A couple of minutes earlier, the moment Resha arrived at the surface of Gannala and fled from being impacted by the 43rd Empyrean Tusk. He then observed his settlement people still on the 44th Empyrean Tusk, only now realising that she had died.
“Oh shit!” He hurriedly extended his bone rope, making it dance like a serpent as it coiled around the people in mass and pulled them toward the cliff. For some reason, even when they were violently tugged, they didn’t experience even the slightest of discomfort.
In a couple of seconds, Resha managed to pull a couple hundred Clansmen, most of whom were students. The remainders were elites and masters who had enough time to react and flee to safety.
Only some unfortunate few were crushed by the impact of the 43rd Empyrean Tusk falling over Gannala.
Once the 1st Empyrean Tusk sent the Boar King flying, the 43rd Empyrean Tusk managed to get up and sucked in all survivors from the 44th Settlement into its trunk. It then brought them to safety and poured them on the mountain peak alongside the rest of the Mammoth Clan. 𝒩𝒐𝚟𝑙𝒩xt.𝑐𝒐𝐌
As it stood guard before them and defended against the shockwaves from the battle between the Boar King and the Empyrean Tusks, all the Mammoth Clan could do was stare blankly. They were outclassed here.
The function of the Mammoth Clan was to protect the Empyrean Tusks daily from various threats. Moreover, their existence was primarily to gather food and other necessities for their respective Empyrean Tusk.
They were only valued for easing up the lives of an Empyrean Tusk. It was because they helped the Empyrean Tusks conserve ginormous amounts of energy.
But against threats such as the Boar King, all Empyrean Tusks unanimously thought the Mammoth Clan would be of no use. That was why they sent them all to one mountain and personally participated in the battle.
The survivors would take care of the Mammoth Clan.
Originally, the Mammoth Clansmen intended to join the fight, but the first blow itself changed their minds. Against every attack that destroyed mountains, there wasn’t much they could do. They couldn’t even act as meat shields.
It was also the first time they saw the Empyrean Tusks truly fight. The result was an overwhelming showcase of power, on the level of Deities.
The only reason the Empyrean Tusks never fought personally and left everything to the Mammoth Clan was due to the severe resource consumption they experienced to move as they did during the battle. In a matter of minutes, the Empyrean Tusks burned through most of the resources collected in their bodies for decades.
That was why they never moved as they did now. But against the Boar King, it became a necessity. And even that wasn’t proving sufficient.
While all Mammoth Clansmen gawked at the fight, Resha alone looked through the crowd. He had witnessed an even greater fight in his past life. It was where he and the entirety of the Empyrean Tusk herd pitted their lives against an even stronger Boar King, ‘This fight would have ended already if the Boar King was as strong as my past life. He’s still in his accumulation phase now.’
Resha quickly noticed the figures of Bora Tusk and Yahard Tusk in the crowd, sheltering Grehha. He arrived before them, for a moment surprised to see the figure of a pregnant Yuza. He wasn’t a fool.
Judging by the way the two Settlement Leaders were behaving, there could only be one thing, ‘I see, so that’s how Empyrean Tusks are born. I had that suspicion before. And now, it’s confirmed.’
“Where were you until now?” Bora Tusk glared at Resha, “You had disappeared for nine months.”
“Why do you care?” Resha snorted and ignored Bora Tusk.
“You dare?” Bora Tusk unleashed his presence, intending to subdue the unruly student.
“Dare what?” A formidable presence surged out of Resha, limitless, easily drowning Bora Tusk’s. It was lacking in quantity, but Resha’s presence more than made up for it in terms of quality. The moment he released his presence, the 43rd Empyrean Tusk reacted.
Resha placed his hand gently on Yuza’s stomach, his eyes tearing up in relief, “There’s hope.”
Upon seeing his reaction, Bora Tusk stopped charging his attack. Yahard Tusk silently retracted the sword that appeared in his palm and decided to observe the situation for now.
Resha stared at Grehha, “It’s your power that made her birth possible.”
“Yes,” Grehha nodded.
“Then, you must know the truth.” Resha asked, “Is the one inside her womb the successor of the 44th or the 43rd?”
“What?” Bora Tusk and Yahard Tusk blurted out in shock.
“I feared you might find out.” Grehha sighed as he spoke honestly, “She’s the successor to the 43rd Empyrean Tusk.”
“Then…” Bora Tusk felt at a loss for words, on the verge of exploding.
Grehha’s words placed Yahard Tusk in a state of alarm, ‘Shit, if this madman goes in a state of frenzy now, a lot of us will be killed.’
“There’s no need to fear,” Grehha said and observed the 43rd Empyrean Tusk that had turned around at some point in time and stared at him. He created a green bubble and extended it, watching the 43rd Empyrean Tusk gently touch it with her trunk.
[Inala is carrying Gannala’s successor. I’ve sent Asaeya with him for protection!]
“Guh!” Grehha grunted in exhaustion and kneeled on the ground. Through the Empyrean Incubator, he could communicate with an Empyrean Tusk for a second. After that, he would need to rest for a while before being able to repeat it. His mind would shatter otherwise.
It was through this that he found out Yennda’s plans. Of course, Gannala didn’t intend to stop Yennda’s plans. Rather, she supported him.
But the baby growing in Yuza’s womb was the 43rd Empyrean Tusk’s successor, whether she was born or not. Therefore, the decision lay with the 43rd Empyrean Tusk who decided that she’ll be born and won’t be used for Yennda’s plans. It communicated with Gannala, making a request.
It was then that Gannala told Grehha about it and left the baby in Yuza’s womb in his custody.
Hearing the 43rd Empyrean Tusk’s words, Grehha looked at Bora Tusk, “Did you see the projectile that the 43rd Empyrean Tusk shot?”
“Yes, it was too brief to observe what it was. But I did notice her shooting something.” Bora Tusk nodded.
“In it were Inala and Asaeya.” Grehha said, “They were carrying the 44th Empyrean Tusk’s successor.”
He then announced, “When an Empyrean Tusk is born, her cries can be heard by all adult Empyrean Tusks over a wide range. The Boar King was lured in by her cries. It seems the 43rd Empyrean Tusk had a plan in place, but the Boar King still managed to find us.”
“Two babies…” Bora Tusk inhaled a slow breath and stared at Grehha, “When will Inala return?”
“When the baby matures and changes form from a human into an Empyrean Tusk.” Grehha said, “Only then will he return.”
“Otherwise, the newborn’s voice will serve as a beacon to alert the Boar King of our location in real-time.”