Walgah Desert!
It was a pretty vibrant desert ecosystem, filled with plenty of rich, life-sustaining oases. Most of these oases were occupied by Iron Grade Pranic Beasts, with the occasional Mutant among them that reaches the Silver Grade.
Walgah Desert had frequent sandstorms with heavy moisture content, the only source of moisture in the region. Therefore, most of the Pranic Beasts had some kind of Nature that allowed them to steal the trapped moisture from the sandstorm.
But the strangest trait was that every Pranic Beast in the region, without exception, relied solely on their Prana detection method as a sensory means. They didn't have any other, even if they wanted to use one.
They were also extremely selfish and individualistic, even if they lived in a horde, making it a haven for predators, as long as they could endure the living conditions of the place. The temperature was harsh, almost reaching the boiling point of water.
Whether day or night didn't matter. It was always hot at the place, making it tough for other creatures not used to heat to survive at the place.
Walgah Desert had little to no value or influence on Sumatra's ecosystem as it was located at the border. No existence was born here that created waves beyond the region. However, historically speaking, it was a terrifying place at one point in time, not due to the natives, but because of the existence that invaded Sumatra from here.
Beginner Silver Grade Pranic Beast—Death Knell!
This was where the Death Knell Invasion had begun. That was the Walgah Desert's only significance in the history of Sumatra. At the border of the region stood a tower erected by the Quip Clan.
The tower, like the rest of their kind, reached a height of 800 metres. However, unlike most of the Quip Clan's towers, this one spanned a radius of 800 metres, creating a massive platform. At the top was an ornately constructed watchtower where a newly born Zinger Guard lived.
The Zinger Guard had two reasons to be stationed here. First was due to Sumatra's position within the Sandbox Universe. Whenever its Transcendents encountered a Cosmic Being and managed to kill it, and when the Cosmic Being's body parts fell within Sumatra's range, and if Sumatra tried to assimilate those parts into itself, whatever creature it created would most probably appear at the Walgah Desert.
Walgah Desert was located pretty close to the Gaja Enclave, which was where the Mudropper Invasion had begun. The Brully Invasion was somewhat more uniformly spread across Sumata's borders, with the region spanning from the Walgah Desert to the Gaja Enclave just experiencing a higher Brully concentration.
After the Mudropper Invasion, the Gaja Enclave became useless. The Quip Clan had basically begun to occupy the place and had been funnelling resources into the Enclave in the process of fortifying the place.
The Quip Clan intended to turn it into their territory in the future, but only for military purposes, since another invasion was bound to occur at the place.
The second reason for the Zinger Guard being stationed at the Walgah Desert was a new one. Like usual, the Zinger Guard was seated in his quarters, documenting his observations of the place and tallying the arrangements of the Quip Clan for the region, 'We now have a list of over half the Natures available in this region. The mineral list still has a long way to go. In terms of Pranic Beast byproducts, we're a quarter way through.'
'There aren't many market prospects in this place unless we try to increase the number of Silver Grade mutants. Only then can we establish a stabler trade agreement.' The Zinger Guard thought, frowning immediately after seeing a Zinger Aristocrat glide into the place, almost crashing into the wall, "What happened?"
"Is it urgent?" The Zinger Guard asked, knowing the Zinger Aristocrat wouldn't behave like this otherwise.
"Sir Nushar!" The Zinger Aristocrat assumed human form and panted in exhaustion before shrieking once. Right as she transmitted all the information through a Zinger Shriek, she collapsed to the floor, having lost consciousness.
The Zinger Shriek contained information about Zhya's encounter with the Empyrean Snapper group and their intentions. "Shit!"
'Even Lord Zhya's Zinger Roar didn't penetrate their absolute domain?' Nushar got up in a hurry and leapt out of the tower. A Homing Satellite created out of the desert sand emerged out of the ground as he landed on it.
Immediately after, it began sprinting towards the border. As long as he stays on the Homing Satellite, he didn't have to worry about being attacked by the natives. Besides, it was safer on it than gliding in the sky, for the sandstorms were fierce.
The first time he arrived at the region, Nushar attempted to glide in the sky when a sandstorm appeared suddenly and caught him within it. By the time he broke free, he had been brought out of the region.
The Homing Satellite would merge into the ground and protect him from the sandstorm if it became too intense, which it had a chance to, erratically at that.
'I need to hurry!' Nushar thought as he controlled the Homing Satellite like a Spirit Weapon, using his psychokinesis to crank its speed to the limit as it raced through the region by taking the shortest path.
Soon, it had reached a small, 80-metre-tall arch that was half-positioned in Sumatra while its other half seemed to be peeking into the Sandy-Grey Void.
Death Arch!
It had been erected by the Mystic Tentacle of the era during the Death Knell Invasion, symbolising the location from where the first Death Knell had entered Sumatra from the Sandy-Grey Void. This arch showcased that.
It had a prismatic sheen to it during the night and was pitch-black during the day. It was made using the material covering Sumatra's border, which resisted the effects of the Sandy-Grey Void.
The Quip Clan had set up base here to investigate and figure out the secrets of the Death Arch, which also had clues regarding the respective Mystic Tentacle's ruins. Mystic Tentacles of every era had a habit of leaving behind a ruin, consisting of their life's accumulations.
Some withstood the test of time while others were destroyed due to various factors. But every ruin contained the life's accumulations of a Mystic Tentacle, most of which were pretty useless to Pranic Beasts, which was why they were left untouched until they collapsed.
