"Why are you here?"
"Shouldn't you know?" Hearing Renduldu's remark, Inala tilted his head, "Or were you sleeping when we were going through shit?"
The two sides stared at each other for a couple of seconds before Inala chuckled, "Just kidding."
"I wanted to look at things a bit before returning to my fight," Inala uttered and noticed a few more Transcendent Mystic Tentacles coming his way. His gaze then fell upon the chaos in the Node noticing two Cosmic Beings being swarmed with attacks by thousands of Transcendents.
He then observed Mahira Tusk, noticing varying extent of damage riddling her body. Her Transcendent World-Tentacles of Tusk-was in an even worse state. Only upon that did he see Renduldu wasn't even emitting any presence but appeared as if he had entered the most optimal state of recovery and energy conservation, 'They must have been fighting an uphill battle.'
'Otherwise, with his future sight, he should have managed to figure out my arrival...I see...!' Inala observed Renduldu's eyes, noticing that for an instant, the latter's eyes gained an all- knowing clarity, "So, that's how future sight works."
"Bingo!" Renduldu winked in response and landed on Mahira Tusk's shoulder, "Well, a promise is a promise."
"Make a wish, Inala."
It was what Renduldu had promised the six reincarnates before bringing them to Sumatra. Even though Inala hadn't expressed anything, with the faintest of clues derived from the subtle fluctuations of his breathing, eyelid flaps, heartbeats, etc. Renduldu managed to figure out his intentions.
State of Harmony-Future Sight!
It expands the power of Daly Checkpoint through both Prana and terrain to create a mental imagery of the world and simply observes how things play out on that particular day, innumerous times. In the first iteration, Person A might step on a leaf, in the second iteration, Person A might step on a twig, etc.
Every single possibility was calculated. Of course, this wasn't a blind calculation. It was done by treating the target as having Daily Checkpoint. Meaning, Person A was the main character of this scenario.
Therefore, every action performed would be a result of how they interact with the variables, which was determined to happen according to their character, physical state, mental state, behaviour, body language, etc.
Person A might have a bias in walking a certain way that made them prone to slipping on a banana peel. Person B would have only skidded a little in the same situation. Person Chad such a stable set of legs that they would never slip.
Therefore, according to their characteristic traits, the number of variables created by an individual was finite. And depending on the individual, it wasn't even that large a number.
In a scenario, Future Sight would replay the same scene across multiple days, watching the target individual interact with everything according to their bias. Maybe at the end of a million iterations, every possible major variable would have been explored.
This would give Renduldu a solid character map of the target, using which Renduldu could actually perceive the character's future. Since he now had complete knowledge of how a character would act, he could infer the target's progression through life.
Renduldu performed this action across a region, getting character maps for all living beings and even the terrain. With that, he could make realistic predictions of the future. Depending on how extensive his character maps were, Renduldu could accordingly predict farther into the future.
Currently, it seemed he had just been through a tough fight and was resting, which was why he couldn't judge Inala's arrival. However, upon seeing Inala, he activated his Future Sight and calculated everything.
The slight change from confusion to clarity in Renduldu's eyes was all Inala needed to understand how Future Sight worked. He already had an extensive knowledge of the three Natures of the Mystic Tentacles and State of Harmony.
The Brimgan Founder had done a considerable amount of thinking regarding that. Inala too had a decent idea of Renduldu's power based on his memories present in the Supreme Tusk Gannala. By inferring that information along with his ideas through the Brimgan Founder's collection of thoughts, Inala had a decent idea.
And now, he confirmed it, 'So, there's a way to grow stronger even after becoming a Transcendent. Well, I don't need it anyway.'
The Royal Zinger will never become a Transcendent before attaining the prefix of Celestial to its title. By then, it would have researched and developed enough to use Four Steps of Nullity casually, like the Celestial Boar used Unlimited Predator, without side effects.
Basically, an existence on par with the Celestial Boar, and without the worries of losing memories as consequences of attaining endless power. Only after reaching that point will the Royal Zinger become a Transcendent.
