Chapter 97 - Translation

Chapter 97 Varahan Enclave It was a day just like another in Varahan Enclave. The four Pranic Beasts dominant in the region continued about with their daily lives. Varahan Enclave was a special place in Sumatra Continent. It was a small portion of the Sumatra Continent that peeked out into the dark territory where life couldn't be sustained. The dark territory was called the Sandy-Grey Void and surrounded the Sumatra Continent. It was covered by grey, lifeless sand where only death awaited any entity that dreamed of crossing. There was no wind, no sound, and no life. The sand was loose and the entire region had the property of a quicksand. Therefore, it was a death sentence to set foot on it. One would have to cross the Sandy-Grey Void to enter another continent. Until now, no entity had succeeded in it as not only was the Sandy-Grey Void treacherous in nature, but it also stretched endlessly. No human or Pranic Beast could survive for that long. Of course, there were moderate regions in the Sandy-Grey Void, creating what one would proclaim as 'Pathways.' These pathways were less treacherous in comparison to the Sandy-Grey Void and formed a route to another continent, though longer than if one made a beeline through the Sandy-Grey Void. Such pathways existed only next to enclaves. Exit from anywhere else on Sumatra and you'll be faced with the brunt of the Sandy-Grey Void's treacherousness. There existed 392 enclaves on Sumatra Continent and Varahan Enclave was just one among the many. It was a region that was a mixture of a tropical and mangrove forest, with trees reaching as high as 500 metres and water levels extending to a depth of 800 metres. Four Pranic Beast races lived here, forming their enclosed food chain. At the bottom-most stood the Yoked Wyrm, a Beginner Iron Grade Pranic Beast, too weak to even comment about. It primarily relied on a diet of moss, soil, and tree bark, boasting one of the greatest fertility rates. If left to their devices, they would explode in population and turn a region into a barren land within a few decades. Preying on them primarily were the Razor Rats and the Petrified Geese, both Beginner Iron Grade Pranic Beasts. They were strong for their grade and moved as a group, unlike Yoked Wyrms, hence predating on the latter.? Finally, reigning at the top of the food cycle were Empyrean Boars, Beginner Gold Grade Pranic Beasts. Despite being a Gold Grade Pranic Beast, an Empyrean Boar was often ridiculed as the weakest among all Gold Grade Pranic Beasts. Even Silver Grade Pranic Beasts could kill an Empyrean Boar one-on-one. But this was the Varahan Enclave and not the Sumatra Continent. With there being only a narrow valley connecting the two, Empyrean Boars lived in their bubble, having close to no interaction with the outside world. They happily preyed upon the three weaker Pranic Beast races and thrived. But, that all changed with the arrival of a group at the entrance to the Varahan Enclave. Spanning a height of 1.6 kilometres on average, a breadth of 0.6 kilometres and a length of 2 kilometres, a walking fortress of might, an entity that stood at the pinnacle of Sumata Continent. Empyrean Tusk! A herd of 188 Empyrean Tusks had gathered, brimming with a suffocating might to the extent no Pranic Beast dared to even approach in a vicinity of a hundred kilometres. And if any was brave enough? Swoosh! Followed by suction from its trunk, the Pranic Beast was sucked towards an Empyrean Tusk that casually threw the captured Pranic Beast in its mouth and munched. When the size of an Empyrean Tusk herd hits the three digits, they begin emanating a collective pressure that numbs the bodies of all enemies. Thereby, they could kill their targets with the least amount of effort. Standing at the entrance to the valley was the 1st Empyrean Tusk, its trunk raised. Seated at the forefront of the trunk was a man who had reached the peak of cultivation and was merely a step away from Transcendence. 