"I’m listening," Raurau impatiently tapped his feet on the floor, appearing a tad annoyed. But despite his external facade, he was simultaneously looking forward to hearing what Torq had in store for him while also being on guard against the silver humanoid.
’That entity...’ Without a fluctuation or movement in his eyes, Raurau observed the silver humanoid, ’The presence it unleashes feels like the purest version of what I felt from the Varahan Empress.’
’Theoretically, it’s a talent that should only appear among Free Humans. However,’ He eyed Torq, ’With the level of talent he was born with, it wouldn’t have been strange if he had the Buoyant Disease.’
’But instead, he has this power.’ Raurau pondered, ’There’s a reason behind the existence of every power on Sumatra, whose roots could be traced back through history.’
’Still, he’s willing to show me something.’ Raurau was satisfied with the proposition, ’That does give me the base to research further upon.’
’Let me extract however much I can out of him through his willingness.’ Slowly, he lifted his arm and patted Torq on the shoulder, ’Following that, I can use other methods to force him to spit out everything.’
’I can’t risk everything before figuring out the extent of his gifts.’ Thinking as such, Raurau nodded, "Explain everything and I’ll grant you a grace period of four days."
"It’s pretty simple," From this point onwards, Torq began to set up a convenient lie. He pointed at the silver humanoid, "That’s me."
"In essence, it symbolises my existence." Pointing at his chest, Torq uttered casually, "The existence that steals power from his twin brother."
"It can steal power?" Raurau eyed the silver humanoid, "How does it accomplish that?"
"It’s like a bridge between me and Runthral, but I alone hold the key to controlling it." Torq explained, "I can consciously control how much of Runthral’s potential and power I can steal."
He then pointed at the monochromatic dome enveloping them, "This dome is basically a manifestation of my existence, which is to steal the Empyrean Snapper power belonging to Runthral."
"I don’t fully understand why this space functions as it does. But all I’m aware of is that when I unleash this, I can steal Runthral’s power better." Torq concluded, "At present, I can only steal his potential. But in four days, my calculations state I would have matured to a point where I can actively siphon the power of his Primary Nature."
Primary Nature–Subtle Terrain Domination!
The Empyrean Snapper’s ultimate power, the possession of which granted absolute dominion over the terrain within the Spirit Weapon range. And upon hearing Torq’s claims in being able to unleash this power, Raurau trembled visibly.
At first, he wanted to hack Torq to death, for the mere notion of daring to harm their Clan’s Deity was an offence worth utter annihilation. His instinctual urge was to destroy Torq.
However, he controlled his urges and logically processed Torq’s explanation, at which point he figured out Torq’s method, "Your power...is a bridge."
"Just as how you claim to be able to siphon Runthral’s power, you can also supply him with yours." Once he began to speak, Raurau connected the dots, "But all that would do is allow Runthral to reclaim what was originally his."
"Killing you presents the same result." He frowned in thought, motioning for Torq to remain silent for a minute, by which he arrived at the answer, "I see."
Eyeing Torq, he spoke, "First, you’ll keep stealing his power until you get the Buoyant Disease. And once you cultivate and reach the Life Stage, you’ll be strengthening your power further, which when supplied to Runthral, should elevate him above his present potential."
’Scarily accurate,’ Torq grinned at the answer, "You are correct..."
"But to make it happen," Raurau interjected, growing gloomy, "You’ll have to follow my path."
"No, your path isn’t suitable for me." Torq promptly shook his head, for he didn’t want Raurau’s train of thoughts to proceed in that direction, which would result in his death. "There’s only one path that makes my method feasible."
"It’s to become a Settlement Leader." He concluded.
"Hmm?" Raurau pondered for a few minutes but wasn’t able to understand the reasoning.
"I don’t understand it either," Torq shrugged, acting ignorant as he pointed at the silver humanoid, "It’s just a strong instinct of mine stating it’s guaranteed to work. I think I’ve felt this since I was a kid."
"It was vague when I was a child. But over the years, it’s gotten clearer." Torq said, "When I cultivate Runthral’s power and send it to him, it elevates his power. Then, I’m able to siphon a greater volume of his power to cultivate, which creates a loop."
"As I grow stronger, Runthral will grow in sync with me." He concluded and was met with silence, absolute, chilling silence. ’Will he buy it?’
’4 Days?’ Raurau thought for a few seconds, even though his mind was already made up, ’Even if it’s false, even if it’s untrue, I can’t help but gamble.’
’I’ll know in four days.’ He thought while hoping Torq’s method would work, ’If it does work, I need to keep him alive.’
Not for a moment did he question Boiboi’s loyalty to the Cooter Clan. That came instinctively to all Cooter Clansmen. Even if they could scheme against other Cooter Clansmen for benefits and various other reasons that came with living in a society, the Cooter Clan was, at its root, a worship-driven society that prioritised Empyrean Snappers above all else.
The fact that Runthral was an Empyrean Snapper meant Boiboi would never be able to truly harm the other party. ’And even if I get killed as a consequence, I can accept it, if it means Runthral will become stronger.’
He had a strong drive for survival, but Runthral’s very existence towered over his every desire. Once he had made up his mind, Raurau accepted the offer, "Four days."
"If you fail to showcase your claims by then, I’ll kill you. This time, I’m serious." Raurau snorted and walked towards the border of the monochromatic space. He placed his index finger on the barrier that separated the space from the outside world and focused.
A dozen seconds later, the barrier trembled ever so little. It was only for the fraction of a second, but that stunned Torq, ’He...he can affect that?’
’He’s that strong, huh?’ Torq beamed a wide smile a moment later, ’With that level of skill in possession, he’s probably the second strongest in the Cooter Clan.’
’That’s why I was reincarnated as Boiboi.’ He snapped his finger and dissipated the monochromatic space, staring at the back of Raurau, ’You’re my heavyhitter.’