Binkn City!
Despite the recent war with the Varahan Empire, the city was standing strong. There were plenty of Wean Clansmen protecting the place, and the moment things get dangerous, the Boar King would arrive to their assistance.
Currently, the Varahan Empire didn't have anyone who could properly face the Boar King other than Narkahamy. However, the latter didn't take action and was instead focused on strengthening as many Free Humans as possible with a Blessed Influence.
Narkahamy had already reached the 10-Life Stage and was at a pivotal point in his accumulation. Losing a body at the moment would set him back by another two years, which he couldn't afford. After all, once all the Boar Kings were kidnapped by the Mystic Seven, including Yamahara, the rule regarding the Boar Kings was no longer privy to the Wean Clan.
The only other individual who knew about it was Narkahamy, thanks to the Royal Zinger. Therefore, even if Narkahamy were to take action, it would be only after YoriBuntara becomes a Boar King. That way, even if he were to kill the Wean Clan's Boar King by mistake, the one to become the Empyrean Boar King would be YoriBuntara.
She was completely submissive to him, even subconsciously. Narkahamy made damn sure of that. So, she was his insurance to prevent the arrival of the Empyrean Boar King. And even if that were to happen, she would be the one to become it.
As a result, without Narkahamy taking the charge, there wasn't an individual in the Varahan Empire strong enough to defeat the Boar King. As a result, the three megacities under the Wean Clan continued to grow without issues.
There were plenty of Free Humans there, submissive to the control of the Wean Clan. But steadily, the number of Wean Clansmen was increasing. In their Pranic Beast forms, as long as they eat enough food, they'll have sufficient Prana to maintain their transformation.
That would allow them to be pregnant as Empyrean Boars, allowing them to birth dozens of children. Upon birth, the baby Empyrean Boars would revert to human forms and could then be cared for in the traditional way.
It was a massive strain in resources for such a birth to happen, but it was also a necessity, since a single birth session could produce over a dozen Wean Clansmen. In times of war, the Wean Clan too was doing everything in their effort to emerge victorious.
A Wean Clansman needed on average six to eight years to reach maturity. An Empyrean Boar only needed 2 years, but they were Wean Clansmen and hence needed longer. But even then, 8 years was too short a time for a Gold Grade existence to reach maturity.
The Varahan Empire was only able to keep up pace thanks to Narkahamy's build being distributed to a large number of Free Humans. Their side too was trying to match the number of Gold Grade existences.
"Impressive!" Hands tied, Inala commented upon exiting the railway station. Expanding before him was a sprawling city of ginormous Decodus Trees, with each reaching 400 metres. Expansive pavements had been laid, creating walking spaces that traversed the entire city.
There were parks, residential areas, industries, schools, etc. Close to the railway station was a training facility where a group of Wean Clansmen were training.
"Move! Faster! Angle it better!" A drill instructor bellowed fiercely, his every clap resounding fiercely. The wave of sound produced in the air was visible to the naked eye.
At his shout, the group of Wean Clansmen activated a Nature of Shredded Lunge and disappeared, appearing ten metres away, followed by a series of wind blades.
"Kyak!"
"Ouch!"
"Why are they hitting me?"
One after another, the Wean Clansmen made a commotion due to the chaotic nature of the wind blades generated by Shredded Lunge.
"Silence!" The instructor roared and used his psychokinesis to bring forward a Vara cage. Within it was a Razor Rate held captive. "Now observe!"
The moment the cage came undone, the drill instructor masked his presence, appearing weak. Spontaneously, the Razor Rat judged him its prey and lunged at him. There was only five metres between the two, which it traversed perfectly.
It landed atop his feet, and right at that moment, wind blades were produced from its body. Instead of randomly attacking it surroundings, the wing blades formed a line and targeted the knees, one after another.
The first wind blade cut a couple centimetres into the knees. Before its power could end, the second wind blade struck the same spot, further exuberating the injury. In a series, the wind blades struck the same spot and ended up severing the drill instructor's knees, causing him to collapse to the floor.
Without a moment's hesitation, it jumped on his chest while its wind blades targeted the neck in the same fashion as before.
If he were to leave it as is, he would die. And hence, the drill instructor assumed Empyrean Boar form and tanked the wind blades like they were nothing. And then, with a snort, the Empyrean Boar sent the Razor Rat flying away.
As the Razor Rat crashed into the wall and plopped to the ground amidst a pool of blood, the drill instructor reverted to human form and stayed still for a few seconds to watch his legs regrow. Once they were good as new, he got up and addressed the Wean Clansmen, "Well? Did you watch how it performed Shredded Lunge?"
"Is something like that possible for us?" One of the Wean Clansmen asked in confusion, "We've never been able to angle the wind blades like that. When we perform Shredded Lunge, the wind blades just disperse radially from our landing spot."
"It's possible." The drill instructor nodded, "And you need to observe the Razor Rats to see how they perform Shredded Lunge and then apply the principle to yourself. With enough training, you can increase the destructive lethality of the ability."
