'Indeed, their powers are two sides of the same coin!' Inala thought, barely able to conceal his excitement. Most of the Wean Clansmen had been pushed to the Varahan Enclave and the three megacities they controlled.
However, there were some hiding in the Varahan Empire, only taking action during important moments, such as the capture of DaraBuntara.
A Free Human with a Vara Human Avatar could gain the Secondary Nature of Voracious Nature if they consume Empyrean Boars for a long enough duration. It was just a matter of time and strict diet and they'll obtain the Nature.
Silver Grade Vara Human Avatars had the Primary Nature of Gracious Inheritance while Gold Grade Vara Human Avatars had the Primary Nature of Blessed Inheritance. It seemed by consuming these Free Humans, the Wean Clansman were also able to gain some benefits, using which they could successfully infiltrate the Varahan Empire without having their covers blown.
After all, any Free human in the Life Stage was capable of telling apart a Clansman from a Free Human.
'Indeed, chaos has forced both sides to constantly innovate to have an upper hand. Otherwise, they'll be consumed by the other side.' His body trembled in excitement as Inala analysed, 'It was a good idea to sow discord between the two factions. I'll be able to learn a lot here.'
"Was he a sympathiser for the Wean Clan?" Inala behaved like he was curious and expressed his thoughts, "I never thought Free Humans did that for anyone other than a Deity."
"A Brully..." The leader of the team of Wean Clansmen, RoloVentara eyed Inala and then shifted his attention to DaraBuntara, prompting the latter to explain himself.
"I sought its help when I was desperate." DaraBuntara shook his head, expressing that he received no assistance from the Brully.
'It'll be extremely useful if we can raise a group of Brully for our consumption. There isn't enough records, but among the fragments, it is said that the race of Brully can fight nonstop from birth to death.' RoloVentara thought and eyed his team, commanding them to escort the Brully, 'If we can stockpile on its Natures, we'll gain the upper hand in this war.'
'I originally wanted to be captured by the Varahan Empire and observe their Human Avatar. But this is also good enough.' Inala showed no resistance as the familiar Nature of Wool Expansion was used to bind him into a cocoon, 'I'm curious about the Wean Clan's Human Avatar!'
Only Free Humans could build a Human Avatar. Orakha's build used to be the sole exception, which also wouldn't have been possible without the resources sourced from the Transcendent Eater.
But now, just as how the Varahan Empire's Free Humans were able to produce their own Vara, the Wean Clansmen too were able to tap into the Human Avatar forms of the Varahan Empire's citizens.
During his time as the Royal Zinger, Inala had pretty much stolen all the data from Narkahamy. He had a complete idea regarding this build. And currently, his Brully senses picked up the existence of a Blessed Influence from the man who had killed Falrami.
Blessed Influence should have only been possible to be present in a Vara Human Avatar. A Wean Clansman couldn't have gained that power. But somehow, that was a reality now, which Inala wished to research.
He only knew that it had been achieved, but had no idea regarding the process or logic behind the feat, 'Whether it be the Varahan Empire or the Brimgan Empire, they're progressing in strength at an alarming rate.'
The loss of Varahan Empire's Mystic Grade existences-Brangara and Yarsha Zahara—might seem like a crippling blow, but it didn't matter at the end of the day. Even the current Varahan Empire was too powerful for anyone in the vicinity to contend against.
Despite facing the Wean Clan, the Varahan Empire had enough resources to fight another force. It was because after absorbing every single Free Human force they could encounter in the region, their population had already crossed 80 million.
Originally, beyond the influx, the population growth was slow, as the Empire was stable. There was no need to birth too many children, since the death rate was very minimal. Most families only had two children, which they felt was sufficient.
However, once war with the Wean Clan began, with the civil war causing countless casualties, the desire for survival spread among them, especially through the older generation that had immigrated from older Free Human settlements.
Families now had around five to six children on average. Some families rushed by strong motives spawned children in the double digits, intending to seize a portion of the military authority for themselves.
In war, military organisations developed the most and had the highest authority as compared to civilian organisations. Moreover, society too valued soldiers the most, for their performance in war directly dictated the stability of their Empire.
At the current pace of their population expansion, the Varahan Empire was on schedule to doubling their population every decade until they eventually hit a plateau in terms of the resources they could produce to sustain the population.
"The Brimgan Empire's population has crossed 300 million already and is scheduled to reach 500 million within the next century." RoloVentara spoke as he guided the group towards a secluded pathway towards Binkn megacity, "When they reach that number, they'll declare war on the Varahan Empire."
"That's information peddled by the Quip Clan. We cannot guarantee their authenticity." DaraBuntara said upon recovering his strength. Slowly, his presence stabilised as even at the peak of the Body Stage, he seemed stronger than the team members who were in the 2-Life Stage. "When I flanked the Empire, I first investigated their resources. The Quip Clan is also trading with them."
"There's plenty to gain from both sides, so they're playing it safe." He snorted.
