Chapter 687: Our Leader May Be Weak, But She's Competent

Dieng Canyon!

In a canyon that spanned a kilometre in width ran a stream of water, four hundred metres wide and reaching a depth of two hundred metres. This stream of water trickled down from a massive mountain situated along one of the borders of the Deng Canyon.

Reaching a height of 18 kilometres, it was a fat mountain as its peak alone resembled a circle that had a radius of 22 kilometres. At the peak of this mountain laid a lake, bubbling with Phells that had arrived from the Ravaged Federation.

However, there was nothing for the Phells to target, for this peak was barren. Trees were resembling Decodus Trees stood at the peak, sporting needle-shaped leaves. And unlike Decodus Trees that store water in them, these trees were no different from a trap.

The roots stretched long and wide, barging into the water source at the peak, the lake. Upon absorbing water from the lake, the trees leaked out the water through the tips of their needle-shaped leaves, causing water to trickle down the sides of the mountain.

These individual streams merged into a brook due to the lay of the terrain and cascaded down the mountain, eventually entering the Dieng Canyon.

As there was no direct connection between the brook and the lake, the Phells were unable to leave the confines of the lake. As the lake became crowded by the Phells, a group of Zingers arrived at its peak, having been on a long journey.

Followed by a shriek, they dumped a large amount of Prana Bombs into the lake, knocking the Phells unconscious as the Prana Bombs absorbed their Prana from various locations. Some of the Phells exploded upon piercing the Prana Bombs with their needle-like noses, resulting in splashes of water.

But the Zingers watched from afar, not daring to get close. All they did was continue to throw Prana Bombs into the lake until they filled the surface.

Kirek!

A Zinger approached 180 metres from the lake and spread its Prana around, soon detecting the Prana Bombs it had created. Like a Spirit Weapon, it lifted the respective Prana Bombs through psychokinesis and piled them into a cluster, cackling in joy to see they were all filled with Prana.

It cracked open a Prana Bomb and consumed its contents, replenishing its Prana, following which it carried the cluster of Prana Bombs with its legs, unfurled its wings and jumped from the side of the mountain, gliding its way to the Dieng Canyon.

As the mountain remained in proximity to the Dieng Canyon, the Zingers swarmed the place, for it was pretty safe and efficient to farm for Prana from the lake.

Kiek! Kriek!

Suddenly, the horde of Zingers at the peak moved away in shock, watching the water on the lake swirl around, following which humanoid entities exited. Their bodies of water were strange, alarming the Zingers.

However, just as the Zingers intended to attack the increasing water figures, one of the latter emitted its presence, calming them down.

Quip Clan!

Feeling the presence of the Quip Clan, the Zingers let go of their sense of alarm and were instead excited. Upon sensing the tiny Biome Bombs hanging onto the hips of these water figures, they prostrated on the ground.

The presence emanating from the Biome Bombs was none other than their Deity's, the Royal Zinger's.

Kriek!

One of the water figures unleashed a Zinger Shriek, informing all the Zingers of their purpose of visit. It threw a Biome Bomb onto an open space, watching it revert to its original size and reveal an entrance.

The Zingers swarmed towards the entrance, staring inside to see it packed to the brim with Life Bombs.

Shriek! Kruakk!

Finally, the Zingers could replenish their thinning numbers. Immediately in response, Zingers from various colonies came forward, expressing interest in carrying the Life Bombs.

The water figure selected one of the Zingers and gave it a Biome Bomb. In their miniature form, the Biome Bombs were easy to carry. Other than the one used to display the Life Bombs, all the other Biome Bombs were in their miniature forms.

Through a Zinger Shriek, the water figure informed the Zinger of the various colonies it needed to share the Life Bombs with. They were all colonies living close by to its colony.

[Once you've distributed them all, fill the Biome Bomb with Prana Bombs and bring it back.]

The water figure gave out its orders. The Zinger Queens only gave Life Bombs to colonies in proportion to the number of Prana Bombs they were given. That was the tradition of the Zinger race.

The water figures were following the same. Only the first batch of Life Bombs was for free, as their numbers hadn't been replenished in a decade. Following that, these Biome Bombs will serve as transportation trucks for the Prana Bombs that would be taken to the Ravaged Federation.

The water figures will stay at the peak of the mountain. When they collect enough Biome Bombs filled with Prana Bombs, they would make a trip to a river two hundred kilometres away through a water channel, at the end of which was a small sinkhole leading to the Ravaged Federation.

Travelling through water was easy for the water figures and the most energy efficient too. They could also camouflage with the environment and avoid danger, making transportation feasible. Once they return to the Ravaged Federation through a downward stream, Inala will make use of them.

The excess Prana Bombs will be transported through the upward stream heading to the Dralh Sea, using which they'll transact with the Brimgan Empire.

Instead of increasing the load on the Biome Lattice, Inala could take full advantage of the Dieng Canyon. As the region with the most traffic, the Zingers had more than enough avenues to amass an excess amount of Prana Bombs.

In response to the Life Bombs they would be receiving, they'll collect Prana Bombs for Inala's sake. This way, even by keeping the three Zinger Queens and three Empyrean Zinger Queens safe in his custody, he could maintain the function of the Dieng Canyon.

There were multiple entry and exit points connecting the Ravaged Federation to the Dieng Canyon. Gradually, water figures began to appear in all the locations, creating a chain of trade between the Quip Clan and the Zingers.