"We don't need any Silver Grade Natures or above." The drill instructor said with confidence, "Understand the basics of all Iron Grade Natures, find a combination that suits your character, and train until you can execute all those Natures on the level of the original Pranic Beasts. That's enough,"
He grinned, "Do that, and no one within the Gold Grade will be your match."
"Can you do that, instructor?" One of the Wean Clansman asked.
"Only for Shredded Lunge, which is why I'm instructing you on it." The drill instructor snorted, "If I could do the same for a dozen Iron Grade Natures, I would personally sever the head of the Varahan Emperor."
"That's why I'm training the lot of you, so that you may reach that point in the future!" The drill instructor said and smiled upon seeing the Wean Clansmen train diligently. Suddenly, his skin prickled as he turned to the sky and noticed that perched on the stem of a Decodus Tree at an altitude of two hundred metres was a Brully, watching him with entertained eyes, 'Why the heck is a Pranic Beast here? Did it invade us?'
"Ooh!" Inala observed the group, chuckling upon seeing how Shredded Lunge was being used, 'They are innovating extensively. That's amazing! They've already left Brangara's
shadow.'
Brangara was just too strong. As a result, he only employed basic application of the various Natures he collected and primarily relied on Astral Chart and eventually, Astral World to deal
with everything.
Upon his death, the Wean Clan was forced to innovate, to ensure they wouldn't be wiped out or enslaved by the Varahan Empire. As a result, they observed, researched, and figured out ways to maximise the usage of every single Nature.
'There was a faint presence fluctuation, but I cannot be mistaken.' Inala thought in excitement, 'When that instructor used Shredded Lunge, he had activated a skill. It means they are finally in the right direction of development.'
Mystic Sumatra Art was suited for Pranic Beasts. The instructor had used its characteristics
upon Shredded Lunge and controlled the Nature as if it were a Spirit Weapon. Through that, he was able to fully exercise how his Shredded Lunge behaved.
'Indeed, you were a monstrous genius, Yarsha!' Goosebumps appeared on his skin as Inala thought, 'This was probably what you were hoping to achieve when you created Mystic Sumatra Art.'
Through the Skill, the Wean Clansman would not only be able to use the Nature on the level of the original Pranic Beast, but at times even use combinations to achieve a stronger output.
Blessed Influence!
That was Narkahamy's solution to take advantage of the influence from Natures gathering in
the Vara Human Avatar. Similarly, the Wean Clan intended to use skills that could combine
the powers of various Natures and result in a similar result.
Their power output and control capacity would be higher thanks to the Skills and the functions of Mystic Sumatra Art that imprinted the characteristics of Prana on blood and vice
versa.
'Indeed, without the pressure of survival, it's impossible to develop and become fit.' Inala
thought, continuing to watch the Wean Clansmen in training until DaraBuntara tugged the rope binding him and pulled him to the ground.
"Ouch!" Inala yelped upon falling to the ground and producing a loud thud. By the time he got up, his injuries had already healed, "That was rude. I was watching them practice."
"You can do that later." DaraBuntara sighed, stared at RoloVentara for a moment and nodded
subtly. He then addressed Inala, "We can do that later. But first, there's someone I want you to meet, Leukeu."
"Who is it?" Inala asked. 'Will I get to meet their Boar King?'
"You'll know once you meet them." DaraBuntara didn't explain as the group walked a short distance, entered another railway station and boarded a single-compartment railway.
After an hour's journey later, they entered the interior of a Decodus Tree whose trunk spanned
a radius of 180 metres, a monstrous size. Upon arriving inside, Inala complained, "It's too cramped."
He pointed at the flight of stairs, "I cannot go through that, even if you were to stuff my body in it."
"You don't need to." Saying so, DaraBuntara arrived at the double doors situated right before him and knocked on them, "We're here."
"Come in," There was a soft, familiar voice as the double doors opened.
"Let's head in, Leukeu." Saying so, DaraBuntara escorted Inala inside as the double doors
closed behind them.
Inala noticed that only DaraBuntara accompanied him inside. Even RoloVentara stayed outside, making him all the more curious, 'What are they planning now?'
The room was empty, the walls barren. There was a single chair placed at the other end of the
room, but that was it. There was nothing impressive about the place other than the fact that it seemed soundproofed.
Inala looked around, 'Even my senses cannot pick up anything beyond this room?'
"A Brully, huh?" A small hole opened on the opposite wall, and out slid a man in early
twenties appearance wise. His actions were exemplary of grace as he coolly took a seat on the
chair and observed Inala, "Leukeu, was it?"
"Welcome to the Wean Clan!"
'Damn!' Subconsciously, Inala's back was drenched with sweat, 'It seems the Wean Clan
indeed has a backup plan. And they've wiped out the memories of all known parties. Only after
Yarsha Zahara and Brangara were died did this backup surface.'
"Yes," Inala accepted the greeting as he eyed the man before him, 'Just what the heck has
Yarsha done to him? He's completely different from my memories of him.'
Shuwrak Zahara-Yarsha's older brother!