Chapter 1081: End of the Past, Start of the Future |
Every era on Sumatra Continent was based on the Mystic Empyrean Tentacle that was active in that period. Its birth signalled the start of the era, and its death signalled the era’s end.
Every era, without exception, belonged to the Mystic Empyrean Tentacle Race, except for one. That was the era of the Empyrean Boar King, which was both short and extreme in terms of development.
The Transcendent Mystic Empyrean Tentacles had predicted that the eras subsequent to the Empyrean Boar King would belong to the Mystic Empyrean Tentacles once again.
In the presence of multiple Mystic Grade existences, the era will be based upon the individual who will be the centre for everything on Sumatra. It was Brangara during the era of the Empyrean Boar King.
And now, signalling the start of another era was a man with rounded cheeks, an angular jaw sporting a military-cropped goatee, and ivory hair with golden sideburns. Looking late twenties in appearance, he reached a height of 180 centimetres.
His arms weren’t too ripped, but weren’t lean either, emphasising fluidity in motion over strength. His body seemed to be ageing and growing younger until it stabilised at late twenties in terms of appearance.
His upper body was bare, while covering his lower body was a sort of loose palazzo that tightly wrapped around his ankle. The dress was bright orange in colour, with golden embroidery sporting the shapes of elephants, large humanoids with octopus heads, and frog-hybrids.
All he did was walk across the Ennoudu Plains as three mysterious powers seemed to be synchronising in his body naturally. He didn’t even have to operate it consciously. The synchronisation, to him, felt as natural as breathing.
Primary Nature—Daily Checkpoint!
Secondary Nature—Prana Solidification!
Tertiary Nature—Thought Condensation!
As the three Natures continued to synchronise more and more within him, the man observed the sky trembling in response to his existence, as if welcoming him. And then, there was a pulse, a ripple of sorts that flashed through the sky once, covering the entirety of the continent.
...
Kalahatra Desert!
In unison, the Forest Boars felt a shift and roared into the skies, for the source of their genetics, wasn’t the centre of attention on Sumatra anymore.
...
Dieng Canyon!
The Zingers stopped their daily life for a few seconds in silence, feeling something as they unanimously eyed the sky.
...
Brimgan Sea!
Bronsk Brimgan arrived atop the ceiling of the Brimgan Palace and eyed the sky, feeling something was different now, "Is that how it feels?"
"There are records about it, but experiencing it firsthand feels enlightening." He muttered, softly choosing his words to speak, "It’s as if...a mother, with numerous children, has announced her bias, even though she treats all her children equally."
"Right, that’s how it feels." He muttered, a tad sullen for a moment before returning to the throne room.
...
Manu Enclave!
Various Free Humans took to the streets and stared at the sky, observing the ripple that cascaded over them. And then, there was silence, as if nothing had happened in the first place. However, throughout Sumatra, every single living being instinctively felt the ripple and knew what had happened.
...
The Era had changed!
And the person in question was strolling about in the Ennoudu Plains, fully aware of the fluctuations he was causing. The synchronisation continued unabated in his body until soon, they had reached perfect sync, elevating his existence as a whole.
Body, mind, and soul; they had all been elevated to the pinnacle, announcing the start of a new era.
Expert Mystic Grade Pranic Beast—Mystic Empyrean Tentacle!
"The world is my oyster." Slowly, he spread his arms wide, acting as if he were hugging the space, "And I, its shining pearl."
From henceforth, it marked the era of the Mystic Empyrean Tentacle—Orakha!
Orakha remained in his human form, thanks to the effects of his Rirenal build’s State of Harmony. If he wanted, he could tweak the influence generated from his Rirenal build, which would allow his Mystic Empyrean Tentacle form’s Prana to circulate and revert it to its Pranic Beast form.
There wasn’t much of a difference between the two forms other than the physical might of the Mystic Empyrean Tentacle, for both forms were the same, just with an altered appearance.
Mystic Empyrean Tentacles weren’t known for their physical might anyway, so Orakha didn’t have any necessity to change it.
After all, in his current form, he could wield the greatest might. He was no different from a Mystic Empyrean Tentacle on steroids, for it was getting boosted by his Brimgan Guardian State of Harmony.
His Spirit Weapon range was 180 kilometres. And that alone elevated the effects of his Secondary and Tertiary Natures to a level hitherto unheard of, in all of Sumatra’s history.
And that wasn’t all. Floating behind Orakha, sealed in a cylindrical Rirenal Spirit Weapon, was another Orakha. This was the Parute Viper body. Orakha intended to use that when necessary and planned to switch between the two bodies.
Parute Viper for long-term growth and Mystic Empyrean Tentacle for spontaneous pinnacle power. It was the perfect combo, especially thanks to one.
As the three Natures harmonised with each other, Orakha began to observe his surroundings differently, able to notice every single variable that existed, how each variable interacted, and the weight behind each possible interaction.
State of Harmony—Future Sight!
By now, Orakha had reached the edge of Ennoudu Plains and stared at the forest of Decodus Trees. He approached one of them and eyed its bark, "I see."
"So that’s how Sumatra looks."
"Uncle...?" Ruvva hesitated a bit before asking from behind, having been following him in silence all along.