This was why Inala didn't bother staying at the Dieng Canyon and instead made his way to the Ravaged Federation. Though it would take time to make a setup, once things get going, he'd be able to control the Dieng Canyon from safety.

Besides, he could do that while taking advantage of a Major Treasure.

The round trip from the Ravaged Federation to the mountain and then back to the Ravaged Federation took barely a month. It was because they could ride with the stream currents for both trips.

So, they didn't have to use any effort to make the journey and instead could do it passively. However, there was only an upward stream leading to the Dralh Sea.

There was no downward stream heading into the Ravaged Federation in the region that was direct. Minuscule streams were meandering across the place before they eventually joined a faraway downward stream.

Getting to the respective location was dangerous, for at least four races with multiple Gold Grade Pranic Beasts lived there.

The water figures would be clobbered in a matter of seconds if they were to set foot in the region. Inala would have to personally make the trip to gain entry. However, he didn't have the time to do so, hence, the one at the Dralh Sea would have to make do.

Currently travelling against the current in the upward stream was a massive submarine, one reaching a kilometre in length. Seated within were two hundred Mystic Humans, guarding a large cargo.

Parute Fruits, medicines, Elixirs, minerals, etc. a variety of resources were being transported through the submarine. Leading the group was none other than Virala, for only he could make the journey fast enough and also had the necessary Prana reserves to do so.

However, unlike the previous time, the body of Virala leading the submarine was the newly built one. He intended to take advantage of Prana from the Biome Lattice to generate influence from his Minor Treasure of Mystic Human Stamp.

He could generate influence at its strongest state without having to take breaks for recovery, allowing him to strengthen himself at a faster pace.

'I can do this on my own.' Virala thought as he observed the Phells unable to get close to the submarine, placed at bay by the force of psychokinesis the submarine released on them. 'My skill level has improved.'

The submarine sped through the water stream, having not been bombarded by the Phells much. Even when the Phells exploded, the damage sustained by the Tratham submarine was inconsequential.

And the more he journeyed in this manner, the greater his experience accumulated. 'This is a good training session.'

It was why he took charge of the trip and planned to do so in the future even after his Mystic Humans grew strong enough to make the trip on their own.

'Setting up the trade agreement with the Brimgan Empire took longer than I expected, but it's still better than nothing.' Virala thought as the submarine arrived at the Ravaged Federation, seven months after their previous visit.

'What is this?' He frowned upon observing the Biome Bomb positioned on the water surface, forming a ring around the stream of water entering the ocean. An artificial platform had been constructed around the Biome Bomb ring, sporting segment lines all across it.

'A puzzle platform?' Virala thought upon observing the place. The entire platform was formed by pieces joined together. When necessary, it wouldn't take long to break the platform into their individual pieces and stash them somewhere else in safety.

"My Deity!" Nez expressed his confusion upon noticing the puzzle structure of the platform, "Is this place not under the Quip Clan's rule?"

"Obviously not. The Ravaged Federation is too huge for one person to take control of in such a short time." Virala shook his head, "This platform has been constructed just to receive us. Keep your wits sharpened. If there's any way we can further take advantage of the Quip Clan, don't hesitate to do so."

"We're merely trading with each other as it's beneficial to do so. They're not our allies."

"I understand." Nez nodded and watched strings of Prana jut out of the Biome Bomb ring and create a platform to hold the Tratham submarine. Following that, it pulled the submarine onto the platform, away from the ascending stream of water.

'I remember this woman.' Virala thought as he stared at Zhya who had come to greet the Mystic Humans. The submarine's entrance opened and Virala was the first to step out, cupping his fists in her direction, "I believe this is the first time we've met each other."

"I'm Virala."

"The pleasure's mine," Zhya responded in kind, "The pleasure's ours."

She then pointed at the house constructed towards the outer edge of the platform, "Please follow me. We've made refreshments for your consumption."

"Where's Inala?" Virala asked as he looked around, silently observing the trail of Biome Bombs stretching below the platform, 'Do they head all the way to the ocean bed? Just how much Prana is he amassing that he's able to expend it like water?'

"He's immersed in research, so I apologise for the inconvenience." Zhya said with a smile, "However, I'm the Quip Clan's leader, not Inala. So, it's only right that I come to greet you."

"You're the leader?" Virala was shocked by the information, taking a second glance at Zhya, 'Her presence seems lacking to be the Quip Clan's leader. Is there a reason Inala appointed her as one?'

'Yeah, unnecessary thinking is not my thing. Let's just be direct about it.' Virala thought and crossed his hands, "I feel that hard to comprehend."

Saying so, he pointed towards the house they were walking towards, "The presence I'm sensing from there is many times stronger than yours. So, how come you're the Quip Clan's leader?"

"Is there any rule saying that the leader must be the strongest?" Zhya's lips curled as she stared at Virala, "Is that hard to comprehend despite where you hail from?"

"You were...elected as the leader?" It was common sense on Earth, but felt unreal on Sumatra, so much so that Virala found it hard to believe.

"No," Zhya chuckled as she shook her head, "I was just joking."

"Only the most capable among us can be our leader." The doors to the house opened as the source of the powerful presence Virala felt walked out. It was Kenzar, the Zinger Guard, stationed close by to protect Zhya.

Followed by a short bow in respect towards her, Kenzar stared at Virala, "Isn't that obvious when managing a Clan?"