"Go, go! Move faster!" Kenzar shouted as he watched a group of Pranic Beasts board a Biome Bomb and be carried off to the Varahan Empire. Sweat dripped down his face as he stared in worry at the ridiculous number of Pranic Beasts who had expressed their willingness to head to the Varahan Empire.
'This has gone beyond control!' He frowned at the thought, his expression worsening upon hearing a Zinger Shriek, "Another one?"
"Seriously?"
Ravaged Tribe Leaders, Clan Leaders, Free Human Kings, Mystic Human Councilmen, Free Human Emperors, Silver Pranic Beast Heads, and even Gold Grade Pranic Beasts. The sheer number of existences that were moving towards the Varahan Empire honestly stressed him.
After all, in the time span of a month, the Quip Clan was in charge of transporting them all to their destination safely. The Quip Clansmen were working overtime to glide across the region at their fastest speeds to satisfy everyone's needs.
"Sir Kenzar!" A Zinger Aristocrat landed before Kenzar and expressed her fluster upon assuming human form, "This new group…"
"I'll deal with them." Kenzar said as a mud giant emerged out of the ground, grabbed him, and threw him into the sky. It was a Homing Satellite ad immediately after the launch, it crumbled into soil.
Beginner Gold Grade Pranic Beast—Zinger Guard!
Once in the air, Kenzar assumed his Pranic Beast form, unfurled his wings wide and glided across the sky. He steadily dropped his altitude to accelerate further like a bird and sped faster. Soon, when it seemed like he was about to touch the ground, Kenzar spun once acrobatically and threw a Homing Satellite towards the ground.
It landed in the soil, emerged as a mud giant and stretched its hand in his direction. Right as he reached it, Kenzar Echo reverted to human form and watched as the mud giant softly caught him, spun once to prevent the inertia—of his gliding—from damaging his body and then launched him into the sky once again.
Once in the sky, he assumed Pranic Beast form and glided forth, repeating the process multiple times, with each succession increasing his speed until soon, he attained subsonic speeds. It was the fastest speed he could attain economically and maintain for an extended duration.
A few hours of journey later, Kenzar landed before an unknown location; unknown because it was covered by a sea of mist. He waved his hand once, watching the mist scatter in response to the gust he produced.
However, a few seconds later, the mist reoccupied the space. Observing for a couple of minutes, he noticed that the mist had a faint updraft. And towards the surface was a radial draft reaching the ends.
Stretching endlessly a few metres from him was a wall of mist.
Kriek!
A Quip Zinger shrieked upon seeing his arrival, informing him of everything that had transpired at the place. Immediately upon hearing it, sweat trickled down the side of his cheek as Kenzar cupped his fists in response and bellowed, "I am Kenzar Echo, Leader of the Zinger Guards. I represent the Quip Clan, so please come out."
"Echo?" A soft voice resounded as an old, bald man waked out, his steps lithe, lacking any weight. In response to his gait, the mist subtly swerved around him and glided back.
His body was lean, lacking a strand of hair across his body. With slow, casual steps, he arrived before Kenzar, dwarfing the latter. He reached a whopping height of 270 centimetres, with a neck that was unnervingly longer than what his form necessitated.
"If I'm not mistaken…" The old, bald man stared down at Kenzar and muttered, "That suffix is given only to the strongest of Gold Grade variant at the Quip Clan."
"Yes, you're right." Kenzar Echo nodded respectively, "I've been personally named by the Royal Zinger."
"I know that." The old man nodded, speaking with an ounce of respect, "I'm actually indebted to his daughter."
"We all are." As he spoke, tall, bald men similar to him walked out of the mist one after another, reaching a whopping number of 216.
Immediately upon staring at them, Kenzar Echo began to sweat profusely, "So, if I may ask of your intentions honestly…"
He stared at the group and asked, his expression on guard, "Why have the lot of you decided to reveal yourselves?"
"Shouldn't you know it best?" The old man at the front revealed a smile, "The Celestial Boar is dead."