10-Life Stage! He was the Mammoth Clan Chief, Undrakha. Upon reaching the peak of cultivation and unlocking the entirety of Mystic Bone Art, he was able to communicate with the Empyrean Tusks without any issues. "How's it looking?" Undrakha asked upon staring at the Varahan Enclave, "Are they enough?" [Beginner Gold Grade Pranic Beast, Empyrean Boar. Since they have the prefix of Empyrean, it means they reached the pinnacle evolution of their race!] "Will they be enough?" Undrakha asked once again, patient. [Yes! They are brimming with flesh, blood, and Prana. Every single Empyrean Boar is enough for a decade of my operation!] "A decade," Undrakha's eyes lit up, "That's perfect. There's enough of them here for all of us. If we treat them as a farm, we'll be able to save up enough resources to cross the Sandy-Grey Void." [Yes!] "But, are you sure about this?" Undrakha asked, "Sumatra Continent is our home." [Yes! As a species, Empyrean Tusks have reached their growth limit. The only way to surpass our limits is to mutate. That will allow us to become Mystic Grade Pranic Beasts. But for that to happen, staying in the comfort of our homes won't do! We have become too accustomed to Sumatra Continent!] "It's just like gaining a Nature." Undrakha nodded, "By subjecting ourselves to an extreme situation, we'll be forced to evolve." [Yes! That's the only option left to become a Mystic Grade Pranic Beast!] For them to cross the Sandy-Grey Void, the Empyrean Tusk herd needed to store enough resources in their bodies for the journey. It might take them a century or two to cross over. Hence, the Empyrean Tusks sought the most efficient resource to store in their limited space. The Empyrean Boars fit the bill perfectly. Spanning a height of a hundred metres, they were small in comparison to the Empyrean Tusks. But, they were Gold Grade Pranic Beasts. Meaning, their lifespan, Prana quality, Prana Quantity, and flesh were the highest grades available. The resource condensation per unit mass of their body was the highest. Of course, there were better Gold Grade Pranic Beasts out there, but they were all ridiculously powerful. Fighting such Pranic Beasts would cause the Empyrean Tusks too much loss. From an efficiency standpoint, it was a fool's endeavour. But, Empyrean Boars were weak. They could be killed by even Silver Grade Pranic Beasts, making them the perfect targets. All Mammoth Clan masters could take on an Empyrean Boar each while the Empyrean Tusks could casually chuck them in their mouths. They were ripe for picking, the perfect resource for the journey. Undrakha communicated with the Mammoth Clan and announced to the 1st Empyrean Tusk, "We're ready. On your command." [Let's go! Everyone!] With the 1st Empyrean Tusk's command, the herd of 188 Empyrean Tusks entered the Varahan Enclave, resulting in a bloody, one-sided massacre. !

**Chapitre 97 – L’Enclave Varahan** Un jour ordinaire se levait sur l’Enclave Varahan. Les quatre Bêtes Praniques dominantes de la région poursuivaient leurs routines immuables. Cette enclave constituait une singularité du continent Sumatra. Une excroissance de terre s’enfonçant dans les territoires maudits, là où nulle vie ne persistait. Ces étendues hostiles, baptisées le Vide Gris-Sableux, ceinturaient Sumatra. Sous leur manteau de poussière stérile, elles ne promettaient qu’une mort certaine. Absence de vent, de bruit, de mouvement. Le sol meuble possédait la consistance de sables mouvants. Y pénétrer signait son arrêt de mort. Pourtant, franchir ce désert demeurait l’unique voie vers d’autres continents. Aucun être n’y était jamais parvenu – le Vide Gris-Sableux se révélait aussi trompeur qu’illimité. Aucun humain ou Bête Pranique ne disposait d’une longévité suffisante. Certaines zones moins hostiles