Forty kilometres away from the Zahara Kingdom, standing under the shade of a tree were the figures of Orakha, Blola, and the Mystic Human Virala.
"It has been a month since the Wean Selection started." Orakha spoke, "Today's the final day. After this, Brangara's children will mate with the selected contestants to spawn more Wean Clansmen."
He then stared at Blola, "Yarsha hasn't revived Grehha yet?"
"Nope," Blola shook his head, "I'll know when she revives him."
"It's as I suspected." Virala grinned, "She will revive him once the Free Human women are pregnant. His Empyrean Incubator is very helpful during the pregnancy period."
"But the Empyrean Incubator can only release the essence of an Empyrean Tusk." Orakha frowned, "It will only conflict with the genes of the Wean Clansmen."
"Not if the Empyrean Incubator can be modified." Virala shook his head, "Using Yennda's power, Yarsha Zahara has probably figured out a way to mutate Grehha's Empyrean Incubator in a form suitable for the Empyrean Boars."
"Especially through Brangara." He said, "He and the Supreme Tusk Gannala have a close-knit relationship."
The Supreme Tusk Gannala was birthed through Brangara's blood generated after he consumed the hearts of his brethren. Similarly, Brangara obtained the Tertiary Nature of Cultivator by consuming Mammoth Clansman children.
Grehha's Empyrean Incubator was the Supreme Tusk Gannala's arrangement. It was created using her ovum, which was why it was able to generate Empyrean Tusk essence, as it originated from the Supreme Tusk.
"Since she knows the full picture, I can guarantee that she has a way in which the modified Empyrean Incubator can absorb Brangara's Prana and refine it into Empyrean Boar essence, which will result in the birth of stronger Wean Clansmen." Virala said, "Brangara was already doing the same at the Varahan Mansion."
"By combusting his body, he generated influence that strengthened the Empyrean Boar genetics in his children, which became the biggest reason they evolved into Clansmen." Virala grinned as he transformed into Brangara for a moment, "And I used the chance to consume his body."
"Do I go on a rampage?" Blola asked, "I can sneak into the Zahara Kingdom and destroy it from within."
"Don't do something that stupid…do you have a plan?" Orakha halted the string of curses that were about to rush out of his mouth upon seeing that Blola had given plenty of thought to his plan this time.
"I've confirmed this the previous time," Blola considered his words before saying, "Brangara doesn't dare consume me. And they know my real identity after interrogating Yennda."
"Have you managed to access some of Yennda's memories?" Orakha's eyes lit up.
"Yes," Blola nodded and stared at Virala, "The tangible data he's been providing me has been immensely helpful in fighting against the Transcendent Eater's mind. I have observed bits and pieces of information related to the conversation between Yennda and Yarsha."
"Honestly, he has been impressive until now." Blola said in praise, "He hasn't revealed any information about Grehha's Mystic Path. Yarsha thinks that it's us seven that'll reach the Mystic Grade thanks to the Mystic Paths and not our daughters."
"I see," Orakha thought for a while before asking, "Are you planning to serve as a distraction by rampaging around in the Kingdom?"
"No, we'll truly wreak havoc." Blola said, surprising the others, "Brangara has hardly been at the Zahara Kingdom."
"Are you serious?" Virala asked, his expression fierce.
"Yes," Blola nodded, "I gained this piece of information just now. He has been roaming around Sumatra and collecting strength. The one taking his place is Yennda. Yarsha Zahara is controlling him to behave as Brangara."
'That makes sense. She's entirely capable and daring enough to do that.' Virala thought as his eyes fluctuated between Orakha and Blola, 'Honestly, I would love to take action immediately. But if we make a mistake, I'll lose my opportunity.'
He sensed his Spirit Weapon, which doubled down as the tool growing at the tail end of his Mystic Ewworm form, 'I'm almost there. For my purpose, it's best to wait until I've attained qualitative growth. A few more days of consuming Blola and I'd have achieved what I want with the Mammoth Clan.'
"It's for the best to verify this piece of information," Virala spoke upon seeing Orakha express more and more interest in Blola's plan.
Since Brangara was growing too strong, the only way to halt his growth was to seriously hit the Zahara Kingdom with a Minor Crisis. Only then would he be forced to return to protect his home.
Once Blola unleashes his Transcendent Eater form in the centre of the Zahara Kingdom, thousands of cultivators who dare fight him will die. This will obviously force Yarsha Zahara to take action, for refraining from doing so would cause her to lose all credibility as a Mystic Grade Free Human.
