"The capture of DaraBuntara was unsuccessful?" Mesupoh glared at the soldier before him and expressed his fury, "Wasn't Falrami in charge of the capture? Are you telling me he's dead?"
"Yes, My Lord." The soldier saluted while his body shivered from the presence oozing out of Mesupoh, "We've compiled all witness reports and investigated the place..."
"He was assassinated in public by a beggar while chasing after DaraBuntara."
"In our city...?" Mesupoh calmed down and thought in seriousness, 'Even if someone were to ambush him, he has an extra life. So, there was no way Falrami would have died. He even has a Blessed Influence. If he wanted to struggle for survival, he could have without issues.'
"Were there any signs of resistance?" Mesupoh asked next as he extended his hand forward, prompting to be given an autopsy report.
"There were none," The soldier shook his head and submitted the reports.
"You can leave now." Mesupoh let out a long breath out of frustration and waved his hand, accessing the Vara Slip as he processed all the information within it. He then closed his eyes, massaged his forehead once, and got up, snapping his finger to command once his secretary entered the room, "Prepare my coach."
"I need to see his Majesty."
Varahan Empire Capital City-Narkn!
Of the four megacities of the Varahan Empire, three were under the Wean Clan's control. Only the capital was under the control of the Free Humans. Originally a bustling place, much of the infrastructure was damaged when the Mystic Seven targeted the Wean Clan in the capital.
After that, the resulting civil war led by Narkahamy caused further damage. Upon focusing on repairs, Narkn was on a path of recovery. But it would still take a while before it regained its original grandeur.
Exiting a railway station meant only for the officers and personnel part of the higherups in the pecking order, Mesupoh showed his identification, and upon completing a round of inspection, was granted entry into the palace.
"Glory to Your Majesty, The Varahan Emperor!" Mesupoh announced loudly as he kneeled on one knee upon entering the throne room.
"Take your seat." The Varahan Emperor, Narkahamy nodded casually and subtly gestured Mesupoh to his respective seat. The royal session was in place, with ministers from various fields submitting reports to the Emperor and gaining approval for various projects.
After six whole hours, the royal court was dismissed as Narkahamy eyed Mesupoh and left his seat. Mesupoh stood up and silently followed Narkahamy as the two men entered the Emperor's private chambers and took seat in a dimly lit room.
"Something serious must have happened for you to hurry here," Narkahamy said as he poured some tea to Mesupoh.
"Yes, Your Majesty...Boss." Mesupoh quickly corrected his addressal since they were now in a private setting, took out a Vara Slip and gave it to Narkahamy, "This is details regarding our failure to capture DaraBuntara. What you predicted has happened, Boss."
"I see," Once he accessed the Vara Slip, Narkahamy nodded, "It seems the Wean Clan has figured out a method to steal our Human Avatars."
"I fear so," Mesupoh nodded, stunned to see Narkahamy burst into laughter in response, "Why are you laughing, Boss? Isn't this a fearsome result?"
"Voracious Nature can steal the Natures of every living being. That's how this Nature works." Narkahamy continued to laugh.
"Yes, but that's only for a Nature." Mesupoh voiced his confusion, frustrated by his lack of intelligence to be on par with his Boss' train of thought, "Even when a Wean Clansman consumes a Free Human, they only obtain the Free Human's Primary Nature. There has never been a precedent of them obtaining a Human Avatar."
"Yes, but the Vara forming our Human Avatars is literally sourced from them." Narkahamy's laughter slowly came to a halt as he explained, "The Wean Clan and the Varahan Empire are two sides of the same coin. Our builds literally revolved around the power of the Empyrean Boar Race."
"Then, what should we do now, Boss?" Mesupoh voiced his nervousness, "If they can steal our Human Avatars, they'll get their hands on your Blessed Influence. They'll leave us in the dust in terms of development and eventually annihilate us."
"They're merely catching up after we took our lead." Narkahamy disclosed casually, "By consuming Empyrean Boars regularly, we can obtain the Secondary Nature of Voracious Nature. That's how we're able to manage the Empire's strength and keep the original foundations running. But, do you know this?"
"Empyrean Boar Transformation and Vara Human avatar serve the same purpose." He chuckled, "Both exist to prevent us from going insane by having a lot of Natures on our being. In human forms, the Wean Clansmen are not subjected to the influence from Natures they carry, since it's being carried by their Empyrean Boar forms. So, only upon their transformation do that influence affect them."
"As long as they keep the duration of their transformation short, they could meditate later and maintain their sanity without issues." He concluded, "Our Vara Human Avatars are storage containers created to store Natures. Since we're not directly storing them on our bodies, we too are able to resist the influence, since most of it is present only when we assume our Human Avatar forms."
"Yes, I know that, Boss." Mesupoh nodded, "But that's not what I want to know."
"I'll get to that." Narkahamy smiled and then spoke, "When a Wean Clansman consumes a Vara Human Avatar, he can gather this Vara into his tusk by storing Gracious Inheritance in the
tusk."
"So, they can actually store two Vara Human Avatars in this form, since they're replacing their tusks with the Human Avatar." Mesupoh nodded, "But how can something like this be
possible?"
"Because Vara is something they produce naturally. They can treat it as a Spirit Weapon." Narkahamy spoke solemnly, "They've taken care to never reveal it, but they've developed Mystic Sumatra Art to the extent they can use it to control their Vara as a Spirit Weapon and not have to wait to stumble upon a piece of Sumatra Gold."
"Spirit Weapon? I see..." Mesupoh nodded, "If it's like that, then they can carry it even in their
human forms without issues. They can activate the Blessed Influence stored in it when necessary. That can explain how Falrami was taken out without being able to resist."
