The Core Region of the Tsloch Sea had water reaching a depth of 18 kilometres. The sea bed was ripe with volcanic activity, constantly releasing lava into the sea water.
As the lava cooled down, more spurted out from the pressure vents, resulting in the formation of a series of underwater mountain ranges.
Towards the surface, floating around like they were ships were mountains, each reaching a height of two kilometres on average. Their base had been expanded to resemble ice bergs in terms of structure, providing stability.
The volcanic activity at the sea bed released heavy amounts of minerals into the water, which were carried by water currents reaching the top. These currents congregated under the mountains, increasing the water density at the area in comparison to the rest of the sea region.
The higher water density increased the stability of the mountain structure. And that’s how the series of mountains floated around.
Of course, not all of them were left to float, as some were instead placed atop the underwater mountains, taking advantage of the provided platform to safely root themselves.
Headquarters of the Cooter Clan–Tsloch Vitara!
A thick layer of clouds covered the sea surface, spanning a thickness of 18 metres. It had been specially designed to be semi-immersed in the sea water, creating a cushy platform that covered the region between the mountains.
It provided a platform of connection between the mountains, serving as the Cooter Clan’s base of operations.
The Cooter Clan had invested extensively in the creation of Tsloch Vitara, using the mountains left behind by the Empyrean Snappers in the past where they had to go into hiding.
They terraformed the region in such a way all the activities of nature would seamlessly harmonise with each other to produce the surface cloud covering the sea. This cloud surface was special, capable of hardening into a solid when faced with physical stress.
It also formed vortexes from time to time, with enough rotary force to grind through the bodies of Iron Grade Pranic Beasts. Other natural phenomena occurred on the cloud layer, including the production of thunder and lightning in accordance with the whims of nature.
Tsloch Vitara was an extremely dangerous region for all Iron Grade Pranic Beasts and even for some weaker Silver Grade Pranic Beasts. However, a Cooter Clansman, even as a baby, remained unharmed in the region.
The region was created to nurture those possessing Mystic Mist Art’s influence. It was the Cooter Clan’s greatest feat of terrain modification.
Scattered around the Tsloch Vitara at varied distances were glistening mountains generating a suffocating amalgamment of presence. Even at a glance, colourful pools were situated at the end of each pool emitting a powerful presence.
They were all Silver Grade Spirit Pools.
A battleship moved a couple kilometres nearby one such mountain. A boy, aged fifteen rushed to the edge of the deck and peered out, almost losing his balance on the guardrails.
"WOAH!" His eyes grew so wide, it felt like they were about to spill out of the sockets. The boy was Torq, his mouth almost drooling as he stared at the mountain before him, "COOL!"
As if responding to his show of genuine admiration, a ginormous head emerged out of the sea water, causing water to spill across its neck while resembling a waterfall. The tip of the head was positioned a mere few metres away from Torq, enough for the other party to let go of all notions of safety and make a leap towards the head.
"Idiot!" Came a curse from afar as Torq failed to grab onto another that could make him hold steady on the head. As he fell, the air underneath seemed to turn solid, becoming a platform he could stand upon.
As if he hadn’t even realised he could have fallen to his possible demise in that instant, Torq held the tip of the Empyrean Snapper’s jaw, "HO...AHAHHA!"
The Empyrean Snapper had revealed its head for a few seconds, and then used a gust of wind to gently place Torq on the deck of the moving battleship. And then, it retreated into the water casually, without its humongous form making even the faintest splash.
"AHH!" Torq behaved like a fangirl, still relishing his experience as he stood on the battleship’s deck. He then noticed Runthral walk into his line of sight and made a disgusted expression immediately, "If only you could be half as majestic."
"I truly wish to beat you up now." Runthral clicked his tongue in response, growing angry upon noticing Torq become distracted at the sight of another mountain that came into view.
’I’m truly glad to have been born again!’ All his distracting thoughts vanished like they were never in his mind in the first place. Enjoying the moment, Torq abandoned all the thoughts and plans he had regarding the enemy Celestial, choosing to focus on them after a small break.
The sight before him was truly worth it, after all.
Left, right, diagonal, in any direction he turned his head towards, Torq found a mountain gently peeking out of the sea. When he squinted and focused on one of the mountains, he noticed hundreds of Cooter Clansmen scuttling about like ants.
He even managed to notice a Cooter Clansman entering a Spirit Pool to build their body.
’Finally, I’ve reached here!’ He watched the battleship pass by one mountain after another, until soon, it came across a platform of land serving as a port.
The battleship docked at the port, where thousands of Cooter Clansmen were moving about in their busy schedules, promptly transporting out all the goods amassed by the battleship, including the crates with Nirclick corpses.
The piece of land stretched twenty kilometres in length and spanned a couple kilometres in breadth, shaped in such a way it allowed dozens of battleships, ships, and over a hundred ferries to dock at the same time.
Two Settlement Leaders landed on the battleship’s deck and approached the Raid Captain, curious about the captured Narlakk.
"Is that it?" One of them eyed Narlakk Nirrkarrlarr curiously, "Based on the report, it manifested physical characteristics of Mystic Mist Art,"
"Yes," Captain Trotro took charge of the explanation, "According to what I understood from fighting against it, I feel it could have become stronger if it had absorbed power from a stronger source."
Subtly, he turned his head to point at Runthral, "The Nirclicks planned to kidnap him for the same."
"Good work," One of the Settlement Leaders passed down a command to Captain Trotro, "We’re transferring you to a research department. Focus on uncovering every bit of value we could extract out of this Narlakk."
"Yes," Captain Trotro nodded. Since he not only lost the entirety of his crew, but even dropped a level in his cultivation, he could no longer continue his original duty as a Captain.
With a slightly dispirited expression, Trotro accompanied a team that transported Narlakk Nirkarrlarr to a research facility.
A cloud ladder connected the deck of the ship to the port, sporting arching bubbles to serve as steps. Runthral and Torq descended down, jumping up and down the bubbles since it seemed fun.
"Are you serious? Don’t play around..." Runthral stopped speaking midway, as once he copied Torq, he came to terms with reality, "This is fun."
"Right?" Torq expressed proudly as he used a cloud bubble like a trampoline and jumped to a height of two metres and landed on a bubble lower on the cloud ladder. "Life should be enjoyed to its fullest!"
The duo soon reached the ground, feeling unsatisfied. They stared at the faces of each other, chuckling upon observing both wanted to jump down the cloud ladder once again.
But right as they planned to run up the ladder, a voice interrupted their fun.
"It’s a pleasure to see you, Lord Runthral." A bald, lean man expressed subserviently, "Please follow me."
"Your honoured mother is eagerly expecting your gracious arrival."