"It’s nothing," Orakha smiled and shook his head. He pointed at the Decodus Tree and commented, "This tree’s bark has the map of Sumatra Continent."
"I heard from Yahard Tusk." Ruvva nodded, her eyes lighting up as she asked, "Can you give me the map?"
"What do you mean by give?" Orakha laughed and pointed at the Decodus Tree, "This is the map."
"What?" Ruvva frowned, "I’m not sure I get your point. Sure, it has a lot of patterns, but it depicts neither terrains nor any landmarks that I can recognise."
"It doesn’t seem possible to give an explanation." Orakha groaned and tilted his head, "It’s like...breathing? A look at the tree and it’s obvious to me."
He then shifted to the Parute Viper’s body and stared at the Decodus Tree, "Yup! I can’t make sense now. It’s just a tree bark."
He returned to the Mystic Empyrean Tentacle’s body and commented, "Fascinating!"
’So, it’s for the best I don’t transfer the Mystic Tentacle’s powers to the Parute Viper.’ Orakha thought, ’There’s a fundamental difference in the perception capabilities of the two. I won’t be able to harness the Mystic Tentacle’s full capabilities as a Parute Viper.’
"And..." All he did was turn around and make eye contact with Ruvva, noticing the latter go into a daze, ’Even she, with her resistance, can fall victim.’
Any existence that dares make eye contact with a Mystic Empyrean Tentacle will be wrought by madness. Mystic Grade existences could resist it without issues. However, that was only against a traditional Mystic Empyrean Tentacle.
In Orakha’s case, the power of his Brimgan Guardian form was boosting the body, mind, and soul of his Mystic Empyrean Tentacle form. That wasn’t all. Unlike the Parute Viper which was under his control thanks to the influence released by his Brimgan Guardian form, the Mystic Empyrean Tentacle was a blank vessel.
It didn’t have a mind or soul of its own. Sumatra spawned it for Orakha to wield it. Therefore, the moment he turned it into his vessel, its soul vanished, turning into a slot to house his soul instead.
It became his perfect vessel, one he didn’t have to worry about recovering over time if left out of his Brimgan Guardian form’s influence.
The Parute Viper will eventually regain its originality if left alone. However, the Mystic Empyrean Tentacle will remain his until the end of its lifespan.
"Alright, it’s time to leave." Orakha spoke once Ruvva regained her senses, "Where exactly did you say Grehha’s Dungeon is located again?"
Ruvva described the terrain, much to her surprise seeing Orakha nod as if he had been there. "Uncle, did you visit the place in the past?"
"No," Orakha shook his head, "It’s like I have a satellite imagery of the place."
’And the Decodus Trees get updated with all the terrain changes in real-time.’ Orakha thought as he stared at a certain cloud hovering above the edges of the Dieng Canyon, ’As usual, you’re an absolute monster, Inala.’
He was aware of the Quip Clan Settlements hidden in the clouds. And similarly, Orakha stared in the direction of the Dralh Sea to vaguely recall a silhouette depicted in the maps, ’The Influenced Region of Transcendent Plane should be there.’
"Oh, before we meet Grehha. There’s someone I need to see first." Saying so, Orakha took to the skies.
"Wait! Don’t fly!" Ruvva shouted in a fluster, calming down only when Orakha pointed at a piece of Rirenal embedded in the ground.
She then used her Prana detection means to perceive twelve Rirenal pieces in the shape of triangles pointing outwards while positioned like a clock. They formed a circle, which rotated, with the spokes formed by streams of Prana, enabling psychokinesis.
As the wheel moved forward, the spokes stabbed into the ground one after another, providing an anchor for the stream of Prana to push Orakha’s body into the air. In this manner, to the external eye, it looked like he was flying.
Mystic Kinesis Art—Spirit Weapon Switch!
Holding Ruvva on a platform next to him, Orakha sped through the region at an altitude almost reaching 180 kilometres.
"Who are we meeting?" Ruvva asked.
"You know her." Orakha smiled and sped up his pace.
...
Sanrey Plains!
It had been terraformed into a larger region that before, fully protected by a wall of darkness behind a towering mountain range.
Construction was underway at full pace at the moment, in a flurry as all Mammoth Clansmen seemed exhausted.
At one of the corners of the region, creating another mountain that would serve as part of the mountain range bordering the Sanrey Plains was Gannala, her face pale, with sweat drenching her body.
Her frame had grown significantly leaner in recent times, and judging by her state of mind, she hadn’t slept for months now.
Standing guard next to her was Asaeya, carrying a pile of Bone Slips filled with all pending tasks. She stared at Gannala in concern and then brought her hands forward, ready to clap as her skin prickled.
"I thought you had died." She uttered and turned around to stare at a flash of golden lightning that descended from the sky.
"As fate willed, I returned." Hovering at an altitude of 100 metres, Orakha stared at Asaeya. He seemed to be silent for a few seconds and then revealed a smile.
"Your smile reminds me of him," Stopping her actions, Gannala stared at Orakha and tapped her temples, "The memories I inherited from my predecessor show him giving the same smile right before the birth of the Empyrean Boar King."
"So," She stared up wearily, "What do you want, Uncle?"
"I’m running out of time to chat and reminisce."
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