"What's your relationship with the Dieng Canyon Rulers?" Fhoong Brimgan asked as he observed Inala's broken body.
Pulpy limbs, cracked ribs, fractured skull, and ruptured organs. It was a wonder Inala was alive. Originally, Fhoong Brimgan intended to pummel Inala close to death's door. Following that, by treating him limitedly, he would wake Inala up and interrogate him.
But upon seeing that Inala's condition was a lot better than he had expected, Fhoong Brimgan had to change his plans and interrogate beforehand. He hadn't been to the Dieng Canyon, but he heard about the Zingers that ruled the region through some records at the Brimgan Empire he went through randomly.
And since they were protecting Inala, he assumed Inala had a relationship with the three Zinger Queens that controlled Dieng Canyon. That was how they dispatched a team of Zingers to protect him.
That was very far from the truth but information exchange was limited in Sumatra. And Fhoong Brimgan fled the Brimgan Empire. Hence, his education was lacking. After founding the Ganrimb Kingdom, he holed himself in the region to cultivate and develop the place.
Despite everything, he was the most knowledgeable out of everyone in the Ganrimb Kingdom. The fact that he recognised the Zingers itself was a wonder, something most Kingdoms didn't even know about.
The Dieng Canyon was very far from their location after all, without a proper path to travel towards it from their region.
"Why…do you care?" Inala wheezed but displayed no trace of fear, "Whatever I do is none of your business."
"It is if my Kingdom is involved in it," Fhoong Brimgan replied, subtly motioning Gudora to keep quiet in response to the disrespect Inala displayed. As long as Inala replied, Fhoong was confident in extracting the necessary information.
Limited clues were enough for him to piece together the whole picture.
"Let me be clear about one thing," While Inala spoke, an Empyrean Zinger shattered a Life Bomb in his stomach. He carefully circulated the lifeforce through the vital organs, healing them to the point his life wasn't in danger.
Earlier, when he was attacked, through Internal Inertial Gravity, he strengthened the most important parts and protected them, ensuring he would survive Fhoong's attack but still appear to be severely wounded to others.
"Whatever I did here was, is, and will never be a concern for your Kingdom." Inala expressed arrogantly, "If you think otherwise, the Mammoth Clan will explain it clearly in two years."
"Question them if you're confident enough."
"Are you threatening me?" Fhoong increased the strength in his palm, causing cracking sounds to resound from Inala's bones, "Do you think the Mammoth Clan will dare fight my Kingdom for a measly cultivator?"
"They might be strong enough to destroy my Kingdom, but the losses they'll face in the process will be devastating." Fhoong analysed calmly, acting as if he was merely a third party, "If they are wise, they wouldn't risk everything."
"Depends on the measly cultivator's status." Inala didn't even react at his bones developing more fractures, "And I can guarantee this."
"Kill me," He revealed a confident smirk, "And you'll all join me in the afterlife."
"Are you a Settlement Leader's son?" Fhoong snorted. But internally, he was nervous. Inala didn't even twitch at his bones getting crushed. His mind was way too strong for someone his age.
Fhoong was strong, but he didn't dare face the Mammoth Clan. Every single leader of Free Human civilizations knew very well the fact of the Mammoth Clan's tyranny. They had razed down many regions, whether human or Pranic Beast once offended.
Moreover, if the Empyrean Tusks were to personally take action, his Kingdom would be dust in a matter of hours. His strength didn't matter.
He could at most face three or four Settlement Leaders. But that was it. The various princes like Gudora could face a Settlement Leader each.
Even then, the Ganrimb Kingdom only had seven cities. Meaning, there were seven City Lords in total on Gudora's level.
In comparison, the Mammoth Clan had six times the number of powerhouses. Moreover, the average quality of Mammoth Clansmen was very high, capable of taking on at least three to four Free Humans at the same cultivation.
It wouldn't even be a fight. The Ganrimb Kingdom would be annihilated.
"I'm not a Settlement Leader's son," Inala said, smiling upon seeing the visible relief on Fhoong's face. His lips curved up wide as he uttered, sending waves of despair in the faces of Fhoong, Gudora, and Hanya, "I'm an Empyrean Tusk."
"So," He chuckled, "There you have it."
"E-Empyrean Tusk?" Fhoong's hands trembled as he let go of Inala subconsciously, staring at the man on the floor with pulpy limbs, "N-No, this isn't possible."
"An Empyrean Tusk cannot take on a human form…" He stopped speaking when Inala inhaled a deep breath of air, compressed it, and unleashed a powerful gale. He hadn't used his Prana externally to unleash that effect. But rather, it was a simple inhalation and exhalation that was unleashed with such power.
Only one existence could do that in Sumatra Continent. It was an entity worshipped as a Deity among many Free Human communities, the most feared and respected Pranic Beast.
Expert Gold Grade Pranic Beast—Empyrean Tusk!
He wanted to refute it, but the power behind the Prana Bomb that slammed into him just before was vivid in his memory. Moreover, when he was rushing through Ellora City, he witnessed the intense quake personally.
Only Internal Inertial Gravity was capable of unleashing such a power.
"You're lying!" Hanya shrieked in fear, "You're not an Empyrean Tusk!"
"Sure, kill me then." Inala stated calmly, "You'll know the answer in two years."
"Two years…" Fhoong Brimgan thought of the last time he saw the herd at the Brimgan Empire. Since the century-long route of the Empyrean Tusk herd was famous, he calculated accordingly, 'There's seventeen years before they arrive at the Brimgan Empire. Based on that, they might pass through this region in two years. It's closer to the route they take alongside the Red-Draft River.'
"I will, then!" Hanya shouted and transformed her hand into acidic sludge, intending to kill Inala. But Gudora erected a wall of crystal between the two. Hanya glared at him, "Why are you stopping me?"
"This region is protected by the ring of Sandy-Grey Void. Empyrean Tusks won't approach this place." She argued.
"Wait a minute." Saying so, Gudora sprinted out and arrived on the city walls, waiting for a few minutes until he saw some soldiers return, "How's it? Did you capture them?"
"We apologise, City Lord!" The soldiers trembled in fear, "They entered the Sandy-Grey Void. B-But,"
"They were accompanied by flying monsters!"
"How many?" Gudora asked. His face paled as he heard the answer, recalling Inala's statement when he stated his reason for being arrogant.
3000 Empyrean Zingers!
That wasn't all. He saw a massive Pranic Beast perch upon a hill two kilometres away and stare his way like a hawk, oozing the strongest presence among the Empyrean Zingers he witnessed. It didn't do anything but simply stare. Slowly, it opened its mouth and uttered, "Chirp!"
It was loud, echoing throughout the city. In response, Inala's smile only widened, causing terror to churn within Fhoong's heart.
