammoth Clan in Sumatra Chronicles. Now, she remembers her past and has sided with Brangara."
"We've come full circle here, with either threat or cooperation." Virala clapped, as if he had enjoyed his performance, "Time is running short. Unless the Mammoth Clan plans to flee Sumatra Continent, you must cooperate with me."
[Ancestor! We intend to leave Sumatra. What are your thoughts?]
Raaha intended to contact Mahira Tusk, but just as in recent days, there was no reply from the Transcendent World—Tentacles of Tusk!
"Fighting with each other is a waste of time and energy. We can instead cooperate and prosper together." Virala concluded, "So, what are your thoughts? Whatever it is, decide soon. I don't have much time to waste, you see, since I'm damn busy sitting on my ass."
"You…will never be a cutie," Wrunnala commented from the side.
"I…am sad." Virala made an exaggerated movement of suffering from intense heartbreak. He snickered, "Please only comment on things I care about."
"Well…" He trailed off and pointed at Gannala and Harrala, "I do care a bit about their opinion though, since it's thanks to their predecessors that I've attained my current height."
"You can leave," Gannala glared, "The Mammoth Clan won't be cooperating with you…"
"Stay silent for a bit, Gannala." Raaha patted her shoulder and stared at Virala, "We will cooperate, but your contribution is lacklustre. It's not worth the Nature Weapons you're asking for."
"That's a pain then." Virala sighed and turned around, intending to leave, "Guess I can only go through the long approach."
"Are there Mammoth Clansmen somewhere else?" The Mammoth Clan Virala asked all of a sudden.
"As expected of myself." Virala grinned as he stared at his Mammoth Clan self, "There are a few scattered amongst the other Kingdoms. I've seen two at the Rumtara Kingdom and one in the Brimgan Empire. From what I have gathered, there are at least a dozen Mammoth Clansmen scattered amidst the kingdoms. They're all living pitiful lives after the Boar King killed their Deities."
"But they should be plenty to create Weaponisation, especially through their kids." The Mammoth Clansman Virala continued the remainder of what Virala wanted to convey.
Virala had already done that once. So all the Empyrean Tusks were aware that he could repeat the process again, since he knew the recipe required to awaken Weaponisation in Mammoth Clansmen.
It would only be at Gold Grade, unlike the one possessed by the Mammoth Clan Virala and Gannala. But it was more than enough to create Nature Weapons. Virala would have to hunt and gather the Nature Weapons for his purpose singlehandedly.
The process might take a few years, but it was doable.
Virala would still be doing whatever the heck he wanted and achieve his objectives in the upcoming years. It was just that the Mammoth Clan wouldn't gain any benefit from that. Only by cooperating with him now would they achieve their objective too.
Without Mahira Tusk's word, they couldn't leave Sumatra Continent. Even the previous herd that left the Continent two millennia ago made the journey only after her input. That was why they were confident of reaching another Continent.
Without her guidance, they'd be like headless lambs blindly roaming the Sandy-Grey Void until the region devours them.
So, until they received her response, the Mammoth Clan had to operate with the intention of surviving on Sumatra.
Thanks to Mahira Tusk's actions against the Influenced Region of Hidden Eye and her repeated aggravation, Sumatra Continent was in a state of alertness. Hence, it prevented all Transcendents from communicating with the leaders of their respective forces on the Continent.
That, and them being forced to fight two Cosmic Beings ensured there would be no response from Mahira Tusk for the time being.
Though he didn't know the full picture, Raaha weighed the pros and cons. He communicated with Orakha through a Bone Slip in the latter's possession.
[Can you monitor all his actions?]
[I'll have to revive constantly between the two locations to ensure nothing amiss happens to my other body. But, if my other body is targeted by Virala, I'll suffer an implosion. To guard against that, I'll have to leave my Minor Treasure in the body of at least one more Mammoth Clansman. Currently, I can only revive next to Ruvva, but my constant revival might interfere with her development. So I want to remove it from her body.]
[Leave one in Gannala then.]
[That won't be wise, Chief. It will influence her immune system, since it's a Minor Treasure. Plus, It's the Iron Empyrean Tentacle's power.]
'Indeed, it'll be dangerous for the Clansmen in the Empyrean Tusks. Plus, I cannot leave that risk lying down if in the future he betrays us.' Raaha thought in worry, 'Currently, we're only controlling Maroppa through Orakha. Having a revival won't be of much use, since if he's betraying us, she'll end up following him too.'
'Guess there's only one choice. If worst comes to worst, I can devour his power to revive.'
[Leave one in me then.]
[Yes, Chief.]
Raaha then contacted Gannala through the Bone Slip Skill, trying his best to make an informed decision.
[Do you have a guarantee of being able to read all of Orakha's thoughts?]
[No, as he already explained before, he can choose not to have his thoughts be read if he wants, since he fused a piece of Sumatra Gold in his Human Avatar. The only way to ensure we can control him properly is if his child is born a Mammoth Clansman. We have to make that possibility a guarantee first.]
[Can you do that?]
[Actually, I'm already done with it. Maroppa is afraid to go against me despite her hatred towards Mahira Tusk, since I can unleash the Dance of Annihilation. She knows my Weaponisation is at the Mystic Grade, unlike Mahira Tusk's Gold Grade Weaponisation. Since my Dance of Annihilation is significantly more powerful, she's happy to be on my good side.]
[That's good to hear.]
[One more thing, Chief. We need to head to the Gaja Enclave if we're collaborating with Virala. There's something I need to obtain there. With it, we'll no longer have to worry about Maroppa going berserk on us.]
[I understand. Keep acting angry on the outside. Let them underestimate your abilities as much as possible.]
[That'll be hard, since they don't fully put down their guard against me even if I behave incompetently, considering whose mind I grew up accessing.]
"Orakha will be keeping a watch over you, so stay in line as per the agreement." Raaha accepted the collaboration between Virala and the Mammoth Clan.
"Awesome!" Virala revealed a content smile and asked, "Since we're cooperating for our mutual benefit, why don't we transact some more?"
Saying so, he condensed a Spirit Container cluster, "I have here exclusive information from the Brimgan Empire's library that only Brandal Brimgan could access."
He then pointed at himself upon transforming into Brangara, "Also everything you can know about this body, from his bias to the pose in which he shits."
"What do you want in return?" Raaha asked, keeping his composure.
"One Transcendent Eater body to consume." Virala said in a tone as if he was asking for a couple of Parute Fruits.