Zahara Kingdom!
It was a Kingdom in name alone, as with the rate at which it was developing, within the next half a century, it might even attain Empire status. It was because of two reasons. First, Yarsha Zahara was from here. Second, Brangara was its guardian.
The rock pillar erected at the entrance of the Zahara Kingdom using the power of a Rockatrice constantly unleashed the Boar King's presence. This served as a reminder to all Pranic Beasts in the region to avoid targeting the Kingdom. Otherwise, they'll have to suffer the Boar King's wrath.
And in recent times, the presence emanated by the rock pillar became even stronger, for it had been replaced, now emanating the Celestial Boar's presence. The fact that such an invincible existence was protecting them allowed the citizens to develop freely.
The Zahara Kingdom hadn't faced an invasion for over two decades. Moreover, from time to time, Yarsha Zahara granted the Zahara Kingdom with powerful cultivation techniques.
Even though the strongest mineral available in the region was the Reactive Jade, only capable of creating cultivators with Silver Grade strength, it didn't matter. After all, the cultivation technique of the Zahara Royal Family that used Reactive Jade had been developed further, increasing their overall strength to the pinnacle of Silver Grade.
In the majority of the places on Sumatra, Silver Grade strength was more than enough. With the improvements brought about by Yarsha Zahara, the Zahara Royalty attained top-class Silver Grade strength.
"Prince! Prince! Prince!"
Located on the border of the Zahara Kingdom's capital city was a grand colosseum that had just been inaugurated. Performing for the opening ceremony was Shuwrak Zahara, the older brother of Yarsha Zahara.
He had recently reached the peak of the Body Stage and was feeling confident after the improvements to their cultivation technique. And now, he challenged one of the most dangerous Silver Grade Pranic Beasts in a duel to death.
Expert Silver Grade Pranic Beast—Centinger!
The Wean Clan gifted a horde of Pranic Beasts to the Zahara Kingdom to be used for their colosseum. And among them were at least a couple dozen Centingers. Of course, only one of them was to be used for the colosseum. As for the rest?
Primary Nature—Bone-Melting Artillery!
It was one of the most destructive powers at the Silver Grade and also the most effective against the Mammoth Clan. As it was also a ranged ability, it was effective against the Quip Clan too. As a result, Yarsha Zahara had been focusing on this power the most.
With the Celestial Boar's help, she conceptualised a cultivation technique that treated the spikes grown on the centipede upper body of the Centinger as a mineral. It was these spikes that were launched when the Centinger activated its Primary Nature.
By using it as a mineral, the cultivator would be able to build a powerful Human Avatar with corrosive powers. The greatest power they obtained from it was in being able to use psychokinesis explosively for short bursts.
This explosive psychokinesis allowed them to unleash an artillery strike through their Spirit Containers, making them powerful combatants. Entirely dependent and derived from the Centingers, the cultivation technique had been named accordingly.
Silver Centinger Art!
Yarsha Zahara derived insight from the functions of Mystic Bone Art. Mammoth Clansmen consumed tusk bone powder to build their bodies. She converted the same mechanism to allow Free Humans to treat the spikes of Centingers similarly.
Currently, it was called the Silver Centinger Art, but over time, Yarsha Zahara intended to elevate it to the Gold Grade. Once that happens, the spikes of Millingers could be treated as minerals to build Human Avatars out of.
Once that succeeds, the Zahara Kingdom would obtain Gold Grade strength, able to truly call themselves an Empire. Those without a Gold Grade strength weren't qualified to call themselves as one.
With Brangara's support, subduing and capturing a couple of Millingers for the Zahara Kingdom wasn't an issue.
The Zahara Royalty would be practising two cultivation techniques. The first would be their original technique revolving around Reactive Jade. This would be served for the Kingdom's defence. The Silver Centinger Art would be reserved for the Kingdom's offence.
And the truly talented ones with the potential to lead the Kingdom would cultivate the Gold Millinger Art, once it was finished. They'll rule the Kingdom and create a foundation for their future development.
The first step to that future was to showcase the growing strength of the Zahara Royalty. Shuwrak Zahara was the one chosen for the task.
With a grunt, he activated his Human Avatar and battled against the Centinger, sustaining damage at first before causing his Human Avatar to react into a form suitable for countering the power of Bone-Melting Artillery.
"Take this, Beast!" He bellowed and released a mist that reacted with the spikes of the Centinger and transformed the power in them into a healing effect. As the artillery strike slammed into him, large craters formed on his Human Avatar due to the impact.
But the power in the spikes healed him following that, allowing him to recover from the attack. 'It hurts like shit!'
