Sumatra's Greatest Fan

Chapter 220: Countdown: One Year

’Damn, it melted.’ By the time his treatment was done, Torq stared at his pellet that had melted. His condition had stabilised somewhat, allowing him to function as normal. However, it was just a temporary solution, as the moment he unleashes another Foundational Dismantle, things would simply grow worse.

Right as he got up, someone bonked him on the head, loud enough to cause a ringing sound. It was his mother, "You...damn brat!"

"Just what did you do to worsen your condition to such an extent?" She roared in anger while tears streamed down her reddened eyes, "Can’t you just live normally?"

"I’m sorry, mother." Torq apologised, "I’ll try to be more careful next time."

"Good," MyuraBuntara pulled him into a hug, "I learnt you killed a State of Unity user. That’s good, you did well. But please, ensure your safety first, alright?"

"I will," Torq nodded, "And I don’t think that State of Unity user died. I remember sensing his reappearance as we rushed out."

"Whatever the case might be, I want you to promise me you’ll do everything in your power to ensure your survival." She eyed him in all seriousness, "Promise me you’ll live."

"I will, but mother..." Torq frowned upon seeing the weird expression of his mother, "Why are you talking as if this is a farewell?"

"It might very well be," MyuraBuntara sighed, "We’re attempting to breach the Iron Wall."

"Huh? Why so soon?" Torq blurted out in shock, "Haven’t we just begun to understand the abilities of our enemies? This is too premature."

"Ancestor’s orders," MyuraBuntara shook her head, "Nothing I can do about that. I’m not important enough to change his mind."

"Let me," Grunting in pain for a moment, Torq got up from his berth and removed the various assortment of Vara tools that had been attached to his being. The moment he removed them all, his head spun for an instant, as the theatre reappeared in his field of vision.

However, it subsided promptly after as he walked out, focused on the task at hand, "I was supposed to meet the Ancestor now anyway."

"Be respectful, GaraBuntara!" MyuraBuntara shouted in a hurry upon seeing her son’s antagonist gait, "He’ll kill you if you behave rudely with him."

"I know, mother." Torq waved his hand, about to leave the treatment facility when Myurabuntara stopped.

"I’m saying...!" MyuraBuntara shouted, "I don’t need you to plead for me. Instead, ask him about solutions to treat your condition. My son...please don’t make me worry."

"I will be at peace as long as I am confident you’re safe..." She stopped speaking upon noticing her son remain stubborn. Helpless, she plopped to the ground, extremely worried upon seeing the tiny stature of her son that seemed extremely fragile while trying to shoulder the fate of their world.

’I...’ She wanted to cry out in pain, but then, she made up her mind, ’I will create a future for him, no matter what.’

Wiping her tears, she left the treatment facility and rejoined with her squad, swiftly beginning preparations for their upcoming operation.

In the meantime, Torq arrived before the Empyrean Tusk and gazed up, in sheer admiration, ’It’s a MOUNTAIN!’

The Empyrean Tusk seemed endless when viewed up from the ground, causing him to feel like he was a mere ant before him. He truly was an ant, for the existence before him, despite being a Gold Grade Pranic Beast, had once fought against Brangara.

"Come up," Brangara’s voice resounded right next to him, upon which Torq noticed the exoskeleton covering the Empyrean Tusk’s body slightly morph like it was a fluid, and then, a spiral staircase was created along the entirety of the Empyrean Tusk’s height, leading to its top.

’Truly a Deity.’ For a moment, he was enamoured by the sheer mass of substance within the exoskeleton that had been displaced to create the staircase for him. ’That’s a trial run of its Battle State.’

An Empyrean Tusk, due to its sheer size, consumed an unsustainable mass of resources just to upkeep its bodily functions. The Mammoth Clansmen exist to keep supplying it with the resources as necessary.

Typically, the Empyrean Tusk moves ahead in its energy conservation mode, using the bare minimum level of its power solely to upkeep its body’s functions. However, when faced with a foe, it will go all out.

That is when it moves around the entirety of its exoskeleton, shaping it up as necessary for its fight, commonly known as its Battle State. In this state, it burns through resources in mere minutes that can satisfy the entirety of the Mammoth Clan for a year.

And this Battle State, is a blueprint for the Mammoth Clan’s cultivation technique–Mystic Bone Art.

Even though he had only seen a minor usage of the Empyrean Tusk’s Battle State, he could actually glean into a portion of Mystic Bone Art. He didn’t have to do that however, as the furball’s memories already contained complete knowledge of the respective cultivation technique, gained straight from the Mammoth Ancestor.

He was slightly panting by the time he reached the top of the Empyrean Tusk, gasping at the view from above as he was able to cleanly see the Iron Wall situated 80 kilometres away. And upon seeing further he could notice an extremely faint line, which was the Silver Wall.

"Come here," Brangara’s voice resounded in his ears as Torq quickly looked around and noticed the other party seated at the very forefront.

"Take a seat," Brangara patted next to him and Torq obliged without hesitation. There was silence between the two for a few seconds before Brangara spoke, "How long do you think you need to breach the Iron Wall?"

"Individually, it’ll take a lot of..." Torq had just begun his answer when he was cut off by Brangara.

"If I were to place the Wean Clan and the Varahan Empire in your charge," Brangara turned around to look Torq in the eye, "How long do you need to breach that shitty wall?"

"There will be a lot of casualties," Torq frowned.

"I’m sure you’ll try your best to reduce them. After all," Brangara expressed as a matter of fact,

"The ones you care about are also a part of this expedition."

"Don’t you doubt me?" Torq genuinely expressed his wonder, "I have another identity."

"Well, I’ve been observing you," Brangara commented, "Irrespective of whatever identity you have, you’re genuinely a Wean Clansman. That much is a fact."

"Your love for your mother is the truth. Your love for Sumatra is also true. And most of all," He smirked, "Your hate for Nusantara is also undeniable."

"I don’t trust you, but I trust your emotions. Because as Wean Clansman, we’re gripped by our emotions." He announced, "That’s how I was, and that’s how my descendants came to be. You’re no different in that regard."

He chuckled, "Seeing as you’ve come here with the intent to confront me just to protect your mother."

"That’s one fact about you that’s deserving of my respect. So, give me a number."

"One year," Torq gave it some thought and expressed in confidence, "And I’ll breach that damn wall."

"That’s the spirit!" Brangara smiled.