"That's how merchants are." RoloVentara nodded respectfully, for a moment eyeing Inala to see that the latter's ears were fully covered up, ensuring he couldn't hear their conversation, "Our only choice is to ensure that as customers, we're valued more than the Varahan Empire."
"Besides," He sighed, "Things would become sticky for us if the Brimgan Empire declares war only on the Wean Clan. Their growth speed pales in comparison to us, but their advantage
is overwhelming."
"Are they really that strong?" DaraBuntara asked, "They're still Free Humans at the end of the day. They don't have Pranic Beast forms. So their physical bodies are fragile."
"Do you know how the Brimgan Royals are referred to as?" RoloVentara stared at DaraBuntara and spoke solemnly upon seeing the latter's expression of ignorance, "When you see a golden flash, your head is already rolling on the ground."
"They're that strong?" DaraBuntara was shocked.
"I'm afraid so. Which is why," RoloVentara expressed with a fierce expression, "We need to ensure the Brimgan Empire's anger falls only upon the Varahan Empire. Our Wean Clan must be a perfect bystander."
"How can we achieve that?" DaraBuntara expressed his confusion.
"I don't know. I'm merely in charge of transacting with the Quip Clan." RoloVentara shook his head, "Anyway, even though your mission ended in a failure, it'll still good that you managed to find a Brully."
"This Brully is strange," DaraBuntara frowned, "It didn't resist, whether the one capturing it
was Falrami or us."
"Well, it doesn't matter." RoloVentara shrugged, "A Brully is a menace, but this one is a mere child. We can easily keep it captive."
The group soon arrived before a large tree and tapped its trunk. In response, one of the overgrown roots uprooted itself to reveal a tunnel.
"Let's enter," RoloVentara said as the group quickly moved into the tunnel, following which the root covered the entrance and adjusted itself so that all traces of its action were now
masked.
There was a flight of stairs, reaching a depth of 150 metres, a which a small station had been established. A group of 20 Wean Clansmen, all at the 2-Life Stage manned the place. This was a hiding place within the Varahan Empire, one of the many built during the First Emperor's
rule.
Only the City Lords involved in building it were knowledgeable about it, which was why the Free Humans had no idea.
This tunnel had two railway lines, spanning back and forth Binkn City.
"We're returning to Binkn City," RoloVentara said to the 3-Life Stage Wean Clansman in charge of the place after a routine inspection was completed. The group boarded a railway and descended through the tunnel.
"The journey time is eight days, so get some rest." RoloVentara said, placed two of his team members on the lookout, inspected the Brully's bindings for a minute, and then fell asleep.
'This brings back memories...well, not this body's memories.' Inala had been listening to the conversation all along. Even if his ears had been blocked, his olfactory system perceived the faint vibrations on the cocoon binding him in three different forms. Once his brain analysed it, the entire conversation was laid bare to him.
'Thankfully, it seems the transfer has been perfect.' Focusing on the tower in his mind space, Inala smiled, 'The information in my mind space deals zero influence on me. Whatever I am is a product of my original self coupled with the past eight years of living as a Brully.'
Being captured like this was pretty dangerous. However, his Brully form was still a child, so it
wasn't at a level capable of reproduction yet. Inala used to be 12 years old at the time of revival. But that changed after he became a Brully.
Technically, he, as a Brully, was born eight years ago, which made his actual age eight. A
Brully reached maturity at an age of 84, so there was a long way to go before Inala could worry about either the Wean Clan or the Varahan Empire forcing him to produce progeny for the
purpose of farming his Nature.
'Well, unless they find a female Brully, they can forget about farming my Natures, not that I plan to sit still until we reach that point.' Inala thought in seriousness, 'Once I achieve my objective here, I'm bolting out of this place. There's plenty more to explore.'
"Hey, I'm bored." Inala said, which resounded as a muffled grunt to the ears of the Wean
Clansmen.
"You're our captive..." DaraBuntara slightly released the bindings on the ear and mouth of Inala, about to have a conversation when he was interjected by the latter.
"I'm not bothered about that. I'm bored," Inala's voice resounded as a groan, "Let me at least
sharpen my hand if all you're planning to do is sit like statues."
"We can't risk you running away." RoloVentara woke up, eyed Inala and expressed sharply. "If
not for the fact that I'm respecting you as a fellow Gold Grade Pranic Beast, I would have treated your harshly."
"Harshly?" Inala burst into laughter, "Brother, did you forget what I am and what I was doing moments before capture?"
"He has a point," DaraBuntara smiled wryly.
"You're a fun guy," Inala nodded at RoloVentara as his bindings came loose. He got up, eyed
his surroundings, picked up the rails of a seat and then used it to scratch his left hand-one
sporting an axe head Warhammer.
Kriekk!
Scrapping sounds resounded within the compartment as the Wean Clansmen stared at Brully
with an incredulous gaze, for the sounds were rhythmic and continued nonstop until the end of their journey.