Kaijin Fighter: So I Have to Make Monsters, So What?-Chapter 1305: The [Chaos] Muzzle Seal

...Flashback to a couple weeks prior to now...

<Alright esteemed scions of the Zhen Clan, it's time for a lesson in a practical application in Chaos,> Pathos excitedly informed them. <Now then, who wants to be our live example of what you'll be learning today?>

Now that the Zhen Clan was formally introduced to the [Library of Nowhere], Logos and Pathos had taken it upon themselves to arm the scions, the elders, and the patriarch with better methods of manipulating [Chaos]. Well, that and they wanted Jasper and Janice to have more human sparring partners that were able to [Chaos] too.

During this crash course, the Zhen Clan were taught all manner of [Chaos] applications, including enhancement, barriers, and how to imbue it into other people and objects without them getting...weird.

However, the most useful thing that the entire clan was taught was a special type of seal that even the least studious among them could use.

The [Chaos] Muzzle Seal.

=This seal allows the user to seal their opponent's cultivation abilities by using [Chaos] to gunk up aether channels in the neck, essentially stopping the flow of aether altogether,= Logos explained while presenting several illusionary images to accompany the live example, Zhen Guo,=< this placement of the seal is why we gave it the moniker of muzzle.=

<As an added twist, this seal allows remote manipulation too...to an extent.> Pathos added. <It can be dismissed or detonated, but the user has to be within a hundred or so meters.>

"What happens if that range is exceeded?"

<=The seal will automatically undo itself...in the form of violent coughing accompanied by vomiting.=>

"On...on the person who got sealed it is?"

<=Both.=>

"Ok, but why though?!"

<Oh, you should also know that this seal only works on those who are of the same cultivation level as yourselves, or lower. If you attempt to use it on anyone higher, it will lead to an incredibly painful backlash effect.>

"That...makes sense, sure."

=Any other questions?=

"Yeah, I got one. Why the neck?" Zhen Long asked, unaware of the irony of being a wolf-themed aether warrior asking about an ability named after a muzzle.

<Ah, well, it used to be placed over the mouth, but we managed to modify it to work via the neck,> Pathos explained. <The neck is significantly easier to grab in comparison to someone's face, and there is significantly less slobber and biting involved.>

"Why...why is that the voice of experience?"

<=Don't worry about it, now get over here while Jasper touches your formula.=>

[I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU MUZZLED!]

"Not comforting."

...Now back to the present...

As soon as the Zorro Familia warriors were released, they immediately attempted to use their aether to unleash their most powerful attacks.

"Five Cyclones Palm!"

"Evil Spirit...hold up."

Unfortunately, as Zhen Tai and Zhen Xing promised, nothing happened.

The warriors could feel their aether attempting to circulate, but the seals on their cultivation formula had prevented any sort of movement.

Out of a mix of panic and disbelief, the two warriors attempted to use several other aether arts that were in their retinue.

Unfortunately, nothing happened in these other attempts as well.

"You have got to be kidding me!"

"Fuck. Fuck!"

Now that they had time to realize how fucked they were, the two warriors began to beg.

"You guys can't just seal our cultivation like this! At least give us the dignity of an honorable death!"

"We're warriors, not regular mortals. Without our aether abilities, we'll be kicked out of our current position and forced to become beggars or worse!"

Zhen Tai and Zhen Xing looked at each other, sharing the same look of grimacing annoyance.

Evidently, they had underestimated the sheer amount of patience that Zhen Liu had when dealing with these types of whiny accomplices.

Then again, this was the first time they had ever done anything like this. Regardless, they had provided the stick; it was now time for the carrot to coerce compliance.

"Like we said, we only sealed your formulas temporarily," Zhen Xing corrected the weeping warriors bearing the emblem of a fox. "But if you don't do as we say, you're going to be stuck with being unable to use your aether until the end of days...that or we cause the seal to self-destruct and you'll be throwing up your guts for three days before dying."