Until then, it'll seek refuge within Sumatra Continent. And even if pinnacle threats on the level of Celestial Boar were to appear, the Royal Zinger of that era could simply sacrifice itself by unleashing its State of Unity.
Currently, Inala was confident of killing Brangara. A proper 9-Life Stage Celestial Boar? No chance! But the damaged Brangara? Absolutely!
'Besides, I need to lay down the necessary groundwork first.' He thought, smiling upon noticing that Renduldu had already caught onto his train of thought. One was a Transcendent at the peak of the mind path while the other was a cultivator at the peak of the mind path.
Both individuals had enough smart and the computing power necessary to back up their thoughts. In a second, they had refined their plan.
'I'll beat you up later.'
'I'll see you try.'
'When I return here, it'll imply I'm strong enough to beat up everyone. So, be ready to be beaten up, Cutie Ren!'
'Fuck you!'
"So you remember the promise, huh?" Through subtle expressions, Inala and Renduldu cursed each other nonstop while externally, he began to speak, sporting an arrogant expression, "Sumatra follows the rule of the survival of the fittest. But Renduldu my dear..."
Inala made a saddened expression and repeatedly slapped his own head, "I've come to realise I'm too fit for Sumatra. There's absolutely nothing that can threaten me there."
"Blinding arrogance is cancerous, kid." Renduldu snorted, "The world is bigger than you can comprehend..."
"You've seen Root, right?" Inala chuckled, watching Renduldu purposefully pause dramatically, as if absolutely stupefied. 'Fucking noob, is that the best you got in terms of acting? Even kindergarten brats that are half asleep would see through your act.'
'Are you blind, noodle brain? The more on purpose I behave, the more these Transcendents will be offended. Let them know it's a play. That'll trigger them more.' Renduldu clicked his tongue and harrumphed in irritation.
"NOW!" Inala turned around and waved his hand at the Transcendents from other Continents, "You all must have seen my adorable son, right? I have been absolutely bored on Sumatra. So, why don't you weaklings invade us already?"
"Then, I'll have the perfect excuse to unleash Root on your homes. Oh...wait! I got a great idea!" Inala coughed and clapped for himself, announcing aloud as his words were radiated by Renduldu using Transcendent Prana in a format the Transcendents from other Continents could understand, "I announce the first Great Sumatra Sale!"
"Buy one Root and get a Celestial Boar for free. Homely destruction is complementary."
Seeing the expressions of the Transcendents from other Continents grew incensed in response, Inala simply doubled down, "Is that not enough? Man, you guys are such scrumps. Guess you guys are poorer than I thought. Well, whatever,"
He shrugged derogatorily, "I'll toss in a Transcendent Eater too, what do you say? That's
enough?"
[Mere cultivator trash dares talk smack?]
A Gold Transcendent from one of the invading continents appeared before Inala, spanning
hundreds of kilometres in size. It positioned its eye before Inala, almost making contact. Its
presence radiated with extreme fierceness, intending to mutate Inala's body into a grotesque
mush.
"You must have descendants back home, right?" However, Inala simply poised a question,
"Will they be participating in the invasion?"
[Yes, they will, and their first target will be you...]
"Great, so my appetisers have been finalised." Inala nodded as a matter of fact as his figure
turned into a bolt and appeared overhead the Gold Transcendent to stare at other Transcendents, "Who else? I am hoping for a banquet."
"Please don't disappoint me, I beg you." Inala made a pitiful expression, "Since I have to
fight in my home, I have been conservative in my efforts. But finally...finally, I can actually
have fun without worrying about collateral damage."
[You dare mock me?]
The Gold Transcendent moved its body, intending to capture Inala. However, the latter
simply vanished and reappeared before its eye and stated in mockery, "The power system of your Continent is similarly developed to Sumatra. So, brother..."
Inala sported a disappointed expression, "With what confidence do you think you're my
match?"
And this, Inala wasn't lying. Even though he couldn't win against the entity before him, he
could still fight against it for a while. He, a mere cultivator could do so. 'Of course, a full- powered Brangara could fight longer.'
