"I can't sense the pursuers anymore," Lahena said in pain as she stared at her husband, Duvara. From the original fourteen, they had been reduced to a mere two. "This is happening again…"
"Again? What do you mean by that?" Duvara asked in confusion, losing focus as his Spirit Container was on the verge of shattering.
"I'm…not sure." Lahena frowned, "It feels like I've been through this situation once already."
"Don't be foolish." Duvara grunted, "We need to hurry and bring the baby Empyrean Tusk to our Clan."
"Wait!" Lahena stopped suddenly, shrieking, "There's a Mammoth Clansman before us."
"What? How?" Duvara was stunned, "How did they catch up so quickly?"
"No, this one seems different." Lahena frowned, "He's only at the Spirit Stage."
"Spirit Stage?" Duvara looked around and noticed the Zingers calmly staring at them from the cliffs, "Out here? Alone?"
Duvara and Lahena were considered malnourished targets. The amount of Prana in them was very little. It wasn't worth the effort for a Zinger to target them. The trip it makes would be more expensive than whatever it could get from them.
That was why the two remained safe until now. Of course, they also had the strength to block any stray attacks from Zingers that thought otherwise. But that was because they were both at the peak of the Body Stage. Everyone from their team was similar.
Despite that, their numbers had been reduced to a mere two. And to think someone at the Spirit Stage roamed the Dieng Canyon alone? That was no different from flirting with death.
"He's coming!" Lahena said and stared at the corner of a mountain, her gaze turning from nervousness to shock before soon, she was excited, "Blola!"
"Blola?" Duvara was surprised, "That child is here? Did he come for us? Did he find out about our mission somehow?"
The duo quickly made their way towards Blola as Lahena stared at the latter in astonishment, "Brat! Why are you out here? Did something happen to the Clan?"
"You are…?" Blola acted like he couldn't recognise them but still expressed that they were familiar.
At his expression, Lahena introduced themselves, "I'm Resha's mother and this is his father."
"Aunty Lahena and Uncle Duvara?" Blola's eyes widened in shock, "You were alive? But the Clan said you were missing in action."
"We weren't dead, as you can see." Lahena said and got to the crux of the matter, "What are you doing out here though?"
"Training!" Blola stated as he flashed a pose, "I chanced upon a fortuitous encounter and took it."
"Fortuitous encounter?" Duvara focused on Blola, muttering in surprise, "You're on the verge of entering the Body Stage? Your Prana also feels robust. I never felt something like this before."
"Told you," Blola grinned, "Anyway, I had just finished my training and was about to return to the Clan. It's luck that I chanced upon you, uncle, aunt."
"Let me escort you safely."
"You know a way?" Lahela asked.
"I know a safe zone." Blola said proudly, "Otherwise, how do you think I survived here for so long? I can lead us directly to the Ennoudu Plains. We only need to track the herd's footprints after that and we'll join them in three months tops."
After travelling for two days, Blola brought them to a mountain. There was a boulder there. With a tug of his Prana, the boulder moved aside, revealing a dome-like cave.
There was a pond inside, and hovering on it was something that resembled a boat. Pointing at it, Blola said, "We need to travel upstream now, but don't worry. There are enough provisions along the way."
"A submarine?" Duvara muttered upon staring at the boat.
"What's that?" Lahena frowned, experiencing a migraine in response.
"I'm…not sure." Duvara muttered, "That word popped into my head the moment I stared at it."
For a moment, Blola was petrified upon hearing the word. But he regained his bearing and brought them to the boat. It was shaped like a bullet with the rear end protruding like a cup.
As Blola approached it, the hatch opened, revealing a neat interior, stunning Lahena and Duvara.
"Aunt, is that container important?" Blola asked, "There's enough space in the boat, but the added weight would slow us down."
"It's important." Lahena nodded, "Sorry, I cannot reveal the details to you, Blola. I hope you understand my reason."
"I'm almost an adult." Blola patted his chest, "I can of course understand."
"He grew up well." Lahena whispered as she stared at Blola's back, "I wonder how Resha's doing now."
"Our son too would have grown to become a spectacular cultivator."
Once everyone entered the boat, the hatch closed as Blola pedalled using his legs, causing the boat to move slowly.
"You're using your legs?" Duvara frowned.
"Of course," Blola nodded, "That's how I'm building up my strength. I can use my Prana if you wish to speed up. But first,"
He opened the hatch once the boat entered the narrow stream, pointing at the moss growing on the tunnel walls, "That's my fortuitous encounter."
"Spirit Moss?" Duvara inhaled sharply, immediately able to understand how Blola managed to forge such a robust foundation. But upon seeing Blola ignore the Spirit Moss and continue pedalling, he shouted, "Wait! Wait! Wait! Why are you not taking it?"
"Uncle, there's Spirit Moss throughout this entire stretch." Blola laughed, "From here to Ennoudu Plains. There's more than what we can consume. I have been eating enough Spirit Moss to become fed up with it. So, no need to worry. Please rest. The both of you seem tired."
"We can collect as much Spirit Moss as we want once we near the exit. That would decrease the weight we need to carry now."
"I see," Duvara nodded as he slumped on his seat and sighed in relaxation, feeling safe. The moment he realised that they were past the storm, all the accumulated exhaustion set in at once.
"Uncle, aunt, here!" Saying so, Blola handed them a bag full of Spirit Moss, "Consuming them helps replenish your Prana. Sleep after having your fill. I'll be paddling in the meantime."
"Perfect!" Lahena laughed in joy, "It's just what I wanted."
Lahena and Duvara had their fill of Spirit Moss and activated Mystic Bone Art, mending their damaged Spirit Containers. But they had been on the run for a month, relying upon excessive consumption of Parute Fruits to keep fleeing.
Therefore, a few minutes after they consumed the Spirit Moss, their eyes drooped. And soon enough, they were deep asleep. What they weren't aware of was the presence of a sleep-inducing agent on the Spirit Moss. The quantity was faint but was potent enough thanks to their exhaustion.
The boat stopped as Blola wore a mask and placed an open vial before Duvara and Lahena. It was the sleep-inducing agent. To ensure they wouldn't wake up, he was just doubling down on the effort.
Upon confirming that they wouldn't wake up, Blola revealed a wide grin and took out a spindle-shaped Spirit Weapon, causing it to hover before Duvara's forehead, gently making contact, "Don't hold this against me, Resha."
The spindle whirred in response and drilled forward.