"What the fuck?!"

"Alternatively," Zhen Tai followed up in an attempt to sound like the more reasonable of the two. "If you do as we require of you, your cultivation will be restored, and you'll be compensated appropriately."

"Compensated? Compensated?!" The Zorro Familia warriors repeated, sounding quite offended at Zhen Tai's words. "How the hell are you going to—"

Before they could finish their question, Zhen Tai pulled out a major Ethereal-grade aether art scroll from his bag and held it in front of the duo.

"This is how."

"Oh."

When Logos and Pathos sent off the Kaijin to go and accompany Zhen Xing and Zhen Tai in their journey to Dozing Salamander, they had made sure to pack with them several dozen or so aether arts that ranged from minor corporeal-grade aether arts to major ethereal-grade aether arts.

The idea behind this decision was to make it so that not only would the Zhen Clan scions have an opportunity to learn and add some new moves to their respective arsenals, but also give them bartering materials that were relatively cheap at the library's expense. After all, knowledge was power…and quite valuable to the right people.

"Is...is that..."

"A major Ethereal art?! Holy shit!"

As soon as it mentally registered to the two Zorro Familia warriors that the scroll in Zhen Tai's hands was a major ethereal-grade aether art scroll, the two of them attempted to grab the aformentioned scroll in order to review it with a more critical eye.

Unfortunately, Zhen Tai was still quicker than the Zorro Familia

bastards, and lifted the scroll away from their grubby little fingers before they had a chance to grab it.

"Ah, ah, ah," Zhen Tai chidded. "You want this, you follow our deal. Agreed?"

Now that they comprehended what rewards awaited them, the warriors from the Zorro Familia immediately agreed.

"We'll do whatever you say."

"Good answer."

Now that the Zhen Clan scions managed to convince the slave drivers to play along, all they had to do now was climb aboard and they would be delivered like a Trojan Horse.

There was just one more thing they had to address, thanks to Maggie bringing it up.

"Uh, guys? What about the slaves?"

"Oh...right."

During the course of this entire conversation, the slaves in the cages had been watching with incredibly mixed expressions on their faces.

They had been listening in the whole time, and had been dealing with an emotional rollercoaster over every single detail.

When the Zhen Clan scions rolled up and took out the slavers, they had become hopeful.

When they learned that the aformentioned scions were actually aiming to negotiate rather than to free them, they had become despondent.

And finally, after hearing the full extent as to why this entire situation was occurring in the first place, they became confused.

The slave couldn't understand why the fuck anyone would want to infiltratre a slave colony...as a slave.

Regardless, the Zhen Clan scions began to wrack their brains over in how to deal with these fellows, since their cooperation was going to be necessary.

"Quick question, do you guys have to provide some form of proof of sale when you deliver these guys or nah?" Zhen Tai asked the slavers turned accomplices. "Like, you promised to provide X amount of slaves at Y price?"

"Actually...no," one of the slavers answered. "The owner of this mine exchanges based on numbers, physical status be damned."

"Most other markets care about that stuff: training, breeding quality, physical traits, age,"the other slaver followed up. "But this guy doesn't give a shit. Hell, most of the slaves were selling are considered the lowest possible quality of slave to be sold."

"Hmmm."

Taking a brief glance at the caged people, Zhen Xing and Zhen Tai could confirm that they weren't exactly the healthiest group of people, or the least bit broken.

I'm fact, they could see the clear defiant look of people who would love nothing more than to make their captors pay through fire and bloodshed.

In other words, they were an asset.

"Alright, quick show of hands," Zhen Xing called out to the slaves. "Who among you simply wants to be set free into the jungle? It's not exactly a picnic in a meadow, but it's probably better than being forced to mine up metals you'll never be able to use for yourselves."

At this question, the Zhen Clan scions assumed that there would be a unianimous raising of hands over the idea of being set free.

Surprisingly, only a quarter of the slaves raised their hands at such an offer.

"Huh..."