703 Grehha’s Sacrifice
Exactly fifteen years since the end of the Second Major Disaster, a group of tall women skipped past a bunch of trees, their footsteps lithe, barely producing any sound. Some people looked odd in the group, numbering four in total.
They were three males: Raaha, Grehha, and Orakha. The final one was a female, the shortest female in the place. She was one other than Maroppa. Her trembling hand held Orakha's, seeking support the closer they approached the Sandy-Grey Void.
She stared straight, observing a wall of darkness stretching endlessly from a spot a hundred kilometres from her. That was where her ancestors came from. She wasn't talking about the Sandy-Grey Void as a whole but the spot she was staring at, for it bordered the Gaja Enclave.
The Mudroppers invaded Sumatra Continent through the Gaja Enclave first. Through the memories unlocked in her genetics, she understood the reason why Mahira Tusk made it her life's purpose to annihilate the Mudroppers.
After all, one of the very first victims of the Mudropper invasion happened to be Mahira Tusk's parents, shaping up the way she grew up harbouring thoughts of revenge as a Ravaged Tribesman.
"It'll be alright." Orakha noticed her hesitation and tightened his grip, "We'll only be travelling along Sumatra's border. From the information I collected, we'll be safe as long as we travel in routes under Sumatra's protection."
"We're not leaving Sumatra but are just migrating to a far-off location that'll take Brangara centuries to reach through the routes available within the Continent." He concluded, "I have been gathering information regarding this all along."
"Is our destination…safe?" Maroppa expressed her worry, "If it's too dangerous…"
"Look at them," Orakha pointed at the tall women standing nearby, "The only ones who can harm this group is a Mystic Grade Pranic Beast."
"Even if our destination has a bunch of Gold Grade Pranic Beasts, they're not our match." Saying so, he patted his chest, "I alone am capable of handling a bunch of them."
"The current you is capable indeed, but," She hesitated with a reddened expression and made eye contact with Orakha, "Do you really have you give up the Iron Empyrean Tentacle's power?"
"It'll be better that way." Orakha let out a mild sigh at the upcoming loss, but was mentally prepared, "Harrala needs someone strong to protect her. And Yahard Tusk is the only one suitable for the role. He was one of the strongest Settlement Leaders even before this and this will only raise his competency on the grand scale of things."
He then patted her on the head upon seeing that Maroppa was still worried, "Relax, I'm not going to become weak after giving it away. I'll still be me, a better me in fact, since I will no longer be affected by the Iron Empyrean Tentacle's influence."
"I…will protect you." Maroppa said, "I can't get rid of this sinking feeling I've been having for a while now."
"Whatever happens next, we'll face it together." He said and hugged her. The group continued to travel for some more time, stopping once Grehha arrived at a halt.
His expression was strange and conflicted, but not in the least despairing, unlike the Empyrean Tusks. Carried in his possession was an Empyrean Incubator containing his daughter. Her expression was calm, ecstatic even, constantly absorbing Empyrean Tusk essence that Grehha had poured into her through the Empyrean Incubator.
"This is where we part ways," Grehha said, surprising everyone.
"You're not coming with us?" Raaha expressed his shock and stared at Grehha's daughter, "Isn't it risky staying here with her?"
"It is," Grehha nodded, "But that's something I have to live with."
"She…" He said with a warm expression, "Is my pride, and I don't want her childhood to be one of fleeing from harm. That would impact her mental development."
"Though she doesn't express it," Grehha said as he lifted his head and stared at the Empyrean Tusks, "Gannala is afraid, the highest among us in fact. The fear she feels from Brangara's existence is the strongest for an Empyrean Tusk, due to their history with each other."
"I am a Mammoth Clansman, and the proudest to be one." He announced and turned around, "I've only accompanied everyone here to ensure the Mammoth Clan arrives here in safety. Now that my work is done, it's time I return to Gannala."
"But…" Raaha intended to ask Grehha to leave his daughter behind but stopped himself, aware that Grehha would rather die than do it. Raaha had observed how Grehha had spent all his time with his daughter once he was revived by Blola at the Mammoth Clan.
Grehha made eye contact with Raaha for a moment, giving the latter the answer through his determined expression. He then stared at Orakha, "I hope you'll reconsider your decision."
"I…" Orakha hesitated, sighing in the end to state his resolve, "No, I'm leaving."
"But can we do that?" Grehha asked as he stared at Vhalla, "Are the Mystic Paths free from the Major Disasters?"
"How…did you find out?" Vhalla's eyes widened as her voice was soft, confirming the answer a moment later, "You'll subconsciously arrive at the Major Disasters."
"That's what I did in the Second Major Disaster." Grehha nodded, "I had no concrete reason to show myself personally at the scene. I had plenty of methods to do what I needed through some Bone Vipers. But I found myself heading to the scene before I realised it."
He stared at Orakha, "Now you have the answer. If you want to flee, control yourself as much as possible. As long as you have enough mobility, you'll be finding yourself at the Armoury right as the Third Major Disaster starts."
"Thank you," Orakha smiled in gratitude, "I'm grateful for this information."
"Since you want to live happily and start a family, then go." Grehha waved his hand, turned around, and began to walk away, "Don't let everything else interrupt your happiness."
He stared at Maroppa once and nodded to express his support, "Take care of my brother. He's immature and a fold, but he's a kind-hearted person by nature."
"I will," Maroppa stated softly as she watched Grehha walk away until he disappeared from her sight.
