Returning to the 1st Empyrean Tusk, under Raaha's guidance, Gannala approached the house dangling from the rear of the Empyrean Tusk's tusk.
"Once he reached the 2-Life Stage, I sent a body of his to the Brimgan Empire for plans to acquire the Attribute," Raaha explained as he brought Gannala to the house, acting as a subordinate trying to look good before his boss.
The reason was extremely simple. Once Gannala matures, she'll become the 1st Empyrean Tusk. That would mean a transfer of ownership of the Mammoth Treasury. Once Raaha dies, someone part of Gannala's Settlement would be chosen as the next Chief and made to inherit the Gold Empyrean Tentacle's power.
It wasn't just that. Gannala was able to reach the 10-Life Stage. And when she reaches such a level, she'll easily be stronger than Raaha, becoming the strongest powerhouse produced by the Mammoth Clan.
As the Supreme Tusk's successor, she was born different. Raaha compared her with Harrala, another Empyrean Tusk who had inherited a Mystic Path—from Yennda. To date, she hadn't displayed anything different from an Empyrean Tusk, growing normally. That was more than enough to understand that Gannala was built different.
Though Gannala wasn't a Supreme Tusk, there was a possibility of her becoming one as she matures through the Mystic Path that she had inherited from Inala.
Or rather, Raaha had swiftly analysed the information at his disposal and figured out that since Inala managed to make Gannala obtain such strength when he was batshit weak, the extent to which he would support her after becoming a powerhouse would be on a whole other level.
Under Inala's constant nurturing, Gannala will continue to grow without limits and become an overpowered existence. As long as Inala didn't die prematurely, that much was assured. And as long as Blola was alive, it was impossible for Inala to be dead.
Considering how the Mammoth Elder treated Gannala no different from how he would treat the Mammoth Ancestor, Raaha understood her value to the Mammoth Clan and decided to show her unrivalled support.
It was why he had made the choice to assist her in whatever she needed.
"Shit…" As the door to the house opened, Blola stared at the quartet, his eyes widening upon seeing Inala as he realised that something had happened. His eyes automatically shot to the middle-aged woman who approached him, emanating a subtle presence.
Protect!
A mysterious impulse flooded his being as Blola was unable to retaliate, watching as the effect grew worse once the middle-aged woman touched him, "Gannala?"
"Yup," Gannala smiled happily upon seeing Blola's expression grow gloomy in response, thinking, 'Okay, now that I've put Blola under my influence, he's no longer a threat in this race towards Attribute.'
As she comprehended her Mystic Path, Gannala knew that all seven Mystic Paths would somehow find themselves in the centre of a Major Disaster, whether consciously or unconsciously. And as they were all considered part of her immune system, as long as Gannala manages to touch them, she'll be able to influence them and increase Inala's chances in the race.
Roar!
A loud, shrilled screech resounded from Blola's mindspace as the Transcendent Eater targeted her, unwilling to be placed under her influence. The attack was too strong and destroyed her influence.
Cough!
Gannala coughed out blood, hurriedly raising her hand to shout in alarm, "I'm fine, Dad!"
"Really?" Inala asked, his tone cold as he had grabbed Blola's neck from the back, applying pressure.
'His response was unnaturally fast.' Raaha frowned, having observed Inala's actions, 'The moment Gannala coughed out blood, he reacted spontaneously. This isn't a speed of reaction possible for someone at the peak of the Body Stage, even if he possessed Internal Inertial Gravity.'
'He wasn't thinking!' Raaha thought in realisation, 'It's like he has prepared for such a situation through experience, capable of taking action by instinct.'
Raaha was right on the money. Using the plethora of data at his disposal, Inala refined them and made them his own, making preparations in such a way that a response to any situation would already be in his database, coded into his instincts.
This way, no matter the situation, Inala would be able to react to it promptly, making a counter with the perfect Skill or Prime Skill without having to think. His path of strength was one of versatility. And he was becoming as versatile as possible.
Mystic Bone Art, Internal Inertial Gravity, Royalty, Spatial Immune System, and Minor Treasure of Tangible Psychokinesis; Inala used them in combinations to create responses for more than a thousand situations. The number continued to increase as the days spanned past.
At his current speed of development, Inala would be versatile enough to face the Boar King at the Fourth Maor Disaster. The only problem was the influences, which would tear down his mind. It was why he was so desperate to evolve, so that the resultant Natures and abilities he obtained were those that had an affinity to his character and natural state of being.
This way, the resultant influence would only strengthen his being, since both were similar. It was the primary reason for Inala going through such efforts. Otherwise, his current build was more than enough for the endgame. Add his female form's power and he became stupidly powerful.
"Yeah," Gannala nodded in a hurry, explaining upon seeing Blola cough once Inala let go of his hold, "The Transcendent Eater in him attacked me since my influence would reinforce Blola. Once that happens, he'll have a greater advantage in their mental battle."
"But anyway," Gannala's tone turned cold as she stared at Raaha, "We have a situation, Chief."
She pointed at Virala's Nature Weapon form in her hand, "If this gets destroyed, we'll no longer be able to control Virala."
"I can no longer sense his data in the Transcendent Eater." She spoke.
"What?" Blola shouted in a fluster, "What do you mean you can't sense him?"
"Can you revive Virala?" Gannala asked, noticing Blola's expression turn strange in response, "It seems recent, so I don't blame you for not noticing it."
"No, he already told me that he was unable to revive Virala for some reason," Raaha said, catching a Bone Slip that Gannala threw to him. In it existed the scenes of Virala and Blola joining hands during the Fifth Minor Crisis, revealing everything they had plotted.
As Raaha comprehended the information, the region within the house gradually transformed into lava as a result of his seething fury, causing everyone to defend themselves in a hurry.
"Raaha! Control yourself!" The Mammoth Elder shouted in a fluster as Gannala erected a layer of wall to protect him, since he was only at the Spirit Stage.
"You've fooled me well, Blola." The lava in the surroundings vanished as Raaha regained his composure. He stared at Blola to reveal a smile, "You guys have treated me as a retard all along, huh?"
"Hahaha!" He laughed uncontrollably, "I failed to find any evidence even after having my suspicions. But it seems I was right all along. We…lost an Empyrean Tusk for absolutely no reason. That…had never happened after I became the Chief many centuries ago."
"C-Chief, I can explain…" Blola spoke in a fluster when he felt his throat become parched, noticing his body shrivelling up in response as all moisture content began to evaporate.
[Don't kill him, Chief!]
Gannala said, her tone powerful, using the voice of an Empyrean Tusk. In response, all the Empyrean Tusks too heard her voice and bombarded Raaha with protests.
[Don't kill him, Chief! He's a necessity for our recovery!]
"Technically, all Blola did was send a body to escape." Gannala sighed in relief once Raaha retracted his Prana, "He's not capable enough to harm the Mammoth Clan's interests. What we need to focus on is Virala."
"He's broken out of my control." Gannala pointed at the orb in her possession, "If this ever gets destroyed, I'll have no way to keep Virala in check."