"Why?" He observed Kenzar and asked, "Should we not have come out?"
A voracious presence burst out of his being and caused the entire region to bend to his will, intimidating Kenzar in response.
"No, that wasn't my intention." Kenzar's body trembled like a leaf caught in the storm. Instinctively, he almost hurled his Homing Satellites. However, he restrained himself, knowing that his ability would only serve to reinforce the strength of the existence before him, 'They are the most annoying bunch since they don't have to worry about their large bodies.'
Expert Gold Grade Pranic Beast—Empyrean Snapper!
Even after the Celestial Boar had its feast of Empyrean Snappers, there still remained 216 of them. Gannala had helped them assume human forms, following which they left the Cooter Clan and lived in hiding, afraid to make their location known.
Without them around, the Cooter Clan only had Silver Grade strength, which meant they were too weak. Conversely, that also protected them from being targeted by the Celestial Boar, since they were not valuable ingredients for consumption.
Empyrean Snappers were worshipped as a Deity across all coastal and marine regions while Empyrean Tusks were worshipped as a Deity in more inland populaces.
Even after both these Races suffered devastating blows against the Celestial Boar, things didn't change much in terms of their status as a Deity. They still stood at the pinnacle of Gold Grade and had so many traits and means to accumulate strength that they could even be considered Quasi-Mystic Grade.
It was why they were worshipped as Deities.
And unlike Empyrean Tusks whose Primary Nature of Internal Inertial Gravity was individualistic in terms of power, the Primary Nature of Empyrean Snappers—Subtle Terrain Domination—could be stacked if two Empyrean Snappers were within Spirit Weapon range of each other.
During the war against the Celestial Boar at the Dralh Sea, the Empyrean Snappers used this trait and managed to hold their own even against a 2-Life Stage Celestial Boar who had made preparations to fight them.
That was despite the size of their bodies being used against them by Brangara who annoying alternated between human and Pranic Beast forms when convenient.
And now, with them being in human forms, all 216 Empyrean Snappers could pool their strength together as they could easily overlap the Spirit Weapon ranges of everyone. This was a force that could even walk through the Sandy Grey Void unharmed thanks to their collective might.
Brangara could assume his absolute domain by keeping eight Natures of Subtle Terrain Domination active. This was when he couldn't harness the full strength of Subtle Terrain Domination as he wasn't physically and mentally equipped to wield it like an Empyrean Snapper did.
Then what about 216 Empyrean Snappers?
That was why Kenzar Echo was shitting his pants, as currently, there wasn't anyone alive in Sumatra who could fight against this force, including the new Blola with his Transcendent Eater strength. 'I'm not even sure how much Gannala has assisted them.'
The Quip Clan had been relentlessly trying to find traces of Gannala, for one of the last orders from the Royal Zinger Inala was to take care of her. However, they had yet to find her, showing just how comprehensive Gannala's abilities were.
'She's his daughter. And if she did something to enhance the strength of these Empyrean Snappers…' He couldn't say for sure, but whether or not the Empyrean Snappers made plans didn't matter. It was factual that they would seek revenge now.
Before, when they expressed their desire to face Brangara upon obtaining human forms thanks to Gannala, the latter advised them against it, for with even the slightest carelessness on their part, Brangara would consume them.
And that would only make him unbeatable. In a situation where things were already seeming impossible, she didn't wish to sabotage anything. She trusted in the cunning of her father, knowing that if the latter wanted to borrow the strength of the Empyrean Snappers, he would have found them, no matter what.
The Royal Zinger was capable of such a feat.
"Please don't misunderstand my intentions…" Kenzar trailed off, not knowing the name of the old man before him, "I just wanted to know what your group wanted."
"And you'll do exactly what upon knowing that?" Despite knowing that Kenzar wanted to hear his name, the old man didn't let on and instead doubled down, asking coldly, "I heard the Quip Clan is involved in the transportation business too."
"We'll pay you above the market rate, as long as you transport the lot of us to the Varahan Empire."
