It had been five days since their attack on the Zahara Kingdom. Virala was strolling through the wilds, eyeing the elevated plateau forming the Guna Caves over the horizon.
He intended to establish a Kingdom at the now-empty Dralh Sea. But first, he had to scout the region and understand its ins and outs first. And most of all, he had to map out the concentration of a certain mineral deposit across the region.
Currently, he had been resting, collecting his thoughts before intending to dive down underground in his Mystic Ewworm form. But right as he had rested, he felt a mild spike in presence, turning around to stare at the figure of Orakha that had revived.
His expression was tired as Orakha stared at Virala and exhaled softly, stating after observing the latter's composure, "I've just brought Ruvva to the Brimgan Empire. She's now in the custody of Harla Brimgan."
"I see…" There was a flash of disappointment in his eyes before Virala nodded, slouching a bit in response, "What was her expression?"
"She's thrilled, honestly." Orakha said, noticing Virala burst out into laughter in response, "I can bring you to her if you want."
"That'll be alright." Virala waved his hand as he regained his composure, "It's safer at the Brimgan Empire for the time being. I'll reclaim her once I create a safe haven for her. She can have fun until then."
"You're not worried about her?" Orakha asked.
"I didn't create her as the pinnacle of Free Humans to constrict her freedom." Virala expressed arrogantly, "You won't even be able to fathom the precious resources I poured into her birth. She's someone who can live as she pleases. And no one else will be able to tell her otherwise."
He calmly stared at Orakha and asked, "How many times do you think Gannala tried to convince or brainwash her?"
"She didn't do…" Orakha spoke instinctively.
"Cut the crap," Virala shrugged, "I have a fair understanding of her disposition. I know she must have attempted all sorts of methods to keep Ruvva subservient to the Mammoth Clan. So, just tell me the truth."
"Many times," Orakha scratched his cheek, "I don't know the exact number though."
"See," Virala laughed in response, "And nothing changes, right? Ruvva is still herself."
He casually folded his hands on his back and lay on the ground, "That's what it means to be a Mystic Human. We're free from all foreign influences to an extent we're also fairly resistant to the effects of Natures."
His tone grew in confidence, "And the resistance Ruvva has is the strongest. Adding onto her natural strength, she's unstoppable."
'So, that's why Gannala was struggling to keep her contained. Even at such a young age, she's strong.' Orakha thought.
"Moreover," Virala stared at Orakha and laughed, "Your Minor Treasure is still in her, right? In the worst-case scenario, you're there to protect her."
"So, I'm not worried about her wellbeing."
"Alright," Orakha sighed and waved his hand, "I just wanted to inform you about your daughter's situation. I'll be leaving tomorrow."
"Oh, actually," Virala got up and blinked with puppy eyes, "I need some help from you."
"Not for free," Orakha snorted.
"I'll strengthen your physical body." Virala said and took out his Minor Treasure of Mystic Human Stamp, "Its effect is greater than the golden giant. With this, even your human body can become strong."
"You can use it for as much as you help me." Virala's eyes glinted as he asked, "So, what do you say?"
"You have a deal," Orakha accepted the proposition and got to the point immediately, "What do you need from me?"
"I need you to make a map of this mineral deposit across the Dralh Sea," Virala said and took out a bluish-pink crystal that seemed to have trapped faint light within.
"What is this mineral?" Orakha condensed a Mystic Eater and felt the mineral with it, uttering his conclusion, "This is a mere Iron Grade mineral. What do you intend to do with it?"
"I'll be refining a Gold Grade mineral through it." Virala explained himself, "The Brimgan Royals refine the Iron Grade mineral, Kirenal into the Gold Grade mineral, Rutham through Gold Kinesis Art. This mineral can similarly be refined to the Gold Grade. Its potential is on par with Rutham."
"A mineral similar to Kirenal and something you can find here…" Orakha looked around as his eyes lit up in recognition, "Isn't this Zarzelite?"
"So you've heard about it," Virala nodded, "Can you map out this region of its deposit?"
"Across the entire Dralh Sea?" Orakha stared at Virala and watched the latter nod in response, cursing promptly, "Are you mad?"
"Do you even know how big the Dralh Sea is? Not to mention its depth?" Orakha shouted, "Zarzelite is only present deep in the Dralh Sea's seabed and can only be mined during the Death Hour. Only the Cooter Clan has the capability to mine it in large scale."
"If not for that, the Brimgan Empire would have established a Kingdom over this region long ago."
"I only need you to map out its deposit concentration in this region." Virala shrugged, "I can mine it on my own. I won't be asking you to do that, so why are you getting riled up."
