A team of Zinger Aristocrats glided across the sky, slingshotting from time to time when their gliding speed and altitude reduced.
There were a total of seven Zinger Aristocrats in Pranic Beast forms, gliding in a 'V' formation, similar to birds on Earth. Of their two strings of Prana, one had been reserved for slingshotting while the other had joined hands with the rest to form a small, aerodynamic cocoon.
Seated within the cocoon formed using seven strings of Prana was Wally, calmly expressing his awe as he stared at the ground from his current altitude of four hundred metres. The Quip Clan treated him with high priority due to their cooperative agreement to explore a Mystic Tentacle Ruin soon.
It wasn't just that. Wally was guaranteed to reach the Mystic Grade, no matter how long it took. And the moment that happened, not to mention becoming the leader of the Cooter Clan, he'd also be one of the strongest existences on Sumatra.
Therefore, they had to maintain a favourable relationship with Wally. And what better way to achieve it than to support him earnestly during his struggling times?
'There are two days left for the Varahan Challenge to begin, right?' Wall thought as he asked, "How long do we need to travel?"
"Around two days at our current speed." The Zinger Aristocrat at the lead spoke, "Please don't worry, Sir Wally. We'll maintain our top speed to ensure we reach the destination before the Varahan Challenge begins."
"Even if we become tired," The Zinger Aristocrat continued, "There are multiple Quip Clan Stations along the way. We have another team on standby a day's journey away."
"I'm not worried." Wally shook his head calmly, "If even the Quip Clan takes so long, my brethren aren't reaching the Varahan Empire anytime soon."
"They might take months or even longer to arrive, as not only do they not know a safe route, they're also bound to run into swarms of Forest Boars." Wally concluded, "So, please make arrangements for my training at a location close to the Varahan Empire. Once the Varahan Challenge concludes, I'll station myself there for the next few months."
The Varahan Empire was situated at the border of Sumatra, so there were plenty of locations from where Wally could enter the Sandy-Grey Void. The Quip Clan was bound to know many isolated regions where he could train in peace without worries about infecting any natives.
Travelling by foot was especially dangerous in the recent decade due to the Forest Boars spilling out of the Kalahatra Desert. They had yet to venture far from the place, so at most, one could encounter small groups with a handful of Forest Boars in other regions.
They were Gold Grade Pranic Beasts though, so for the average living being, they were terrifying existences.
Even the Quip Clan was facing a lot of losses thanks to them and had been preparing various countermeasures. However, unless they dispatch their Gold Grade existences, they had a harder time killing Forest Boars without using swarm tactics.
In areas near Quip Clan bases, Forest Boars weren't an issue as a horde of Quip Zingers could bombard them with Prana Bombs endlessly, alongside their sound-based attacks. There was also Prana Stitch, which was typically launched through Tangible Piezo Slips to stitch the feet of Forest Boars to the ground.
As a swarm, they had plenty of methods to deal with a Forest Boar. Problems arose when they didn't have enough combatants at hand and were busy transporting goods. They were typically ambushed by Forest Boars, which was the primary reason for their losses.
"Don't the Quip Clan have the most number of Prana detection means?" Wally asked as he listened to the Zinger Aristocrats. "How can the Forest Boars succeed in an ambush beyond that?"
"Forest Boars had arms suitable to hurl projectiles…" One of the Zinger Aristocrats expressed with a sullen tone.
"That explains everything." Wally nodded. With Gold Grade strength, even if they cannot throw as far as a Zinger Guard, a Forest Boar's throw would still carry a projectile by a couple kilometres. They could randomly chuck Iron Grade Pranic Beasts at the Quip Clansmen to disrupt their attacks.
Relying on their physical toughness and digestive capabilities, the Forest Boars could tank a lot of attacks, using which they could analyse the attack patterns of the Quip Clansmen and prepare countermeasures.
They were Gold Grade Pranic Beasts, at the end of the day. And those who ventured far away from the Kalahatra Desert did so as groups, able to cover for each other.
"What's the Wean Clan's stance on the Forest Boars?" Wally asked curiously.
"We're not sure." The Zinger Aristocrat in the lead shook her head, "They've been strangely silent on the whole matter. From time to time, the Quip Clan has observed their movements to the Kalahatra Desert."
