"Haah...gah!" Yarsha Zahara felt suffocated for some reason, gasping as her body sunk through the quicksand. She harnessed the power of Internal Inertial Gravity and punched forth, sending a large volume of the quicksand flying. But even more filled up the space in the fraction of a second.
Nature-Rocky Intimidation!
She condensed a rock pillar in an effort to use it to climb out of the quicksand. But the moment it materialised, it crumbled into sand and further added to the volume of the quick sand, 'This sand has the sinking properties of the Sandy-Grey Void, but it's many times stronger!'
'But why is it getting so difficult to breathe?' She wondered, feeling there was sufficient air in her vicinity, unaware of the fact that only oxygen was getting consumed.
Fire spread across the region, using the ground itself as fuel. Depending on the chemical composition of the mineral in the ground, the reactant targeting it changed, ensuring the result was one of combustion.
And as the reaction occurred, oxygen was consumed, turning the air toxic for others. Waves of reactant energy rippled out of Orakha as he walked through the sea of flames, empowered by the latter.
When a flame tongue brushed his Human Avatar, it was absorbed by the latter. As the Human Avatar absorbed the heat, it began to emit a soft reddish hue. The heat circulated through his Human Avatar, being compressed upon storage, ready to be used next.
This way, he didn't even have to use Prana to attack. The heat stored in his Human Avatar was more than enough. He only required Prana to shape up and control the heat, which was minimal. And as long as he was in the sea of flames, Orakha could keep fighting without issues.
While his body emanated reactive waves, Prana surged out of his feet and continued to expand the ground region into a quicksand, intending to keep Yarsha Zahara trapped within. The latter was stuck, unable to break free.
The sand surrounding her wasn't the grey sand, but its sinking property was dangerous. In a matter of seconds, her figure sank to a depth of a hundred metres, continuing to bring her deeper.
Roar!
Nature-Empyrean Boar Transformation!
She had absorbed the power of the Primary Nature from her children, storing it for dangerous situations where her human form was too small to survive something. The large body of an Empyrean Boar would allow her to tank an attack better.
The Empyrean Boar barely surfaced when it felt strength fleeing from its being. A choking sensation wrapped her as Yarsha Zahara felt piercing pain in her lungs. She surged Prana to the spot, wondering what was happening since there was no damage done to the organ.
However, her lungs were in strain for some reason. And as she struggled, Orakha's voice resounded as his figure walked towards her, "Do you wish to reverse all the efforts taken by your son, Yarsha?"
His expression was fierce as Orakha said, "I had planned to abandon everything if it meant I could live in peace. It's why I took the risk to flee to a location so far away from the Varahan Empire!"
"So, why the fuck are you after us? Huh?" Intense heat erupted around him as both air and earth in a kilometre vicinity became a sea of plasma, faint, but perceivable to the naked eye. The air ionised as intense aurora waved about, influenced by his anger to transform into a wave face with a fierce pair of eyes, glaring at Yarsha Zahara.
"You...think...this...can...work...against... me?" She growled and harnessed Subtle Terrain Domination to fuse the sand into a stable platform under her, following which she kicked the platform with all her might while using the power of Internal Inertial Gravity.
Her figure shot high into the sky, about to escape the region of plasma when her ascent decelerated. A pair of serpents had coiled around her Empyrean Boar body and yanked her towards the ground, slamming her back into the quicksand.
Her kite-shaped Spirit Weapon swerved around her, intending to absorb the two Mystic Eaters. But right as it was about to make contact with them, the two Mystic Eaters dissolved into smoke, having self-destructed.
This way, they weren't absorbed by Yarsha Zahara. Her figure sunk through the quicksand once again, her skin burning thanks to the flames. Her Human Avatar was unable to absorb it as it was a natural fire and not the product of a Nature.
Her eyes grew heavy as Yarsha Zahara felt her concentration slipping away. She reverted to human form and brought out a Pranic Beast Tangible Nature that grabbed her and threw her into the air.
Followed by a flash, an Eddy Blade spread like wings around her as her figure spun, severing the Mystic Eaters that intended to capture her once again, "Don't underestimate me!"
But right as she was about to leave the region of plasma, a hand grabbed her by the neck. A rocket's thrust erupted from its back and accelerated, instantly pushing her towards the ground. Yarsha Zahara was stunned as she was unable to absorb it, 'Isn't it his Spirit Weapon?'
She noticed that he was deftly controlling the hand like a Spirit Weapon, confused for an instant before noticing a layer of solidified lava outlining it. This was sourced from the burning ground. the hand flew through the lava region once and applied the coat over itself.
As it wasn't the product of a Nature, it couldn't be absorbed by Yarsha Zahara. Moreover, this layer prevented her Human Avatar from coming into contact with the hand that was the Spirit Weapon.
