"I see," Brangara muttered upon seeing the Zinger's response. He then pondered for a minute and asked, "Do you have any specific reason for the answer?"
"There's a colossal chasm between spontaneous intelligence and systematic intelligence." The Minor Treasure of Zinger bowed in servitude, "You cannot expect a spark of genius to outclass the systematic planning of another genius."
"I get what you're saying," Brangara nodded and turned to face Gatin, "There you go, that's the opponent you'll be dealing with."
"Yes," Gatin Vara nodded, "I'll be meticulous and will plan extensively."
"That's it then," Brangara nodded and then faced the Minor Treasure of Zinger, placing his hand on the latter's head as he seeped his Astral World's influence and asked, "Now, tell me the relationship between the Zinger race and the Royal Zinger."
"We're under the Royal Zinger's absolute control." The Minor Treasure of Zinger stated without hesitation.
"What about you?" Brangara asked next, his eyes only narrowing subtly for a moment, having suspected the same.
"I am a Zinger," The Minor Treasure of Zinger stated as a matter of fact. That revealed everything.
"If Inala and I were to command you, whose decision would you prioritise?" Brangara asked next.
"Yours," The Minor Treasure of Zinger said, continuing upon seeing Brangara smile subtly, "Unless the Royal Zinger orders me otherwise."
"I see..." Brangara muttered in disappointment, "Can the orders pass through my Astral World to command you?"
"No," The Minor Treasure of Zinger shook its head, "It can be sound, sight, smell, energy, anything. But something of the Royal Zinger should make contact with me. Otherwise, I cannot go against the Astral World's commands."
"So, when did this happen?" Brangara asked next, 'Is it from before I consumed this Zinger and turned it into a Tangible Nature?'
"While chasing after the two Empyrean Tusks," The Minor Treasure of Zinger stated, "You had let me out..."
'In that short time frame?' Brangara was in a state of shock as he closed his eyes and let out a long, drawn-out sigh, in defeat, 'It's my loss, Inala. I can't even fathom how deep your plans run. But you've even planned something within my Astral World, in the core of my power.'
"What were you ordered to do?" Brangara then asked the Zinger, his expression trembling upon seeing the latter stare at the Minor Treasure of Death Knell. "How does he..."
"Haha," He stared at the Minor Treasure of Zinger and then waved his hand, 'So, I lost before the fight even began. While I gathered information about his abilities by tanking the attacks, he had a complete picture of mine.'
"I order you," Brangara uttered as he stared at the Minor Treasure of Zinger, "Encase yourself with a Prana Bomb and don't move until the Royal Zinger is dead. After that, you're to follow Gatin Vara in accordance to my plans."
"Yes," The Minor Treasure of Zinger nodded and spontaneously covered itself with a Prana Bomb. Brangara then wrapped an Unlimited Predator Satellite on the Prana Bomb, thereby ensuring Inala's methods wouldn't reach the Zinger, 'Now, it'll only work to satisfy my objective.'
"If you ever hear news about the birth of another Royal Zinger," Brangara commanded Gatin Vara and pointed at the Prana Bomb, "You know what to do. Plan in such a way you can steal its powers without risking falling under the Royal Zinger's control."
"Now, everyone except the Death Knell can leave." Brangara waved his hand after placing 99 Tangible Natures in his Astral World. As for the remaining Tangible Natures that hadn't been activated until now, Brangara simply filled their reserve of Prana, elevated them through the Life Stage as much as he could and then bode them farewell.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Gatin Vara bowed in response, gathered all the Minor Treasures and Tangible Natures and began to walk away, stumbling in shock all of a sudden upon hearing faint...cries.
Hik! Hiek! Kuk!
They were extremely subtle, almost inaudible, but they were there, Brangara's cries. For a moment, every Tangible Nature-Minor and Major Treasures included-stood rooted to the spot, in shock, paralysed by it, disoriented by reality.
"Act like you hadn't heard anything," Tanpral, the Major Treasure of Empyrean Snapper whispered in the ears of everyone and gently urged them forward also ensuring to block out the cries of Brangara. This way, the group could steel their resolve and forge forward, "This humiliation faced by our Deity...it's up to us to overcome it."
"You need to step up as our leader," Tanpral patted Gatin Vara on the shoulder, "Don't lose sight of our objective. Remember that our enemy is significantly stronger than us and has a greater potential for development. Unless we don't reinvent our powers, we'll never manage to make a mark."
"Yes, I understand." Gatin Vara clenched his hand into a fist and nodded with great difficulty, "We...will make a comeback, with our Deity to lead us once again."
"That's the spirit," Tanpral patted him as his expression turned serious, "That's the spirit."
Now farther away, huddled amidst an enclosure of trees was Brangara, seated on a boulder, arms hugging the knees in a foetal position as tears streamed out of his eyes. He had faced plenty of setbacks in the past, oftentimes suffering heartbreaking losses. However, every single time, it was merely a result of his lack of preparation, not being available at the scene, or being caught off guard.
But things were different now. No matter what he thought or tried to come up with, irrespective of how strong he felt he was or how confident he tried to be in himself, Brangara was unable to see himself surviving past today.
Even now, he felt he was stronger than Inala. But that didn't give him confidence anymore, 'Throughout history, whenever I suffered from Inala's schemes, I was always stronger.'
He recalled the time at the Dralh Sea where he had been completely played like a fool. If a future historian were to ask what was the pivotal gain that resulted in the birth of the Royal Zinger, the answer would be Brangara.
At the Dralh Sea, it was through Brangara's help that Inala attained his Mammoth Clan male and Cooter Clan female form. Rest was history. And now, there was the Royal Zinger in its State of Unity confronting him.
