The moment Hanya entered the room, Erwahllu froze up in response. Immediately, memories of the past flickered past her mind. She recalled the faces of her son and daughter-in-law who were killed by soldiers under Hanya's orders.
Upon seeing Hanya grab baby Gannala, Erwahllu seethed in anger. After her son died, she simply lived like a corpse, waiting for the day her death approached.
But for the past two and a half years, she had an enjoyable life, watching baby Gannala's growth. She recalled the day baby Gannala turned two years old and suddenly began speaking a string of words without rest, expressing a level of intelligence vastly superior to her age.
"Inala," Erwahllu approached Inala later that night, after baby Gannala and Asaeya had fallen asleep.
Seated in the living room, Inala had been observing a map that he had just purchased. When she called him, he rolled up the map and motioned for her to take a seat.
"Grandma, do you want some tea?" He got up and entered the kitchen, preparing some.
"Thank you," Erwahllu sat in a comfortable cushion, staring at the mansion that now stood in the place of her dingy home. Inala had rebuilt and renovated the place luxuriously. His Theatre too had kicked up a notch, bringing him a lot of revenue, making him a busy person.
That meant he only had limited time to be at home, causing baby Gannala to spend most of her time with Erwahllu. As a result, both developed a close bond.
Sipping the tea that Inala brought, Erwahllu pieced through her thoughts and asked, "Tell me the truth."
"Who exactly is she?" She asked, "Is she really your daughter?"
"Isn't she starting to resemble me?" Inala tilted his head in confusion, "Why are you wondering about that, grandma."
"I'm not talking about her appearance. She indeed looks like you. But that's not what I'm getting at," She stared at Inala in all seriousness, "Tell me the truth."
"Is Gannala even human?"
"Are you sure you want to learn the truth?" Inala asked, "Grandma, please know that I won't be revealing it to you without the associated consequences."
"That's fine with me." Erwahllu nodded, "I will die any day now. So, I'm not concerned about that. I just wish to know the truth. Who exactly is Gannala? And in extension,"
She stared at Inala, "Who are you really?"
"We are Mammoth Clansmen." Inala said, "And Gannala is a Mammoth Clan Princess."
"I see…" Erwahllu nodded, satisfied, "Are all Mammoth Clansmen as smart as her?"
"If that was possible, we would be controlling all of Sumatra," Inala laughed, "Only a Mammoth Clan Princess is special."
He stared at her, "Are you repulsed because we aren't Free Humans?"
"Maybe I would have cared when I was younger." Erwahllu snorted, "But at my age, I can't bring myself to feel such attachments. Besides, I'm simply staying as a guest in your home until the day I die. So, I don't care."
"Gannala is a sweet child. Slightly selfish, but pure by heart." Erwahllu got up slowly, "I treat her as my granddaughter. And do you know, Inala?"
She grinned, "She calls me grandma with all her heart. It warms me to see her grow."
Staring at Inala's trembling hands, she spoke softly, "So, you needn't look at me like that. I won't do anything that'll sabotage your existence. Unless of course, you plan to destroy us."
"I'm not a psychopath," Inala muttered, "I'll be leaving this place in a couple of years. We have simply stopped here to prepare for our journey to Brimgan Empire."
"I wish you success then," Erwahllu yawned and returned to her room, staring at the figure of a sleeping baby Gannala, "I'll raise her well."
"Haah…" Inala sighed, retracting the Prana in his hands. If Erwahllu displayed the slightest intent to sabotage his plans, he intended to kill her. Thankfully, nothing happened like that, 'It would have weighed on my mind had I killed her.'
Returning to the present, Erwahllu stared as dozens of Empyrean Zingers revolved around baby Gannala in a protective formation. Asaeya rushed to her rescue, unleashing sounds that stole Hanya's senses.
But suddenly, Hanya's body flickered as she swapped her body with another. Only the senses of the previous body had been stolen. The new one was in its pristine state.
She activated her Human Avatar in full swing, transforming into a swamp-like humanoid with acidic properties. Prana Bombs slammed into her body but melted in a matter of seconds. The swampy fluids simply dispersed the momentum behind the impacts as Hanya closed in on baby Gannala.
"Don't you dare touch her!" Erwahllu shouted as she took out a dagger that had been passed down through her family for generations. Followed by a roar, she stabbed it into Hanya, causing the contact area to turn into ice.
"That's a decent weapon you got there," Hanya muttered as a tendril shot out of her body and spilled onto Erwahllu's forehead, melting through the latter. In an instant, Erwahllu turned into a puddle.
With barely any Prana, she was too weak and outclassed here, hence one-shotted by the 4-Life Stage cultivator, Hanya.
Thankfully, Erwahllu's sacrifice bought enough time for Asaeya to arrive between Hanya and baby Gannala. Six Spirit Weapons floated around her and attacked Hanya while she used her powers to rob the senses of both Hanya and Gudora.
But she couldn't do anything beyond that. The moment her Spirit Weapons came into contact with Hanya, they melted, rendering them useless. It was a bad matchup.
"Grandma! No!" Baby Gannala screamed in sadness as tears streamed out of her eyes. She glared at Hanya, inhaled a deep breath, and puffed through her mouth, unleashing a sonic boom as Hanya was sent flying away.
"What the heck was that?" Forming a pair of deep trenches in the floor as she dragged her feet to a halt, Hanya was surprised to see the level of power exhibited by baby Gannala, "How is a three-year-old this strong?"
Hanya slammed her palms together and expanded them to create a sludge film, tanking the Prana Bomb projectiles. After melting through them, she created a sludge whip and lashed at Asaeya, intending to incapacitate her.
Her goal was to capture Asaeya and baby Gannala to use them as a bargaining chip against Inala. Just before her attack landed on Asaeya, Hanya lost her sense of sight, hearing, smell, and touch.
Using that chance, Inala appeared behind her, carrying a bone paddle that was bigger than her body. He swatted her with force, having activated his Secondary Nature, sending her reeling into Gudora as her Human Avatar melted through his.
"Hanya! It's me!" Gudora grunted, watching the layer of crystals covering him melt in response. But Hanya was unable to hear his shouts, continuing to damage him. If he were to retaliate, she would suffer worse. Hence, Gudora was in a predicament.