"Damn you!" The Human Avatar covering her neck formed spikes that pierced through the layer of solidified lava, about to touch the hand when the material within combusted itself, turning into pure thrust that slammed her into the ground once again.
Unable to absorb the Spirit Weapon, Yarsha Zahara became vexed, feeling what Raaha had been experiencing thanks to her until now. She was getting countered hard, without being given any chance to retaliate.
Even her resistance was crumbling, 'Why is he stronger than when he fought Yamahara?'
As she glared at Orakha while her figure began to sink once again, her eyes widened, noticing Orakha's presence gradually shed the shell of mortality and enter the absolute realm, becoming a pinnacle existence.
Mystic Grade!
A greyish-red Human Avatar, part smoke, part fire walked through the sea of flames, blending with the surroundings. The sheer presence it released caused everything in its surroundings to catch aflame.
Every step it took turned the ground into quicksand, one volatile in nature. The sand turned burned for a couple dozen seconds before becoming lava. And once it cooled down, it became solidified chunks of glass.
The glass was structurally unstable, releasing the oxygen molecules in a matter of seconds, which were consumed by the flames to maintain themselves. A vicious cycle of heat and quicksand was created in the region, forming a territory where Orakha was absolute, and one whose power Yarsha Zahara could never absorb.
'How did he manage to enter the Mystic Grade?' Yarsha was stunned, 'Even when he stole my Sumatra Gold and integrated them into his Human Avatar, I saw no signs of him reaching the
Mystic Grade.'
'What exactly changed now?' Her body began to spasm, unable to react to the situation. Orakha's extensive preparations outgunned her, and by the time she tried to retaliate, she had lost the initiative, passively caught in a deadlock.
Nature-Drifting Tunnel!
The region of plasma parted open to form a tunnel that reached into the air beyond, funnelling fresh air towards Yarsha Zahara. Through Subtle Terrain Domination, she hardened the sand in her surroundings, barely able to hold still as the fresh air reached her.
But right as she inhaled the fresh air, Yarsha clutched her chest and roared, "It...BURNS!"
The so-called fresh air was mixed with petroleum gases which was colourless and odourless. When inhaled, Orakha stared in their direction, causing a faint spark that set them aflame right as they entered her lungs.
Orakha's expression was calm, aware that this wasn't enough to kill Yarsha Zahara, not because she had other tricks up her sleeves, but because of the existence hiding in her body,
'It's time he came out. I've pushed her to the limit!'
Boom!
As if answering his thoughts, there was a spark, following which intense radiance emanated, resulting in a tornado as an eight-metre-tall existence appeared. The flames didn't even hurt it as the existence glared at Orakha, clapping once.
Astral World-Prana Shock x10!
The surroundings cleared up, snuffing out most of the flames as it grabbed Yarsha Zahara and
threw her in the direction of the fleeing Mammoth Clan. A group of hands tried to catch Yarsha Zahara but were disoriented by a series of shockwaves that impacted them, causing them to
miss.
The figure then stared at Orakha once Yarsha Zahara was beyond his reach, "You've entered
the Mystic Grade."
"Then why are you fleeing?"
Expert Mystic Grade Pranic Beast-Celestial Boar!
'Even upon entering the Mystic Grade, his presence is still suffocating enough.' His figure
tensed up Orakha tried his best to calm down, his voice echoing in anger, "Have I killed any of
your family?"
"They why are you coming after me? Let me live in peace, dammit!"
"I can allow you to live in peace, but on one condition." The Celestial Boar said and extended
its hand, "Give Maroppa to me. She's not someone you're supposed to keep by your side..."
Boom!
A streak of light erupted out of Orakha, forming a pillar of light that condensed into a shining
star at an altitude of a kilometre from the ground. it burned and absorbed the heat radiating
from the burning ground, stabilising as it grew in size.
"What did you say?" Veins popped up all over his face as Orakha glared in rage, "Fucking pig!
If you dare touch my wife, I'll burn your existence into cinders!"
"Try it if you can!" Brangara snorted as he lunged forward, churning Subtle Terrain
Domination to its limit as he rained down a powerful punch.
Astral World-Shredded Lunge x10!
"Hmph!" Orakha extended his thumb and pointed towards his chest, tapping across it rapidly
as Mystic Eaters churned throughout his body, changing the arrangement of minerals forming his Human Avatar.
His Human Avatar shone bright gold as his legs transformed into a set of All-Terrain-Vehicle wheels. They spun at their maximum speed and brought him beyond the range of the punch, deftly evading the blades of wind flying his way at speed faster than the speed of sound.
The world around him seemed to slow down as Orakha stopped two kilometres away from
Brangara, grunting as he churned Prana into a golden Mystic Eater that hovered before him. an instant later, it turned into a golden flash and flew towards Brangara's chest.
Human Avatar-Enhanced Kinesis Deity!