"No, that wouldn't be too accurate." Narkahamy thought for a moment and then stared at Mesupoh, "Attack me once, and you'll know."
"But Boss..." Mesupoh hesitated for a moment before launching a Ring Blade upon seeing Narkahamy's seriousness. The Ring Blade expanded in side and came in contact with Narkahamy, about to sever him.
However, it was suddenly absorbed into the latter, stunning Mesupoh, "H-How?"
"The Natures that an Empyrean Boar can activate..." Narkahamy casually patted his clothes, revealing his hand that had assumed Vara Human Avatar form, "If an Empyrean Boar is the source, then the Huma Avatar is the sink."
"Does that mean we can absorb their attacks?" Mesupoh asked.
"Only if they throw the Nature itself at us. We cannot absorb the product of a Nature. Our Human Avatar inherits Natures." Narkahamy smiled, "And with how I designed it, a Blessed Influence will also be considered a Nature by our Human Avatars."
"So, I Falrami had attacked with a Nature instead of his Blessed Influence..." Mesupoh's eyes widened in realisation.
"Yes, then he wouldn't have died. Instead, the person targeting him would be the one getting killed." Narkahamy nodded, "Our powers are two sides of the same coin. Just as how we can consume and take control over their powers, they can do the same to ours too. The side that understands their power the best becomes the winner."
"That's...enlightening," Mesupoh bowed in respect, "I would have wracked my head futilely for years if not for your insight."
"That's why I've been telling you to read more instead of focusing only on slaughtering the
Wean Clansmen." Narkahamy chided, "They want to keep this gain a secret so that we won't devise a counter. But there's a chance they'll use it on you in the future. So, always be
prepared."
"Yes," Mesupoh nodded, asking after a few seconds of thought, "Boss! Those Spirit
Weapons..."
"Indeed," Narkahamy nodded, "If a Wean Clansman consumes a Free Human with my Blessed Influence and creates a Spirit Weapon, the Blessed Influence within it can be used as
long as it's supplied with Prana."
"We'll be able to create powerful Spirit Weapons!" Mesupoh gasped.
"But that needs a sacrifice, of our citizens," Narkahamy's eyes narrowed, "It's unethical.
Either in the open or underground, the Varahan Empire must never produce such Spirit Weapons, at least..."
His eyes grew fierce, "Not with our citizens."
"But if we target Free Humans from other Kingdoms, we'll lose the support we've been garnering all along." Mesupoh sighed, "They'll spontaneously switch alliance to the Brimgan Empire whose influence is expanding even faster than us these days."
"That's politics," Narkahamy nodded, "Well, it's something I need to worry about. You don't
have to break your head so much. Just focus on what you can achieve currently and then try to gain more bodies."
"Seriously, does it even make sense that you're still at the 3-Life Stage even with my
support?"
"I'm sorry, Boss. I'll work harder!" Mesupoh kneeled on the floor in shame.
"You better," Narkahamy nodded and then began to speak, "On another note, our spies have
been performing well. One of them even infiltrated the Wean Clan successfully and managed
to make contact with a certain man of power inside."
"If it goes well, we can expect some stellar results." Narkahamy chuckled.
"Congratulations in advance, Boss!" Mesupoh got up and saluted, "Everything will happen as
you had predicted."
"To make my predictions come true, we'll need to stay on our toes and ensure we can react
swiftly to any changes." Narkahamy said, "Well, I don't need to repeat myself. You know that
well after following me for so long."
"Yes, Boss." Mesupoh nodded.
"Now, return to your post and create another opportunity to capture DaraBuntara. He's our
only channel in reaching the Wean Clan's leader." Narkahamy commanded.
"I'm on it!" Saluting in response, Mesupoh walked away.
'It seems the Wean Clan's secret project is paying massive dividends. Gold Varahan Library,
was it? Only with their identity and resources can they successfully pull it off.' Narkahamy
pondered, 'Mystic Sumatra Art is constantly being developed at a rapid pace. In comparison, our Gold Inheritance Art is lacking.'
'There's a limit to how much I alone can develop it.' He let out a mild sigh, 'If only I can enter
the Brimgan Library and access their information, I'm confident on upgrading our cultivation technique to the Mystic Grade.'
'But still, once we manage to bring Shuwrak Zahara to our side, things will go in our favour.'
He grinned, 'Researching his cultivation technique might pretty much be the ingredient I'm lacking for that final step.'
'As long as I manage to get my hands on Astral Chart, I'll be able to fight the Wean Clan's
leader without issues.' He thought, got up from his seat, and headed to a farther room to inspect YoriBuntara's condition, "Still not there?"
"Umm...No," YoriBuntara shook her head, "I feel changes happening to me, but it's not at a level where I feel I'm becoming the Boar King."
"Alright, keep working hard." Narkahamy didn't talk much beyond that and began to engage
in his research, 'The information Mesupoh brought in today made many things clear to me. A Vara Spirit Weapon that is made using a Vara Human Avatar. I need to look into this further.'
"Rapid development between both sides, huh? It's exactly as you have predicted, Lady Amitha." He muttered, "In a decade, we've progressed in terms of development that would have otherwise taken centuries, millennium, or the idea wouldn't have even been conceptualised, since there would be no reason or incentive to do so."
"The only way to explore the limit of this build is for the two sides to remain in an eternal
conflict with each other." He sighed in amazement, "Worthy of being called a Mystic Grade existence. She casually said something it took me so long to understand."
"No wonder she reached the Mystic Grade in a mere two decades. I can't even begin to
comprehend such a level of fearsome intelligence." He burst into laughter, "Is this how an average Free Human feels about me?"
"Ever since I stepped onto this path, there has never been even a moment of boredom. It's... exhilarating!"