[What happened, Inala? Let’s run together!]
Asaeya was stunned by his change in tone, hurriedly replying through her Bone Slip in his possession.
[This Kingdom’s King will be here any moment now. He’s too powerful! If we go together, he’ll capture us all. I’ll stay behind to buy time. Head to the Sandy-Grey Void and board the vehicle I made. The Empyrean Zinger Queen would be there shortly. She’s capable of operating it. Don’t stay in this region. Escape at full sprint until you reach the Guna Caves. Wait there for my arrival!]
Inala replied in a hurry and inscribed a map of the Guna Caves in the Bone Slip, pointing at the accurate spot where they would meet up later.
[Wait! What about you? If you stay behind, you’ll be killed!]
Asaeya was in a state of fluster. As she said, if Inala were to stay behind, he would be killed. It was one-sided at present, but she was in love with him. Abandoning him was impossible for her.
[We don’t have time! Just listen to me! Gannala’s safety takes top priority. If she falls into the King’s hands, he’ll use her for his benefit. He’s someone capable of that. So, run away!]
“Kuakk!” Inala unleashed a roar, informing the Empyrean Zingers of everything he needed to tell them. They’ll take care of the rest, as there was enough of them to protect baby Gannala and Asaeya.
Inala threw a bunch of Prana Bombs that expanded to encase Asaeya and baby Gannala within. With a thought from him, the imprint in his Storage Lantern changed to Asaeya’s Prana Signature. From now on, she’ll be able to open and access its contents.
At present, it had the Empyrean Tusk bone powder, Elixirs, and Life Bombs—filled with Lifeforce. There was more than enough in them for Gannala’s needs. Any more could be accumulated at a later date, since the Empyrean Zinger Queen would be accompanying them.
“Dada!” Baby Gannala screeched in protest, but a glare from Inala and she shut up, shedding tears in response, “Don’t abandon meeee!”
The large Prana Bomb finished encasing them as the Sumatra Zinger stabbed into it, having finished absorbing enough air. With a thought from Inala, it unleashed the thrust, sending the large Prana Bomb flying in the air.
Over two hundred Empyrean Zingers in miniature form latched onto the large Prana Bomb, spreading their wings for an instant to give it the necessary lift, sending it flying high up in the air.
The remaining Empyrean Zingers used their Secondary Natures to leap into the sky, forming a cloud that covered the large Prana Bomb in its flight trajectory, stunning everyone in Ellora City who had arrived on the streets due to the commotion.
Suddenly, a group of the Empyrean Zingers unleashed a sharp cry. A menacing presence was rapidly approaching them.
Hearing the shout, Inala took out a Prana Bomb—filled with 100 Prana—and threw it lightly, making it cover a couple of metres in distance. Before it touched the ground, he rushed forth and kicked like it was a soccer ball after spiking his body’s density to the maximum.
He transferred all the momentum into the Prana Bomb through the kick, causing it to blaze forth with a whistling sound. And while it flew, the 100 Prana in it was consumed, unleashing the effect of Internal Inertial Gravity to raise its density, making it weigh hundreds of kilograms.
It arched through the air and made a beeline towards the menacing presence that was rapidly closing in on the cloud of Empyrean Zingers. The Prana Bomb was like a flash of lightning as it slammed into the menacing presence and sent it reeling through dozens of buildings.
It shattered upon impact but had thwarted the enemy, gaining more than enough time for the cloud of Empyrean Zingers to leave Ellora City.
“You’re not going after them, fucker!” Inala roared, having finished swallowing all the Prana Bombs he had stored underground. He also swallowed the remaining Empyrean Zingers that numbered close to eighty, storing them all in his biome.
At regular intervals, one of them would pop open a Prana Bomb and allow the biome to digest it, supplementing Inala’s rapid Prana consumption.
The biome was tiny, a cramped space. Thankfully, all Empyrean Zingers remained in their miniature forms, hence taking up limited space in comparison to the Prana Bombs. Since the biome was tiny, his Prana consumption was within the limits that he could generate on time through Prana Bomb consumption.
‘Now, I just need to endure torture for a short while.’ Inala sighed for a moment before rushing towards Gudora to go on the offensive. His hammer slammed into the ground, causing another quake.
“Tch!” Gudora waved his hand, causing a hail to cover Inala and encase him in crystal. A second later, Inala broke free.
But since Asaeya was no longer at the scene, Inala was driven into a corner in a matter of seconds as both Gudora and Hanya ganged up on him.
Through the Mystic Bone Art, Inala covered himself with a layer of armour using his Prana Bombs, absorbing Hanya’s and Gudora’s Prana every time they attacked him. He fused his two Life Hands into his hand armour, ready to target at the right time.
“You’re a freaking turtle!” Gudora grunted as he bombarded Inala with attacks. But the moment his crystal touched Inala, the Prana in them was absorbed, turning them brittle. And using the absorbed Prana, Inala mended the damage.
That was how he was able to hold on for so long. He truly was a tank with insane recovery speed. But that ended as suddenly, a giant with a golden crown landed behind him, reaching a height of eight metres.
It extended its hand and grabbed Inala, exerting pressure to shatter his armour instantly.
“Keuk!” Inala was prepared for this attack as he faced his palms covered by the Life Hands and touched the giant’s palm, rapidly absorbing Lifeforce from the latter.
“Guh!” There was a grunt from the giant that let go of its hold. But a moment later, it swatted him into the ground like a bug, shattering his limbs. With that, the Life Hands crumbled, losing their power to absorb Lifeforce. 𝗈𝗏𝑙xt.𝗇et
Like a rag doll, the giant lifted a bloodied Inala, muttering upon observing his limbs that were crushed into pulp, “That’s better.”
The giant vanished, and in its place stood a middle-aged man with an imposing presence. His bushy moustache dangled along the sides freely, reaching his shoulders. Every time he opened his mouth, it twitched like a serpent.
Ex-Prince of the Brimgan Empire, and founder of the Ganrimb Kingdom, the sole entity in the region to possess a Human Avatar made out of a Gold Grade mineral.
Ganrimb Kingdom’s King—Fhoong Brimgan!
“Is this Mammoth Clansman the cause behind our worsening situation?” Staring at Gudora, Fhoong Brimgan asked with a commanding tone.
“We haven’t confirmed it yet. But,” Gudora said, “He’s able to command a mysterious Pranic Beast race.”
“Hmm…” Fhoong Brimgan stared at the unconscious Inala and slapped him awake, asking after a moment’s observation, “What’s your relationship with the Dieng Canyon Rulers?”