formaient néanmoins des « Voies ». Ces couloirs relativement sûrs offraient un passage vers l’ailleurs, bien plus long qu’une traversée directe. Ces voies n’existaient qu’aux abords des enclaves. Ailleurs, le Vide Gris-Sableux déployait toute sa férocité. Sumatra comptait 392 enclaves – l’Enclave Varahan n’en était qu’un maillon infime. Son écosystème mêlait jungle tropicale et mangrove géante, avec des arbres culminant à 500 mètres et des abysses de 800 mètres. Quatre espèces de Bêtes Praniques y coexistaient en une chaîne alimentaire verrouillée. À la base : les Vers Asservis, Bêtes Praniques de Grade Fer Débutant, trop insignifiants pour mériter attention. Ils se nourrissaient de mousse et d’écorce, se reproduisant à une vitesse alarmante. Sans prédateurs, ils transformaient toute région en désert en quelques décennies. Leurs principaux chasseurs étaient les Rats Tranchants et les Oies Pétrifiées, également de Grade Fer Débutant. Plus redoutables que leur rang ne le laissait croire, ces dernières chassaient en meute, faisant d’elles les régulateurs naturels des vers. Au sommet trônaient les Sangliers Empyréens, Bêtes Praniques de Grade Or Débutant. Bien qu’appartenant au Grade Or, ils passaient pour les plus faibles de leur catégorie. Une simple Bête d’Argent pouvait les vaincre en duel. Mais ici, dans leur enclave isolée par une étroite vallée, ils régnaient sans contestation. Ils se repaissaient des trois espèces inférieures, vivant en autarcie. Cet équilibre vola en éclats lorsqu’une présence surgit à l’entrée de l’enclave. Une forteresse vivante haute de 1,6 kilomètre, large de 600 mètres : l’Éléphant Empyréen, incarnation suprême du pouvoir sur Sumatra. Cent quatre-vingt-huit colosses s’étaient rassemblés, leur aura écrasante maintenant toute créature à cent kilomètres à distance. Qu’advenait-il d’un imprudent ? *Swouich !* Une trompe fendait l’air, happant l’intrus pour le réduire en pulpe entre des molaires indifférentes. Un troupeau dépassant la centaine émettait une pression collective paralysante, transformant la chasse en formalité. À l’avant-garde, le Premier Éléphant Empyréen pointait sa trompe vers le ciel. À son extrémité, un homme frôlant la Transcendance prenait position : Undrakha, chef du Clan des Mammouths. Le Stade des Dix Vies ! Maître absolu des Arts Mystiques des Os, il dialoguait librement avec les titans. « Le rapport ? » demanda-t-il en scrutant l’enclave. « Suffisants ? » [*Bête Pranique de Grade Or Débutant : Sanglier Empyréen. Le préfixe indique l’évolution ultime de l’espèce !*] « Vraiment suffisants ? » insista Undrakha. [*Affirmatif ! Leur chair, leur sang et leur Prana sont denses. Un spécimen alimente dix ans de fonctionnement !*] « Dix ans… » Ses yeux brillèrent. « Parfait. Avec un élevage rationnel, nous aurons de quoi traverser le Vide. » [*Confirmé !*] « Mais en êtes-vous certains ? » murmura Undrakha. « Sumatra est notre terre. » [*Nécessité impérieuse ! Notre espèce a touché son plafond. Pour atteindre le Grade Mystique, il faut mutation radicale. L’habitude nous affaiblit !*] « Comme l’acquisition d’une Nature, » acquiesça Undrakha. « L’extrême forge l’évolution. » [*Seule voie vers le Grade Mystique !*] Le périple dans le Vide Gris-Sableux exigeait des réserves pour un ou deux siècles. Les sangliers, compacts mais riches en énergie, représentaient la solution optimale. D’autres Bêtes d’Or surpassaient leur rendement, mais leur puissance les rendait inabordables. Les Sangliers, vulnérables même face à l’Argent, offraient un ratio risque/bénéfice idéal. Chaque maître mammouth pouvait en abattre un, tandis que les éléphants n’avaient qu’à engloutir. Undrakha consulta son clan avant de lancer l’ordre au Premier Éléphant : « Troupes en position. À vous l’honneur. » [*Chargeons ! Ensemble !*] Sous ce commandement, les 188 colosses pénétrèrent dans l’enclave, inaugurant un carnage méthodique.