An hour earlier!
Brangara exited the tunnel and peeked out gently, observing the underside of an Empyrean Snapper situated high up. Empyrean Snappers floated on the surface like ships, so there was a significant distance between them and the sea bed.
At their current location, there was a distance of eleven kilometres between Brangara and the Empyrean Snapper he was directly under. Due to the sheer distance, even if the Empyrean Snapper was using any Prana detection means, he wouldn't be detected.
Prana had limited penetration capabilities, especially through Earth. It was somewhat better in water, but the efficiency was still underwhelming.
Empyrean Snappers typically avoided using Prana detection means, leaving it to their Cooter Clansmen. They relied upon Subtle Terrain Domination to have absolute control over the region 180 metres around them.
The Spirit Weapon range looked no different from a sphere for Free Humans, due to their small statures. But in truth, these 180 metres expanded from every section of their surface area radially outward.
So, in the case of an Empyrean Tusk or Snapper, it was clearly pronounced. If an Empyrean Snapper were to bloat radially for 180 metres, then its form would encapsulate its Spirit Weapon range.
It was the same shape as the Empyrean Snapper, reaching a distance of 180 metres from every point of its body expanding radially outward. Hence, in terms of sheer volume, Empyrean Snappers had the biggest Spirit Weapon range.
This was more than enough for them to exercise their strength with, which was why they limited their focus to their Spirit Weapon range. This way, the moment any creature enters it, they'd be able to attack the culprit with all their strength.
Brangara spent close to thirty minutes observing the actions of the Empyrean Snapper directly above him and also made note of the positions of the other Empyrean Snappers, 'There's a total of 52!'
'Can I handle them all?' He was nervous, honestly unsure if he'd succeed. After all, he hadn't faced such a large number of Expert Gold Grade Pranic Beasts with the intent to kill them all in one sweep.
Whenever he targeted the Empyrean Tusk herd before, he used hit-and-run tactics until an Empyrean Tusk became weak enough for him to consume it. And once he succeeded, he would flee the place to digest his gains in hiding.
Once he finished digesting and adjusted the influence gained from adding another Nature of Internal Inertial Gravity to his Astral Chart, he would start tracking the herd once again.
This had been his tactic until now. But that wasn't an option currently. He intended to kill all the Empyrean Snappers before reinforcements arrived.
So, he'd have to face all 52 of them in a bloody brawl. 'Calm down, this isn't like you to become nervous.'
Though he was terrifyingly strong, he was no longer a lone individual, unfettered by the schemes of others. He had a family to protect, which continued to grow in numbers. Hence, he had to consider the consequences of his actions.
"But, Subtle Terrain Domination." He muttered for a moment before finalising his decision, "I want it! No, I need it for my future!"
Currently, the Celestial Boar was the strongest existence, with practically limitless potential. As long as he had enough resources, Brangara could accumulate enough power even while on Sumatra to rival Mystic Transcendents.
He simply had to accumulate 100 Gold Grade Tangible Nature Minor Treasures. Or he could go further beyond to accumulate Mystic Grade Tangible Minor Treasures.
It was because of this limitless growth potential that despite Sumatra Continent's power system being incomplete, Sumatra Continent's Transcendents claimed that Brangara's strength would be at the top 20 even when compared to all the Continents in the Sandbox Universe.
The greater the strength of his enemies, the stronger he grew. But, the fact that he was feeling pressured despite being the Celestial Boar amounted to the existence of the Mystic Seven.
They were nobodies during the First Major Disaster. But in a short two decades, during the Second Major Disaster, they had become strong enough to actively scheme against him.
There was exactly a century between the Second Major Disaster and the Fourth Major Disaster. A century's worth of accumulations and growth spurts bordering insanity. He had no idea how terrifying the Mystic Seven would get.
Upon interrogating Yennda, Brangara realised the type of opponents he faced. All of the mystic Seven were obsessed with him in one way or another. Hatred, desire, threat, etc. The reasons may be different, but Brangara lived rent-free in their minds.
All their lives, they gathered strength to deal with him. So, if he doesn't accumulate strength at equally insane speeds, the Mystic Seven will catch up by the Third Major Disaster and grow strong enough to destroy him during the Fourth Major Disaster.
'Currently, Yennda and Grehha are under Yarsha's control, but there's no guarantee how long she can keep them in check.' Brangara sighed, aware that Yarsha Zahara was already stressed by Yennda who intended to commit suicide the moment her control over him slipped the slightest.
She would go mad if she had to maintain that level of control for years at a stretch. Her mind was robust and powerful as a Mystic Grade Free Human, but wasn't built like the Transcendent Eater which was geared to controlling people it revived.