"But we haven't been able to investigate the details, since…" She hesitated before saying, "The mobilised Wean Clansmen have a minimum cultivation of 5-Life Stage. They're able to evade our information network to a great extent."
"We are only aware when they go past the border." She continued, "Even in such cases, they use the locations breached by the Forest Boars."
'They are most probably trying to set up a branch.' Wally felt some pressure at the thought, 'All those variants appearing in the Kalahatra Desert seem related to the Celestial Boar. Technically, if they were given Mystic Sumatra Art alongside a group of Free Humans to be turned into Tribesmen, it's just a matter of time before another Clan is born.'
'And every variant there can birth a new Clan. They'll all behave as sister Clans to the Wean Clan, due to their shared origin.' He began to worry in response, 'There's a solid chance they'll listen to the Boar King. And if the Wean Clan were to ever birth the Empyrean Boar King, they'll unite all these Clans under their banner.'
At that point, every other Clan on Sumatra would have to unite just to barely keep up with the Wean Clan and its sister Clans.
'In such a situation, my brethren are engaging in nonsense!' He groaned towards the end, 'This is the time to be nurturing large number of Gold Grade talents among the Cooter Clansmen.'
'It's on me then.' He sighed and thought of Resha, 'It feels tough to bear the fate of my Clan. How did you endure it while having to resist Brangara?'
Wally had received an inheritance from all Empyrean Snappers before beginning his training. So, even if the Cooter Clan were to be annihilated, it didn't matter. Once he reaches the Mystic Grade, he could create a stronger Cooter Clan.
However, he didn't wish to reach such a point and fruitlessly witness his Clan shoot themselves in the foot. It wasn't easy to start from scratch and get things up to speed.
There also wasn't enough time, as soon, cultivators from other Continents would invade them. 'It seems things aren't enough with me just spending my time in training.'
'I should also actively assist the Cooter Clan's growth.' After some thought, he finalised his mind, 'Once I convince my brethren, I'll explore the Mystic Tentacle's Ruins with the Quip Clan. I hope there's some helpful information there.'
'I'll be content as long as there are some pieces of Sumatra Gold.' He thought, 'With it, I'll be able to create a powerful Spirit Pool for the new generation Cooter Clan Chief.'
'And once I succeed in controlling grey sand, I can create Spirit Pools out of it too.' He observed the Quip Clan and finalised another decision, 'I'll try to claim partial ownership of the Gaja Enclave from them. It'll be easy to form a small base there.'
'We can easily transport out Clansmen from the Gaja Enclave and the Cooter Clan through the Quip Clan. It should be economically viable.' He let out a sigh, 'Unfortunately, we lost the Dralh Sea. That is too important as the resources it generated was pretty much endless thanks to being connected to various water bodies.'
Eight channels fed into the Dralh Sea, bring in resources from either different parts of Sumatra, one of which was the Red-Draft River which traversed a quarter of the Continent. There was also the Abyss Fall, producing an infinite supply of Phells to serve as a food resource for the Cooter Clansmen.
Unfortunately, after their Dralh Sea branch was wiped out by the Celestial Boar, it was now occupied by the Mystic Humans, 'They have Virala and Ruvva protecting them, two existences with Mystic Grade strength. Ruvva is also the Brimgan Guardian, so technically, the Mystic Humans can be said to be affiliated to the Brimgan Empire.'
'I can't afford to offend them even after reaching the Mystic Grade.' He shook his head helplessly, completely aware through his interaction with the Mystic Seven just how far into the past the Cooter Clan had been left behind.
'We were pretty similar in strength before the birth of the Mystic Seven. And now,' He sighed and observed the Zinger Aristocrats, 'The Quip Clan already has Silver Grade existences in the thousands. They've already surpassed the Cooter Clan at the Silver Grade.'
'Every Mystic Human has Gold Grade strength and are ridiculously annoying to fight due to their recovery-based build.' He groaned, muttering in the end, "Things are not looking good, huh?"
"Well, the Forest Boars are annoying, but we're actively forming countermeasures and are making efforts to minimise our casualties." The Zinger Aristocrat in the lead spoke.
"Ah, yes…" Wally nodded, having forgotten the fact that he was conversing with the Zinger Aristocrats before becoming broiled deep in thought. "You're right."
"The Quip Clan indeed has the strength to counter the Forest Boars."