Most of all, the reason he could afford to happily antagonise all these Transcendents was
because of one reason.
Major Treasure-Turnip!
It was still part of Brangara's stack, and the latter's claim of it reverting into Astral World one
day was the truth. However, there was a small difference. Enough of the Royal Zinger's genes were a part of Turnip.
Therefore, the longer the time passes, the greater Turnip would be under the Royal Zinger's control. If the Royal Zinger wills, Astral World would never make an appearance ever again.
Conversely, if Inala so wanted, he could actually transform Turnip into Astral world in a matter of years. He simply needed a few orbs to do so. Meaning, if the Royal Zinger was actually bored, it could unleash the Celestial Boar onto its enemies.
He just had to make sure Brangara witnessed cultivators from other Continents killing a few Empyrean Boars. Rest was history. He could simply sit back and chill while watching the chaos unfold. And if it seemed like Brangara was having some issues, Inala could hunt for suitable Pranic Beasts and feed the former.
Basically, feed the Celestial Boar according to the occasion, 'Honestly, it's not even worth worrying about.'
It was no different from dropping a nuke onto a medieval world. And the trigger was firmly
within the Royal Zinger's grasp. At the thought, Inala glanced at Renduldu, ensuring the latter had figured out the entire scheme.
Subconsciously, Renduldu found himself flashing a thumbs-up at Inala before retracting it in
a hurry to ensure Mahira Tusk didn't notice his actions.
'Well, guess I've antagonised them enough.' Inala then noticed Torq blending in with Sumatra's Iron Transcendents. He didn't do anything that might indicate their prior cooperation, unwilling to cause anything that could sabotage Torq's revival on Sumatra.
[Damn bastard!]
[You'll be the first death...]
[Your descendants will regret...]
'This guy is still raging on?' Inala faced the Gold Transcendent who tried to attack him but
couldn't get past Sumatra's defensive barrier. Inala landed on Mahira Tusk's Transcendent World and picked up an ivory piece from the ground.
His figure blurred as in a smooth motion, he turned around and hurled it at the Gold
Transcendent, his actions extremely fast.
Boom!
There was an energy explosion as the Gold Transcendent gazed in stupor at the tiny hole that
had formed in its eye, outlining the exact shape of the projectile that had pierced it. But what
was terrifying was that the projectile had penetrated its entire body and peeked out on the other side.
Moreover, it didn't fly out, but its body fully peeked outside. It meant Inala had thrown it perfectly, giving it enough force that it could accurately peek out from the other side of the
target's body.
[Impossible...!]
"Dude, I was telling you this all along..." Inala scratched his cheek and smiled wryly, "You're fucking weak, dumbass. Get good before you are eligible to challenge me..."
"Oh wait," He slapped his head, mocking his forgetfulness like a third-grade villain with exaggerated motions, "You're a Transcendent. Pfft!"
Hitting the Transcendence Stage meant hitting the ceiling of growth. Inala's derogatory
laugh hinted at that fact as he waved his hand, 'Pull me back, Sumatra. The actual powerful Transcendents are beginning to appear.'
He observed beings with incomparable levels of strength detaching from their fight with the
Cosmic Beings and heading his way, 'Mystic Transcendents...!'
"Oh, lastly..." Inala stared at Renduldu, treating Mahira Tusk like she didn't exist, "You
remember my review?"
Seeing Renduldu's expression morph visibly in response, Inala chuckled and flashed his
middle finger as Sumatra pulled him back into the continent, "I wasn't kidding back then."
"Bloody..." Renduldu almost reverted to his battle state in response, cooling down only after seeing Inala's figure vanish.
Sumatra Continent-Kalahatra Desert!
'This guy made an hour's trip in the middle of our fight?' Staring at the sky, Brangara thought
upon seeing a blinding star rapidly descend to his location. His throat felt parched in response
as every cell in his being became awake to the sheer level of danger he felt, one of imminent
death, even to him, the Celestial Boar, 'What a monster!'
State of Unity-Four Steps To Nullity!
Step Four-Bolt of Transcendence!