Sumatra's Greatest Fan-Chapter 97: Wails And Waves

"Are you keeping up, Boiboi?" Inin asked with a slightly exhausted tone.

"Barely," Replied Torq as he used Gentle Coral to patch up a large hole in the hull. Upon applying the patch, he watched the low-density Gentle Coral getting absorbed into the hull, after which one of the holes regenerated with the high-density Gentle Coral.

’That’s why they’re making ships with Gentle Coral.’ Torq observed and understood the reason. Not only was Gentle Coral economical to produce, its defensive capabilities too withstood the test of time.

On Sumatra, there were all sorts of Pranic Beasts with every bizarre Primary Nature one could think about. Even if one were to create a theoretically indestructible hull, there were bound to be Natures that would perfectly counter them.

Take for example, the tusk of the other Deity Race on Sumatra–the Empyrean Tusk.

It was the toughest material on Sumatra, capable of withstanding all sorts of stress and strain. However, Centingers were their weakness.

The Nature of Bone Melting Artillery was the most effective against Empyrean Tusks, affecting the toughest material they wear on their bodies as natural armour.

Every material had a Nature it was truly weak against. This was why Gentle Coral was preferred the most by the Cooter Clan. Even though it wasn’t the toughest, it was versatile, and best of all, could be repaired easily.

Its ease of repair and maintenance made, especially by the Cooter Clan’s techniques made Gentle Coral their best pick.

’This is the Dralh Sea, huh?’ Torq thought as he observed into the jet-black sea stretching far and wide, feeling sweat pour down from his face the moment he peered his head out of the cloud platform. ’The water’s boiling.’

’This is where plenty of shit has happened in the book.’ He felt his heart race as he followed Inin to finish the repairs alongside other Cooter Clansmen that temporarily reinforced the Maintenance Crew.

’If what the furball told me is correct, this is where the First Major Disaster is bound to begin.’ He exhaled a long breath, knowing very well he had plenty to prepare beforehand.

But was he concerned about stopping everything that would transpire next? No. His only goal was to ensure his survival, nothing more, nothing less. ’There are plenty of competent people on Sumatra. Let them do what needs to be done.’

’This world is based on the principle of survival of the fittest.’ He thought with a cold-hearted expression, ’If they are fit enough to survive, they will survive.’

At present, he had three Pets in total. ’The Eureur Pet will be useful to train in regards to Mystic Mist Art. The Empyrean Snapper Pet is absolutely necessary, as it alone allows me to obtain the Lightning Plasma Spirit Pool. With it, I don’t need to worry even in a scenario of the Cooter Clan’s destruction.’

’Playing defence doesn’t get the job done. You’ll only tire yourself out eventually.’ He thought while patting his clothes, which was the Narlakk Pet, ’The best defence is obviously offence.’

He then clutched a container hung at his hip. Within it was the facial skin of the Mystic Human, ’Thank goodness the furball snatched it beforehand. This will prove to be useful later.’

He was using the excess Prana generated in his body to charge up the Mystic Human Pet, intending to stop only when he was on the verge of completion, ’That way, it will still appear like a rolled-up skin, making storage easy. And when I need to use it, I only have to use a unit of Prana at most.’

Gong!

At the horn, Inin announced in a hurry, "Alright, time to head in. The Death Hour will begin shortly."

Torq entered the cabin that felt empty now, as the only survivors were he and Inin. The others that had come to assist them had living quarters in other cabins where they were originally posted.

They all went to their respective cabins, leaving behind Inin and Torq to stare at the faces of each other.

"Have you witnessed the Death Hour before?" Inin asked as he used a cloud of mist to strip individual fibres from a damaged robe, join them together to form a single string, and then began weaving it into a new robe.

It seemed he also had techniques to change the dye, ensuring the final product looked brand new.

Even though Torq had memories related to the Death Hour, he shook his head, for he hadn’t witnessed it firsthand, ’They are all the furball’s experience, not mine.’

"When you get a chance later, try to witness it." Inin expressed his awe, "You’ll truly understand how safe our home is."

"Have you experienced it?" Torq asked, recognising Inin wanted to talk about his experience, ’Since he loves to talk, it’s great. I can learn a lot of things from him.’

"A couple times, when I visited the Dralh Sea during my childhood." Inin basked in nostalgia, "Did you know? The Dralh Sea used to be under our control. All the Free Humans living here worshipped us as Immortals."

"And when the Death Hour begins, they will retreat into the mines and keep praying until the Death Hour ends." He laughed bitterly, "The ships we built at the Dralh Sea were capable of withstanding the full brunt of the Death Hour. They were the best on Sumatra."

"Alas, that’s just a memory of the past now." He sighed in sombreness, "If only HE never existed, the Cooter Clan would still have been the overlord of this region."

’He’s afraid to even state the name of the individual that destroyed the Cooter Clan’s Dralh Sea branch.’ Torq thought upon observing Inin’s hands shivering faintly. He didn’t empathise with the other party, but instead asked for more details, "Why did we make the Free Humans pray towards us?"

Reading about things in a book and witnessing the same firsthand were two, completely different things. And Torq was reeling himself into the memory while listening to Inin recount the past with increasing detail.

There was nothing else to do since their duties will resume only after the Death Hour passed. And since they were the only two members in the cabin, walking was all they could do.

Of course, while he listened to Inin’s tales, Torq didn’t slack off and focused on moving a droplet of water far away, out of Inin’s sight. He was training his focus, not out of desperation, but from sheer, fucking excitement.

’It’s great to be alive here!’

The Battleship tremored from time to time, as many Pranic Beasts rushed to board the deck. Most of the Battle Teams were in a war on the deck and the sides of the hull.

Once the Death Hour ended, the Cold Shower began. After the climate returned to normalcy, Torq accompanied Inin to resume their maintenance activities.

As the ship continued to move through the Dralh Sea, Inin was seated on the cloud platform next to Torq, casually talking since they had finished their maintenance work.

Suddenly, wails filled the place, alerting the duo.

"What’s happening?" Inin asked in a fluster. But then, he too noticed the cause that resulted in the Cooter Clansmen wailing their lungs out.

’T-That’s...!’ Torq hurriedly stared in the respective direction and felt his heart skip a beat. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he felt his Mystic Mist Art activate on its own, as if afraid about something.

’This is where the Empyrean Snappers got slaughtered.’ He stared at the mountain far away that was shaped like a bowl.