"It has been getting beaten up?" Inala burst into laughter, "Shouldn't a Transcendent Eater be one of the strongest existences out there?"
"Yes, it's damn strong." Pet nodded, "It can basically endlessly revive and control every single Transcendent that it devours. If left to accumulate strength, they'd grow stronger infinitely."
"Then why is it getting beaten up?" Inala asked, expressing his confusion as he honestly had limited information about the world beyond Sumatra.
"The Transcendents it controls are weak, that's why. So, it needs to step up to fight personally." Pet let out a sigh and shook its head, "Forget it, I don't want to waste your time too much, since I feel you still have a lot to prepare for the Third Major Disaster."
Its expression turned fierce, "You are planning to kill Brangara, right?"
"Yes," Inala nodded as his eyes turned equally fierce, "Do you not want me to?"
"My thoughts are irrelevant. I can't interfere with what is going on here, you know." Pet shook its head, "But ideally speaking, I like the way the Mystic Seven does things, especially you, and Grehha. So if I have to root for anyone, it would be the two of you."
"Then, tell me about the soul and body aspects of Prana. How do I integrate them into my power system?" Inala asked, not hesitating in the slightest.
"You don't shy from asking, huh?" Pet noticed a faint fluctuation of Prana in its surroundings, chuckling as it spoke, "Are you trying to read my memories?"
"You're bold, Inala. You're confident enough to target a Transcendent. I like it!" Pet laughed as it shook its head, "However, you've not yet reached a level where you can read my thoughts."
Inala frowned, failing to get any data from the Major Treasure of Pet. He could detect a means to extract data from it. However, something beyond his understanding was blocking him. After a few minutes of being unable to get anything, Inala retracted Perfect Biome Domination and asked, "Tell me now?"
"There's not much to say, to be honest. As I don't know it either." Pet smiled wryly, "We have been trying to find out more information, but the Transcendents from other Continents are tight-lipped. We've been trying to study and make sense of whatever we witness in our battles, but it's impossible to catch up to millions of years of development in a matter of decades."
"Just tell me whatever you have figured out. I'll think of something." Inala expressed confidently.
"I was planning to do that," Pet nodded and began speaking, "If I have to explain it simply, it'll be that the aspect of mind is related to thoughts and control, the aspect of body is related to existence in the physical sense, and the aspect of soul is related to the origin of life."
Seeing Inala frown at the explanation, Pet thought a bit and rephrased its words, "Our power system is entirely based on the aspect of the mind. The fact that our core strength revolves around Spirit Weapon, Information Slips, and psychokinesis is evident enough."
"Manifesting a physical characteristic through Prana is what I thought the aspect of body was originally. Pranic Beasts are doing exactly that. But from what I've understood, it still falls under the aspect of the mind." Pet continued, "Basically, if there's even a bit of control involved, it falls under the aspect of the mind."
"I see," Inala nodded, "So, it's like the difference between the heart and the muscles of the fingers, basically a difference between involuntary and voluntary muscles."
"No, even in the case of an involuntary muscle, it's controlled by the autonomous nervous system." Pet interjected, "If I have to guess, it's more like the difference between the heart and the bone."
"That's...rigid!" Inala clicked his tongue in irritation, "Why does it feel...more restrictive?"
"That's the reason Sumatra's power system hasn't evolved beyond the mind aspect." Pet sighed, "The aspect of body is restrictive while the mind has no limits. We developed in the aspect of the mind and have gotten used to its freedom. So, it's impossible for us to search for a restrictive system."
"Did you know?" Pet expressed its shock, venting, "I faced two Transcendents from other Continents until now. They don't have a Human Avatar."
"What?" Inala was stunned by it, "Are they not Free Humans? No, wouldn't it be fused into a singular existence with them as they become Transcendents?"
"Even if a Free Human becomes a Transcendent, they'll become one with their Human Avatar, so its existence only becomes even more evident." Pet shook its head, "But I didn't encounter a single enemy Transcendent with a Human Avatar."
"They are not Free Humans, then." Inala muttered, staring at Pet to ask, "Do other Continents even have such divisions?"
"Free Humans exist only on Sumatra, as they are a product evolved from the Silver Empyrean Tentacle." Pet said, "However, similar existences are present on other developing Continents."
"A developed Continent, on the other hand, only has a single division." Pet sighed, "From what I've seen, they don't have a concept of mutation and evolution like ours."
"That...makes no sense?" Inala glared at the cave wall before him, muttering in his awkward pose a few minutes later, "Primary Nature...what aspect is it originally based upon?"
"...Body," Pet muttered as the cave turned silent. Almost a minute later, both existences sighed.
"So that's why." Inala nodded, "Sumatra's entire history is based on Pranic Beasts capturing Free Humans to make Ravaged Tribesmen and eventually evolving once the Tribesmen become Clansmen."
"That's because we only have the aspect of the mind as the foundation. Pretty much every other Continent starts with the aspect of the body, even newly born Continents." Pet nodded, "So, their development and strength progression is affected by the aspect of the body, making everything extremely rigid."