"Whatever," Orakha snorted, "I'm not complaining as long as I'm benefitting from the deal."
"Alright…" Orakha's eye twitched as his sentence was caught midway in his throat. A gust of air slammed into his face as Virala transformed into the Empyrean Boar King and raced towards the Dralh Sea. "He's fast."
'Things will be great if I could make business dealings with all the Mystic Paths like this.' Orakha clenched his hand into a fist, 'My physical body has been my weakness. But with Virala's help, I grow in strength. It'll be helpful once I target Raaha's Gold Empyrean Tentacle.'
"Anyway," He let out a long breath and looked around, "This will take a while to map out."
He began to spawn Mystic Eaters, using a portion of them to consume the Spirit Containers of nearby Pranic Beasts to replenish his Prana and continue creating Mystic Eaters. Once spawned, the Mystic Eaters formed groups and drilled into the grounds, searching for traces of Zarzelite through their senses.
In the meantime, Virala reached Leh Island and approached its underground mine. The entrance was bolted with a large granite. It was covered with cut marks but hadn't been destroyed.
He observed it for a few seconds before assuming Mystic Ewworm form to head underground. Followed by a curve, he moved past the entrance and appeared within the mine, being met with an intense stench immediately after.
He reverted to human form and walked through the mine, discovering semi-decomposed Free Human corpses. Some had bit marks, made from human teeth while others seemed to have been stabbed by a pickaxe.
All the Free Humans in the mind reared an Ewworm in their rectum that grew a pickaxe at the end of its tail. It was these Ewworm that mined for minerals while the function of the Free Human was only to stand around and watch.
Once enough quantity of minerals had been mined, they would transport them to the designated locations. Unfortunately for them, the Cooter Clan had developed the Ewworms in such a way that they couldn't leave their respective island.
As a result, once the Cooter Clan branch had been destroyed, the Free Humans at Leh Island couldn't flee anywhere else. Even before that, their conditions hadn't been optimal as the Cooter Clan moved to the Brimgan Empire when the Major Treasure of Attribute had revealed itself.
Except for the Cooter Clansmen left in charge of the islands, everyone else had gone to the Brimgan Empire. Their return took too much time, by which, the Dralh Sea was taken over by the Phells and the Bludders.
The Cooter Clansmen left on the islands did their best to defend their posts, but eventually, they isolated themselves in safety. Left with no other choice, the Free Humans could only block the entrance and huddle inside, waiting for the day the Immortals would return to their rescue.
'Seems they resorted to cannibalism due to a lack of food.' Virala thought as he arrived at a room and observed a withered man, "So, you were the one to die last."
Even the one who ate the corpses of others died of hunger eventually. There was no food within the mines while the outside was too dangerous. Even the oldest among the Free Humans in the mines barely had Prana in the double digits.
They couldn't dare think of facing even a single Phell or Bludder, not to mention a horde of them.
"This island has nothing." Virala commented once he inspected the entire mine and exited it, making way to the closest island, "Let's hope at least a few Free Humans survived on the bigger islands."
Eventually, he arrived at Tez Island, one of the largest islands in the Outer Region of the Dralh Sea. He entered its mine and became happy immediately after, seeing dozens of sunken eyes stare his way.
"You're safe now!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, with enough force to reverberate across the entirety of the mine. He covered himself with Rutham armour that glistened in the dark, illuminating the haggard faces of the trapped Free Humans.
"A…ah…ahhh!" A middle-aged woman broke into tears and prostrated on the ground, "Finally, the Immortals have arrived to give us salvation!"
"Thank goodness! Finally!"
"Praise the Immortals!" One after another, the despair-ridden faces of all the Free Humans burst with hope as they all prostrated on the ground. Hearing their relieved voices, even more Free Humans gathered at the place, displaying their respects immediately after.
"Immortals?" Virala's loud snort reverberated across the mine, rumbling the skeletons of the kneeling Free Humans. "You're comparing me to mere baldies?"
"You dare?" His voice contained anger as a voracious amount of presence wafted out of his being, terrorising everyone. To the Free Humans who were merely at the Spirit Stage, the presence Virala unleashed, even when controlled, was overwhelming.
To avoid killing them, he controlled himself, approaching the closest woman upon retracting his presence. A subtle fluctuation entered her body from him, unleashed through the Mystic Human Stamp, invigorating her.
Feeling strength fill her weak body, the woman was surprised before bursting with zealousness as she stared up and observed the radiating figure of Virala, "W-Who are you, my Lord?"
"Your Deity!" Virala replied, revealing a graceful smile.