Blola's Transcendent Eater form could engage in a battle with her through physical might alone, preventing her from gaining the upper hand. Involved in such a dangerous battle, she'll be forced to focus all her attention on the fight, causing her control on Yennda to slip up.
Virala will take the opportunity to publicly behead Yennda, which in the eyes of the populace would look no different from Brangara getting his head lopped off. It would destroy whatever hope was budding in the people's hearts toward the Varahan Empire.
If they were unable to protect their own people, they obviously wouldn't receive as much support as they did until now. It would result in the Varahan Empire becoming a failed state, for the people wouldn't have confidence in it.
Blola didn't need to kill Yarsha Zahara or harm her family. Rather, they'll be perfectly alright, which would only make them look worse in the eyes of the populace.
"The timing is perfect now." Blola argued, "This will force them to spend a significant amount of time and effort in pleasing the people, which will weaken their personal development too."
"And," He stared at Orakha, "During my fight with Yarsha, you can sneakily steal Grehha's revival fruit from her Minor Treasure of Lunchbox. We'll be able to succeed with all our current objectives."
"Indeed, it's a solid plan." Orakha nodded and stared at Virala, "Why the hell are you opposed to it?"
"Well, unlike the both of you, I have one life." Virala shrugged, "So I cannot take unnecessary risks. Instead, I have a better proposition."
"We get Gannala's help." He said, only to be glared at by Orakha and Blola, "Sheesh, are the two of you her slaves or something? Oh, I forgot that you are one. My bad."
"If she dies or gets captured, we'll all be destroyed." Orakha glared at Virala, "She knows everything about us. So, it's for the best to not risk her life."
"I know, so just listen to my plan." Virala ignored a fuming Blola and stared at Orakha, "There's that Royal Guard guy who's looking for traces of Gannala, right? I say we target him. Gannala will pull him into a deep tunnel where we'll capture him. I'll extract the memories of us targeting him and send him on his way, not before you place one of your Minor Treasures in him."
"When he heads to report to Yarsha Zahara, you'll revive beside him and take out Grehha's revival fruit from her Minor Treasure." Virala made a snapping sound with his fingers, "And that's it. Our actions will be sneakier and contain fewer risks."
"And what? Leave my Minor Treasure with her?" Orakha grumbled, "It will compromise my power too much…"
"Gannala can create a tunnel to make your Minor Treasure fall through it. Or if necessary, I will remain in hiding just to steal it." Virala said, "There's no way we'll be compromising any of our powers to her. This the safest and easiest way to succeed in our objective."
The trio became silent after that, unable to make a decision. Until the moment Yarsha Zahara revives Grehha, they weren't pressured to take action, because the risks were too high.
They had no idea of what Yarsha Zahara had planned to counter them. Both Blola's and Orakha's powers remained the same since the Second Major Disaster. So, she'll be better geared to face them.
There was a higher chance they were walking into a trap instead. Hence, though they had many ideas, they didn't have the confidence to act upon them. After all, the ones with more to lose were their side.
'Good, keep hesitating. That's what I want. And as long as this stalemate continues, I can continue taking advantage of the Mammoth Clan.' Virala thought as he stared at Blola, 'I need to consume his Transcendent Eater body until I've attained success with my Spirit Weapon.'
'It's of absolute necessity before I free Ruvva from Gannala's grasp.' He thought as silence encompassed the space with the trio.
Sometime later, Orakha committed suicide to revive next to Gannala once the coast was clear on her side, observing that she was in a room situated in a two-storey house.
"Did something happen?" She stared at Orakha to ask, feeling a headache.
"Blola and Virala have some plans regarding the situation," Orakha explained their entire conversation, watching Gannala remain silent until the end. "What do you think?"
"It won't work." She shook her head, "She has placed Mystic Eaters in the bodies of many people to monitor us. They're probably on the lookout for the tusk of an Empyrean Tusk, Sumatra Gold, and other materials present on us."
Orakha had Sumatra Gold in his Human Avatar while the Mystic Human Virala had one in the tool of his tail. Sensing them was as easy as breathing for the Mystic Eaters.
"As for Blola," She shook her head, "If she has enough power of the Decaleeches stored in her, she'll be able to obtain an endless reserve of blood from Blola, which she can use to build her strength faster. We'll be literally feeding her to supremacy by that point."
"Then, what are we supposed to do?" Orakha asked, "All we're doing at present is wasting our time."
"Are you sure about that?" Gannala chuckled, "Let things proceed at the current pace. Until then, just keep monitoring the situation."
"When the time is ripe, I'll take action."