Shuwrak Zahara intended to holler in pain but controlled himself, putting on a show, 'I need to act like the attack didn't affect me.'
"He…hehe, was that your best, Beast?" He controlled the shaking in his voice and got up. Though his legs were wobbly, he churned Prana into them and tried his best to stand firm.
The Centinger stared at him in shock, wondering how he survived its artillery strike. It slashed with its centipede upper body, forming a crater on the ground upon impact. The ground melted rapidly and turned into a toxic swamp due to its power, reducing the space on the colosseum ground for Shuwrak to dart around.
"You're slow! Is that all you got?" He taunted and remained on the run, dodging the attacks well in advance, having zero confidence in being able to face them.
'This idiot!' The Zahara King observed the battle and felt an urge to facepalm. No matter how strong they became, Free Humans were vastly weaker than their Pranic Beast counterparts due to their smaller stature.
Upon seeing that its power wasn't perfect in dealing with Shuwrak, the Centinger simply retorted to physical attacks, which were stronger than his strongest attacks. Its sheer body was a weapon.
'I told him that he needs to be at least in the 6-Life Stage to have a chance against the Centinger.' The Zahara King sighed. He then stared at the disappointed expression of Yarsha Zahara who was seated at his side, "I tried to stop him."
"I'm not blaming you, Dad." Yarsha Zahara tried her best to sport a straight face but the sense of shame she felt was strong, 'I wanted to entertain my husband. But this idiot brother of mine ruined it.'
"I did tell him that an improvement to his cultivation technique didn't equate to enough spike in his strength." Yarsha Zahara said, her tone quickly turning into one of complaint, "He should have picked some other Silver Grade Pranic Beast that he was confident in defeating. Centingers are hunting experts."
"Don't be so hard on your brother." Seeing the argument between Yarsha Zahara and the Zahara King, Brangara spoke, his eyes twinkling faintly, "A strong man needs to face someone vastly stronger than him. That's what the path of a warrior is all about."
"Besides," Brangara pointed at the cheering crowd, "They are hyped about his performance. So isn't it for the best?"
"He doesn't have the strength to kill it." Yarsha Zahara grumbled, "He used Reactive Jade's power to neutralise the corrosive power of the Centinger's artillery strike. Had he used it to counter the Centinger's healing prowess, the battle might have tilted in his favour."
"But his chances of death will be higher in that case." Brangara said, "He'll be vulnerable against its artillery strike. So I think he has made a solid judgement."
"All he's doing is prolonging the inevitable. He doesn't have enough destructive power to take advantage of a moment's weakness by the Centinger." Yarsha Zahara clicked her tongue.
"What do you think?" Brangara turned to the side and stared at his four kids, hovering his gaze on Barla, "Will your uncle win or lose?"
"He'll lose." Brana said without hesitation, "Fighting head-on against a Centinger is foolish. He should have employed a strategy to win."
"He's using a strategy though." Barla commented as she pointed at Shuwrak Zahara, "His Reactive Jade will soon return to its base state. Once that happens, he'll employ the strategy Mom said. And since its artillery strike proved useless against him before, the Centinger won't be using it again, which makes it less risky for him to target it."
"He'll have a higher chance of success doing that if he were at least at the 2-Life Stage." Yarsha Zahara commented. But then, her skin prickled as she felt Brangara releasing a faint tinge of his presence, directing it at the Centinger, "You…?"
"I'm part of the strategy." Brangara winked. His action caused the Centinger to freeze up at the opportune time. Without missing the chance, Shuwrak Zahara targeted the joint between its centipede upper body and its frog-like lower body and drilled his way inside, killing it a few minutes later.
"Prince! Prince! Prince!" The crowd erupted in excitement at the sight of the Centinger's death, for it meant the Zahara Kingdom's strength had reached a level where they could kill a Centinger in a one-on-one battle.
"In the future, more of us will be able to do the same!" Shuwrak raised his bloody hand in victory and bellowed while pointing to Yarsha Zahara, "And it's all thanks to our Princess, and my enviably talented sister, Yarsha Zahara!"
"Hurray to the Princess!"
"Hurray to Yarsha Zahara!"
"Dad…" Yarsha Zahara glared at the Zahara King, "I never asked for something like this. I didn't contribute to brother's victory."
"You were gone from the Kingdom for too long." Brangara said as his eyes glinted, "So, this is the best way to rekindle their memory of you. Besides, this is necessary for our upcoming plan."
He grinned and pointed at his children, "Only thanks to this will an endless line of suitors come for our brats."
The entire colosseum was a grand public relations initiative.