"Seems he plans to stay behind and fight." Orakha closed his eyes, calming himself to prevent tears from flowing out. He was aware of the reason Grehha stayed behind.
The Celestial Boar was just too strong. The strength of the Mystic Paths must be combined to resist and defeat him. In terms of growth potential, Orakha was in second place, right behind Resha. His leaving left behind a void of power on the side of the Mystic Paths.
And if even Grehha leaves, then their side would be destroyed, ending up empowering Brangara to the extreme, using which he might travel Sumatra Continent to chase after the final Mystic Path, Orakha.
Orakha loved Maroppa. He had a reason to look forward to the next day, a reason not driven by thoughts of strength or power. Grehha didn't. The only woman he liked and had intentions to start a family with was already someone's wife.
That was Yarsha Zahara. And after birthing Yamahara, she lost her fertility. When Orakha conveyed the news, Grehha was the one who found it the hardest to stomach. But that was it.
He had no woman he loved enough to fight and forge a family with. Hence, he planned to stay behind, for his sole remaining reason was to fight.
As for his daughter, he never intended for her to emerge out of the Empyrean Incubator until the Fourth Major Disaster. No, she'll remain inside in safety, constantly absorbing Empyrean Tusk essence.
Inala, Virala, Blola, Yennda; none sought happiness. Instead, they were only focused on improving their strength to face Brangara. Even Resha was doing the same, having not met with Yahira for decades now.
Resha loved Yahira, but couldn't be with her, for he was afraid, afraid that it would be a repeat of the past. In his previous life, Yahira sacrificed herself to protect him, dealing a blow to the Empyrean Boar King before exploding into bits in response.
He wouldn't be able to handle a repeat of the past. Hence, Resha too was doing everything in his power to grow stronger. He knew he had to stand before the Mystic Paths and confront Brangara head-on while the remaining Mystic Paths worked their advantage.
"I'm sorry…" Orakha muttered in a dejected tone. He had long since reached the 3-Life Stage, becoming stronger than the last time he fought Brangara. But he was the one fleeing the fight.
He split off a body and transferred all his Minor Treasures of Orakha's Checkpoint to that body, "Even though only I can use this Minor Treasure, I'll gift this to Yahard Tusk. Maybe in the Mammoth Clan's future, there will appear a person who will have the same build as me. They'll be able to take advantage of the Minor Treasure."
"Goodbye," The lone body of Orakha saluted towards Raaha and disappeared, "I'll be transferring the Iron Empyrean Tentacle's power to Yahara Tusk."
As the body disappeared, the 2-Life Stage Orakha who remained behind stared at a nearby tree in a daze. A few seconds later, veins popped all across his body as he collapsed to the ground, hollering in pain, "Aaargh!"
"Orakha!" Maroppa shrilled in fright and hurried to his rescue, propping him up as she inspected him, observing his Spirit Container trembling nonstop, sporting cracks with every passing second. She probed him and observed fractures appearing all across his Human Avatar, for the power of the Iron Empyrean Tentacle was being ripped apart from him.
"Aah!" Followed by a roar, Orakha fainted, growing weaker in response as he observed his Secondary Nature vanish, "So long, my revival."
15:52
A few minutes later, his Mystic Eaters coiled his body as he assumed his Human Avatar form. They began to mend the fractures, healing up the damage over time.
It took a few days before he made a full recovery, opening his eyes to stare at the Empyrean Tusks looking at him with moist eyes, "I…am fine."
"It was…your power." Vhalla expressed her sadness, "It was your wit that allowed you to obtain it from Brangara. And you were the one who gained acceptance from Sumatra to wield that power."
Orakha only let out a wry smile in response to her statement. He got up and signalled to everyone that he was ready to move.
Raaha stared at Orakha in silence, recalling the time following the Mammoth Clan's merger when Blola revived Orakha for the first time. 'He capitalised on the Transcendent Eater's power instantly upon understanding the situation at play and created a complex build. He's an enigma.'
To date, Orakha's build was the most complex and versatile, allowing him to change his builds as he pleased. As his knowledge increased, so did his power, at an exponential scale. Even at a comfortable pace, he had the potential to enter the Mystic Grade and become one of the strongest even at that level.
Everyone realised it, which was why they swallowed their comments, silently moving their feet as they entered a narrow path leading into the Gaja Enclave.
"This…is the birthplace of the Mammoth Ancestor," Vhalla muttered in a daze as she stared at the barren land that stretched beyond. Even after Mahira Tusk used the Dance of Recovery, Gaja Enclave had never recovered to its prime and remained a barren land.
And as if to mock their origin, the Gaja Enclave was where Brangara stored his Empyrean Tusk carcasses. Even if they had all been consumed now, considering how long their carcasses were placed here, a thick Empyrean Tusk presence covered the place.
'How many of us have that fucking bastard killed?' Veins popped all over her forehead at the thought, seething with anger. However, a stronger wave of fear encapsulated her mind, preventing her from acting on her anger.
"Let's leave," Raaha commented as he led the group and approached the outer edge of the Gaja Enclave, from where they planned to enter the Sandy-Grey Void and travel along Sumatra's borders.
However, when they were a kilometre from the border, Mystic Eaters jutted out of Orakha and hissed, alerting everyone as they raised their guard.
Slowly, as they watched with bated breaths, a figure walked in from the Sandy-Grey Void, his expression entrenched with sadness, "Do you…have to leave?"
"Please, I beg you." He said, "Don't abandon Sumatra."
It was Yamahara!