However, Free Humans went rabid at the mention of a Mystic Tentacle Ruin. After all, irrespective of which Mystic Tentacle it was, whether it was born as an Iron, Silver, or Gold Empyrean Tentacle, their research and accumulations were of tremendous value to the Human Avatar technology of Free Humans.
A Mystic Tentacle—born as a Gold Empyrean Tentacle—would research primarily on minerals, terrains, and the likes. These Ruins would have lists of regions with mineral deposits at the Silver or even Gold Grade, buried deep in Pranic Beast territories that Free Humans could never venture into.
If there were enough Gold Grade minerals in quality and quantity, a Free human Empire would even consider migrating to the place, after preparing enough to slaughter the natives. Of course, if a Mystic Tentacle had located it, there was a small chance it would also have thought of a cultivation technique for the same, which would save the Empire many centuries of trial and error.
But a ruin created by a Mystic Tentacle born as a Silver Empyrean Tentacle, then it was a goldmine. Every mineral documented in this ruin will be accompanied by a cultivation technique, a bunch of Skills, and even Prime Skills.
As long as one successfully raids the Ruin, they'll basically have enough foundation to set up a long-standing Empire.
And the greatest treasure of such Ruins was absolutely the most sought-after treasure—Sumatra Gold.
As long as a competent Free Human obtained it and succeeded in integrating it into their Human Avatar, they could enter the Mystic Grade.
Brangara had explored a few of such ruins. However, most of them had been destroyed beyond recognition, since their part of Sumatra Continent faced repeated invasions. So, if a ruin still existed in this corner of Sumatra, it was one too hidden for discovery.
The Death Arch had clues towards one such hidden ruin, especially that of the Mystic Tentacle who had been alive during the Death Knell invasion.
The Brimgan Empire withstood the Death Knell invasion and had accumulated many secrets from that time. It was why even as the Celestial Boar, Brangara was cautious of wreaking havoc in the Brimgan Empire, afraid that they had some ridiculous object from that era that could harm even him.
Inala only had some inkling of the deep pockets of the Brimgan Empire. However, upon coming to know of the Minor Treasure of Death Knell in Astral World and learning of its terrifying power, he became interested in that era.
He gave the Quip Clan the task of finding out the location of the respective ruin. But it was easier said than done, as the only clue was the Death Arch. And this was Nushar's second reason for being dispatched to the Walgah Desert.
The Quip Clan had a strategic agreement with a certain someone who had a surefire way of investigating the Death Arch and figuring out the location of the respective era's Mysti Tentacle Ruin.
Soon, Nushar arrived before the Death Arch and stared at it nervously, 'Come out! Please come out soon, this time!'
The more he waited at the place, the more nervous he grew. Three days later, when he was a restless wreck, a figure casually walked in through the Death Arch, with a body riddled by injuries and oozing puss.
A variety of mutations covered the body, so much so that the individual's features were completely hidden, making the figure resemble a pineapple. The moment it arrived, Nushar instinctively fled a couple hundred metres away, shouting from afar, "I'm Nushar! I've come here due to an urgency!"
"Wait!" A raspy, insanity-inducing voice resounded from the pineapple figure as its mutations burst one after another, oozing out pus that vaporised promptly after spilling onto the ground.
A mysterious power was neutralising the pus and various other substances ejected by the individual's body. A few hours later, the oozing pus had slowed down while the mutations had reduced to the extent that at least the figure's silhouette could be made out now.
It was Wally!
After Resha's death, he changed locations and arrived at the Walgah Desert upon detecting how strong this region could resist the effects pervading the Sandy-Grey Void, both the effects of grey sand and the influence originating from Transcendents and other Cosmic horrors out there.
After all, without Resha's help, Wally only needed to be careless for a moment before he could infect an entire region. Sumatra would have been forced to spawn a Mystic Tentacle at the place just to combat the issue by making the Iron, Silver, and Gold variants be born right beside each other.
And obviously, that Mystic Tentacle would destroy the cause—Wally. It was why he was taking caution.
"You can speak now." Wally stared at Nushar and said a word of caution, "Stay there and speak."
"I'm still dangerous."
"Yes," Nushar nodded, understanding that Wally's warning also applied to him, telling him to not use a Tangible Piezo Slip to convey the information, since if he were to remain in contact with the Tangible Piezo Slip—which was the Quip Clan's Spirit Weapon—during the information transfer, the Transcendent influence on Wally could seep into him through the stream of psychokinesis that maintained the Spirit Weapon.
Wally had warned with concern for Nushar, which the latter could understand, thanks to being briefed about the details in advance, during previous discussions.
The one who would help the Quip Clan in regard to the Death Arch was none other than Wally. Rather, he already had an idea but just hadn't disclosed the information since he was using the Quip Clan's resources to assist himself.
He needed food, medicines, Elixirs, and various mineral ores to train, which he obtained from the Quip Clan as payment for his services. And obviously, Wally had a stake in the exploration of the Mystic Tentacle Ruins.
"It's the Empyrean Snappers," Nushar began to speak, surprised to be interjected by Wally.
"Are they heading to the Varahan Empire?" Wally asked, knowing very well the thought process of his brethren as he let out a sigh. He then stared at Nushar to ask, "Where are they now?"
"They disappeared," Nushar shook his head in worry, "We're unable to locate them now."
"Well, if 216 Empyrean Snappers join hands to stay hidden, even the Royal Zinger won't be able to find them." Wally frowned and scratched his head, grunting in pain as a fountain of murky blood sprayed out, "Ouch!"
A few minutes later, he uttered, "Give me a few days, Nushar. Once I've recovered, I'll head to the Varahan Empire."
"I'll be able to stop them if they appear there."