"Based on what I've found, Sumatra is the only exception." Pet sighed, "Why is why we've become the target."
"Isn't Brangara the cause that's luring in other Continents?" Inala expressed his confusion, "That's what Sumatra's Transcendent Eater told Yamahara."
"He's the primary target, as he's a source of development for even a developed Continent.
However," Pet expressed anger, "We start with the aspect of mind, which means we can mutate, evolve, and even change our races if we're capable enough. As long as we figure out a method, we can achieve it."
Pet stared at Inala, "Isn't that how you became a mighty existence such as the Royal Zinger?"
"I see," Inala expression glowered fiercely, "They plan to use our capability to evolve for their benefit, like a tonic of sorts."
"You're indeed one of a king, Inala. Even with an obvious lack of information, you're still able to deduce in the right direction." Pet chuckled, "That's all I've managed to figure out too. It's getting hard to even think while powerful existences are trying to destroy us."
"Starting with the aspect of the body is restrictive, the result is more tangible and powerful
than ours." Pet sighed, "Majority of our Transcendents are struggling to even keep up with these Transcendents. Only a few of us are holding our own, and that's only because our mind aspect gives us some unique advantages."
"Of them, Mahira Tusk and Renduldu have benefitted a lot." Pet stared at Inala to say, "As you have expected, Sumatra Chronicles is a trap. Anyone on Sumatra who's aware of it becomes a source of power."
As it explained, Inala understood how Sumatra Chronicles functioned. A Transcendent was incapable of growth, this was absolute and held true for every Transcendent from every Continent.
However, the existence of Sumatra Chronicles allowed the Mystic Seven to constantly create waves of change, which resulted in the power system of Sumatra Continent developing as a whole. And as it did, Renduldu gained a certain benefit.
It was as if he could visit his pre-Transcendence Stage self and explore this developed power
system. This way, he furthered his abilities through the improved power system, which implied that once he became a Transcendent, he'd be stronger.
Renduldu was able to experience this effect in real-time. He was constantly upgrading his pre-Transcendence Stage self through the growing power system, which in turn caused his Transcendent self's strength to grow gradually.
"And as his existence is integrated into Mahira Tusk's Transcendent World, his growth is fuelling her growth too. After all, Sumatra Chronicles revolves around the Mammoth Clan." Pet concluded, "At first, I assumed Sumatra Chronicles was something achieved through the aspect of the soul, for only that made sense."
"However, the truth is completely different." Pet chuckled wryly, "Sumatra Chronicles is created through the aspect of the mind only, but Renduldu's attainment in this path surpasses every Transcendent, even from other Continents."
"Mind is the most malleable and subject to change." Inala muttered in realisation, "So, only through the mind aspect can he achieve growth even after becoming a Transcendent."
"Doesn't that mean our path is actually stronger?" Inala asked as he stared at Pet, "As long as we keep developing in this regard, wouldn't we eclipse our enemies?"
"Unfortunately, Prana is a combination of the energies of the body, mind, and soul. The
greater we skew ourselves in the Mind path, the weaker we become, since the other two aspects making our Prana become weaker in comparison." Pet pointed at Inala and stated with a somewhat disappointed tone, "You're pretty much the pinnacle of the Mind Path, Inala. If you progress in it any further, you'll actually grow weaker."
"After all, no matter how much you innovate, using the State of Unity grants your enemy
enough power to destroy all of your plans. However, due to how skewed your build is, you'll die the moment you use the State of Unity." Pet chided, "Cultivators from developed Continents could maintain the State of Unity for days at a strength. Some monsters can even hold it for months. And all they'll have to do following is rest and recover."
"But what about you? One use and you're dead for good." Pet cursed, apologising upon
noticing Inala's silence, "I'm sorry to have gotten so worked up. If only I had some more time, I would have revived myself to fight alongside you. However, even after reading Sumatra Chronicles, I never expected the appearance of the Celestial Boar. That instantly put Sumatra Continent on the radar of countless powerful Continents."
"Are you able to revive through Pet?" Inala paused for a moment before asking. 'So, it seems
every scheme's plans were sent into orbit when Brangara became the Celestial Boar. Well, it makes sense, since he's an absurdly powerful existence.'
"I have a way to revive on Sumatra, but the setup takes some time." Pet hesitated a little
before sighing, beginning to speak, "I'm not sure if it's useful to you, Inala. But whatever, I feel you ought to know the truth, since whatever you've planned to do next will pretty much shape our fate during the Continental Invasion."
"I'm listening." Inala nodded, 'Seems even Torq has no idea about the aspect of the soul. His understanding of the aspect of body too is minimal. Whatever, it's something that happens in the future. I'll leave that concern to the future me that's born as the Quip Clan Deity.'
"There's a reason Sumatra Chronicles is set in this region of Sumatra and revolves around the
Four Major Treasures. Attribute, Weapon, Pet, and Seat of Transcendence..." Pet cleared its throat before beginning to recount a story from the past, "The four of us used to be comrades."