Without Brangara's help, the Royal Zinger wouldn't have been born. Inala would still have entered the Mystic Grade through the usage of the Major Treasure of Attribute, but that would have resulted in his original build.
That build was intended to be able to face the Empyrean Boar King during the Four Major
Disaster, nowhere close to the current Royal Zinger Inala. This major step had been achieved by a mortal Inala, one without access to Prana, someone who could pretty much be considered blind, deaf, etc. on Sumatra.
'Now, I don't have Yarsha.' He missed her, especially in times like these. Yarsha Zahara was a genius in the full sense. From the time Brangara met her, she spent all her time making plans to defend against the schemes of the Mystic Seven.
If not for her, the Mystic Seven would have casually infiltrated Brangara's home with zero difficulty, achieved what they intended without suffering any setbacks and eventually resulted in Brangara's pitiful demise.
Inala's scenario of the sane Boar King and insane Boar King would have become reality. Brangara himself would have resulted in his death. "Heuk....kuk...!"
'I never felt this weak all my life.' He thought and wiped his tears, for the first time feeling truly alone. He knew Barla was alive, thanks to Blola. But would she ever try to speak to him? Chances were zero.
She was the Empyrean Boar King and not the Celestial Boar. Powerful Natures had been harmonised in her Astral Chart to result in Astral Puncture, Sumatra's strongest attack. The only way to defend against it would have to be an Empyrean Boar King with a state of Harmony through Astral Chart, created solely to defend against Astral Puncture.
Whether it be the Celestial Boar, Empyrean Supreme, Transcendent Eater, or even the Royal Zinger, the creator, none had the capability of defending against Astral Puncture. Even though Brangara didn't know the list of Natures forming it, based on the presence released by Barla, he knew how powerful they were.
And especially their influence. Currently, Barla was way stronger than the endgame Brangara from Sumatra Chronicles. Unfortunately, so did the influence she was enduring. Her mind had been rooted to her hate on Brangara. That couldn't be changed.
As long as she's alive, the notion of hatred towards her father figure will continue to deepen. Virala had ensured that to be a reality. And Astral Puncture gripped that reality firmly.
Therefore, even though he had a family, Brangara was all alone. His son Yamahara was alive, of course. 'But he must have been kept in captive somewhere.'
Sumatra's Transcendent Eater too had been cut off from the fight thanks to Blola. With Yarsha
Zahara dead and there being chaos in the Varahan Empire, Brangara didn't have anyone to count on anymore.
The sheer level of preparation done to the defensive line set up around the Kalahatra Desert meant he could never expect any last-minute reinforcement, 'I have to face this alone.'
He could run away if he chose to. The answer was simple. Everyone who had participated in the fight was either dead or dying. The only one with a possibility of recovery was Virala. And
as long as Brangara targets the latter a few more times, Virala too was as good as dead.
His Mystic Human powers won't be enough to protect him anymore.
Following that, Brangara simply had to wait until all his enemies were dead before making
his return.
As for Inala? He was already a dead man on his last breath. If Brangara put his mind to it, he
could remain on the run until Inala exhausted his State of Unity. It wasn't even that had to do
so.
'I...just need to let go of my pride and run away to become the winner.' As he thought, tears streamed out of his eyes more intensely, "But, I don't want to."
If he let go of his pride, he truly would be nothing. Once, just once, for a few hours, as long as
he runs away, he'll be the winner. The solution was before his face, once proposed by Resha during the Second Major Disaster.
As long as Brangara gives up, everything will end. 'Shit...!'
"That's not me, Brangara." He muttered and got up as his figure slowly took flight, noticing
the world around him become monochromatic.
Major Treasure-Flight!
Inala had only commanded it to not take action within the Kalahatra Desert to avoid it
interfering with their fight. Since Brangara assumed flight outside the region, the Major Treasure of Flight had arrived here to do its work.
State of Unity-Unlimited Predator!
The Major Treasure of Flight hadn't even begun to erase Brangara's body when the latter was
protected by a thick layer of Unlimited Predator; the barrier was thick enough to defend against its erasing capabilities.
A glance at it and the Major Treasure of Flight disappeared, having judged its power wasn't
enough. The world resumed its function as Brangara stared at the spot-where the Major
Treasure of Flight used to hover-in silence, turning sullen, 'So he turned the Hidden Eye into a Major Treasure and made it his.'
With slumped shoulders, Brangara returned to the Kalahatra Desert, his movements not
picked up by anyone at the border, including Pet and Boul Brimgan who were too exhausted by now.
Slowly, he landed somewhere nearby the Infinite Divine Soldier and stared at the sky, waiting
patiently while Prana surged into the Minor Treasure of Death Knell in his Astral World.
"Phew!"
He let out a breath and accepted that he was dying here, 'I hope you learn from this lesson, my
tenth body. Don't be a fool once you return.'
Fuooh!
Soon, the Minor Treasure of Death Knell was filled up with 60,000 units of Prana, ready to be
activated at a moment's notice. Brangara sat upon a dune and stared at the sky, slowly breaking into a cheerful smile, "Might as well make the most of this fight."
"I have simply been outwitted, not destroyed." Brangara muttered as he observed a star descending rapidly from the skies, "Even if the theorised Celestial Zinger appears on Sumatra, the strongest on Sumatra was, is, and will always be the Celestial Boar."
He got up as a pillar of light burst out of his being, meeting the falling star midway. Both
came in contact and resulted in vibrant aurorae that quickly covered the Kalahatra Desert and expanded beyond.