'Eventually, they'll be revived by Blola. So, our current advantage will remain short-lived.' Thinking as such, Brangara observed a group of Phells explode upon coming into contact with him.
Astral World—Blood Affection X1!
He formed a layer of armour using their blood, trying his best to appear no different from a Phell. Their blood contained their presence, which was enough to fool the Phells for a short duration.
Using the chance, Brangara swam towards the Empyrean Snapper, patient in his approach. Soon, he stopped at a depth of two hundred metres from the Empyrean Snapper, right beyond its Spirit Weapon range.
From time to time, the Prana detection means of the Cooter Clansmen fluctuated across his position. Through Bloody Affection, he caused distinct presence emissions from the layer of blood armour.
In the skin prickles on the Cooter Clansmen maintaining the detection means, all that was registered at Brangara's position was a group of Phells. It didn't seem unusual or anything worth concerned about.
After all, once they enter the Empyrean Snapper's range, they'd be shredded into blood and absorbed by the Empyrean Snapper to consume and recover its Prana reserves.
'It's a powerful defensive measure.' Brangara thought as he observed faint ripples across the water within the Empyrean Snapper's Spirit Weapon range. A Phell from nearby swam into the range and was shredded into a thousand pieces in a matter of seconds.
The water was being maintained in a laminar flow, with each layer acting as blades. In the distance of 180 metres between the Empyrean Snapper and the end of its Spirit Weapon range existed tens of thousands of these layers, creating an unbreachable defence.
It was why the Empyrean Snappers held the upper hand, despite facing a swarm of both Phells and Bludders. Phells only served as their nutrition as Empyrean Snappers had been facing them at the Abyss Ring for centuries now, having perfect countermeasures against this Pranic Beast race.
And against the Bludders, they were actively formulating plans to emerge victorious. Seeing how the Empyrean Snappers dealt with the situation, Brangara sighed in longing, 'There's a reason they're worshipped as Deities despite only having Gold Grade strength. Empyrean Tusks and Snappers are in a class of their own.'
'When will my race attain such a level?' He felt inferior. Though he was the Celestial Boar with limitless potential, that was only for him. His brethren were Empyrean Boars, a Beginner Gold Grade Pranic Beast.
That was the limit of their growth. As Gold Grade Pranic Beasts, they were tremendously powerful, but that was it. They were just as powerful as other Gold Grade Pranic Beasts. The Empyrean Boars weren't special enough to be worshipped as Deities by both Humans and Pranic Beasts.
'Let's focus!' He gently patted his cheek and focused on the Empyrean Snapper, finishing his preparations.
Astral World—Shredded Lunge X10!
He assumed Celestial Boar form, expanding to a height of 800 metres. His expansion pushed the water on all sides, the sheer instantaneous pressure generated by it slammed into the defensive barriers of the Empyrean Snapper and pushed them outside.
Boom!
Thanks to the effects of Shredded Lunge, the Celestial Boar gushed out of the water surface, sending the Empyrean Snapper flying to a height of a hundred metres from the water surface. The power of Shredded Lunge only managed to move him that little distance. Thankfully, it had a damaging effect towards the end of its activation.
Sent flying a hundred metres into the sky, the Empyrean Snapper was stunned, when suddenly, intense blades of air stacked tenfold slammed into it and formed large craters.
Brangara reverted to human form and used Shredded Lunge once again, crossing the Empyrean Snapper's body to appear near the mountain on its back. Blades of air boomed out of his position and shredded the bodies of the Cooter Clansmen.
He used Shredded Lunge—stacked ten times—once again, reverting to Celestial Boar form as he did to tank and break through the Empyrean Snapper's air defences.
The impact slammed into the mountain on its back, sending the Empyrean Snapper crashing into the water, resulting in a tsunami. Cracks the width of valleys covered its body, originating from the large crater in the mountain.
Blood spurted out of it and entered the mouth of the Celestial Boar who didn't give the Empyrean Snapper any time to gather strength.
Astral World—Eddy Blade!
Followed by a clean line of Prana condensed into a long, two-
kilometre-long blade, a thin line of blood appeared on the neck of the Empyrean Snapper. Due to the pumping pressure of blood within its body, blood gushed out of the cut like a fountain and practically launched the severed neck like a rocket.
He grabbed it and began to consume it, noticing a thundercloud form in the sky spontaneously, "This guy reacts very quickly."
"Why? What did we ever do to you?" Geugeu's rage-filled cries reverberated like thunder in the region, "Fucker!"
"Why?"