"That…" Kenzar felt like his knees were about to give in as merely enduring the stormy presence emanating from the group before him was taking a severe toll on his body and mind. 'They'll destroy the Varahan Empire, without a doubt.'
Even though the Varahan Empire used to be the Quip Clan's enemy at one point in time, that was when Brangara was alive. Now, thanks to it fracturing into two between the Wean Clan and the Free Humans of the Varahan Empire, the status quo had changed.
In order to one-up their enemy, both sides were forced to transact with the Quip Clan, which meant they put their full effort into bettering their relationship with the Quip Clan. And as long as this continues, such a powerful force will consider themselves staunch customers of the Quip Clan.
Their initial hatred had already subsided towards the Quip Clan due to the need of the hour. And as the generations span, that would be forgotten entirely. This was all thanks to Inala's machinations.
From an internal perspective, this was the status. But from an external perspective, both the Varahan Empire and the Wean Clan were absolutely necessary in fighting against the invaders from other Continents in the future.
As someone who was aware of what awaited them in the future, Kenzar Echo had been working tirelessly to connect various regions through the Quip Clan and result in their overall development.
This way, they'll be stronger against the invaders. He didn't know how powerful the invaders would be, but even they couldn't face the combined might of the Wean Clan and the Varahan Empire.
Especially the Wean Clan who could spawn Gold Grade existences endlessly and make them reach maturity in mere eight years. That was beyond common sense. It was why Inala made such an arrangement and caused a civil war so that both the Wean Clan and the Varahan Empire would develop rapidly in their power while keeping each other in check.
This way, once the invasion happens, they'll be forced to put the civil war at rest and join hands to demolish the invaders. 'They are a necessity for Sumatra's continued existence!'
However, if the Empyrean Snapper group were to head there now, they'll destroy the region and only cause Sumatra's fighting force to weaken, 'Dammit! This is the worst time for their return!'
"I understand your needs," Kenzar Echo nodded as his hands slowly inched their way to the Homing Satellite hung at the side of his hip. His heart was beating so loud he was afraid the sounds could be heard by the group before him as he gulped nervously once and then bellowed, "But I REFUSE!"
"The Quip Clan won't support your actions. Walk there on your own, if you want to that badly!" He roared and activated the Homing Satellite strung at his hip. Immediately in response, the Homing Satellite reverted to its actual size, spanning a height of 360 metres, revealing its body fully made out of Attributed Water.
Grrr!
Its form resembled the Royal Zinger as it brought its hand downward at the group before it. Kenzar didn't even stay to see how it would perform, knowing the result already. Instead, he threw another Homing Satellite into the ground which caused a mud giant to emerge.
Shriek!
It grabbed him and threw him into the air as Kenzar Echo let out a Zinger Shriek to inform all nearby Quip Clansmen to vacate the place immediately. He had acted promptly and brought out his strongest card to buy time.
However, his body ached as he suddenly found himself slamming into a wall of air, his eyes widening in realisation, 'They already control this region. But how?'
Boom!
The Homing Satellite made using Attributed Water kneeled on the ground with a thunderous sound and then stopped moving. It constantly tried to move, but an even stronger force kept it bound to its place.
"How? I made sure to stay out of your Spirit Weapon range!" Kenzar's expression morphed into shock as he thought of a possibility, 'Gannala…! She didn't…!'
"If we kill the one with the suffix of Echo, then maybe the Quip Clan will take us seriously." The old, bald man at the lead muttered as immediately in response, blood spurted out of Kenzar's body. But right as he was about to kill the Zinger Guard, his eyes darted to the side and watched a powerful projectile made out of Attributed Water slam in his direction.
"Who are you?" He muttered upon dispersing the projectile, unharmed as it was easily neutralised the moment it entered their range. And then, the entire group froze upon noticing a lone woman arrive in their line of sight, unfamiliar, but strangely familiar too for some, unknown reason.
"Who am I?" The woman groaned once and began to walk towards the group, her gait slow at first before soon, she was sprinting. And in response to her footsteps, the entire region quaked.