Chapter 45: Puppetry and Shape Memory

Mystic Bone Art—Puppetry!

After the Prana Bomb was caught, the bones within the glove released some of the stored toxins, causing the deformed clay to regain its shape.

Shape Memory!

Many objects in nature had it, reverting to their shape even after being deformed. Since the deformation was within its elastic limit, the glove regained its original shape. Once he finished creating it, he used some toxin mixture to give the product a shape memory.

This was made easy through the improved Puppetry Skill.

“Spectacular catch!” Instructor Mandu was all smiles upon witnessing Inala’s display of the Puppetry Skill. He focused and caused his Bone Spear to fly at speeds superior to before, crossing 200 metres and stabbing into the Zinger’s wing.

It was unable to glide anymore, falling to the ground when the Bone Spear slammed onto its head with its blunt end, knocking it unconscious.

Inala was stunned by Instructor Mandu’s range, and so were the other Instructors.

“What are you waiting for?” Instructor Mandu shouted at Inala, breaking him out of his reverie.

Inala focused on his glove and made it throw the Prana Bomb, accurately striking the falling Zinger. The Prana Bomb stuck to the Zinger’s body and began to absorb its Prana.

Prana Bombs were unable to differentiate friend from foe. Their Prana absorption didn’t function only in the hands and jaws of the Zinger due to the gelatinous substance it secreted that countered the absorption.

Anywhere else and even the Zinger that created the Prana Bomb was fair game. By the time it fell to the ground, the Prana Bomb absorbed all its Prana.

Using the glove, Inala tugged the Prana Bomb. Since it was full with Prana, the Prana Bomb fell off on its own.

As the glove was covered by a layer of clay, the Prana Bomb failed to come into contact with the Prana that was being supplied to the bones within. That was how he prevented his Prana from being absorbed.

Inala’s goal was the Zinger Queen. During his daydreaming sessions worth six years, he had obviously dreamed about Zingers the most. It was due to their aerial acrobatics and the hit-and-run tactics they employed, which perfectly fell in line with his nature.

If there was one Pranic Beast in Sumatra that he knew everything about, it was the Zinger. Therefore, he knew how to best counter their Prana Bombs.

The glove carried the Prana Bomb into a nearby room and placed it over a layer of mud. This insulation prevented it from absorbing Prana in the building.

All buildings in the settlement were merely an extension of the Empyrean Tusk’s body—exoskeleton. Therefore, Prana flowed in them. It would be dangerous to leave Prana Bombs uninsulated. Thankfully, the one they stored was already full of Prana, so it couldn’t absorb any more.

These Prana Bombs would serve as their reserve of Prana, allowing them to fight the nonstop battles that would occur daily from here on. Moreover, this was the only way to steal Prana from the Zingers and recoup their losses as much as possible.

“Instructor…” Inala muttered, staring at Instructor Mandu in shock.

There were obvious limits as to the range a Spirit Weapon could be wielded at. There existed two ranges: Effective Range and Maximum Range.

Effective Range was where they could unleash their full potential in controlling the Spirit Weapon. Beyond that, the Prana consumption would increase while the Spirit Weapon’s speed and accuracy plummeted.

For a cultivator at the Spirit Stage, the Effective Range was 40 metres while the Maximum Range was 60 metres. When a student was able to wield his Spirit Weapon freely within forty metres after reaching the peak of the Spirit Stage, they would graduate.

As the efficiency dropped drastically with the addition of a second Spirit Weapon, all ranges were considered only when wielding one Spirit Weapon.

For a cultivator at the Body Stage, the Effective Range was 120 metres while the Maximum Range was 180 metres. If they by mistake send their Spirit Weapon beyond the Maximum Range, the weapon would simply collapse to the ground.

The majority of the cultivators in the settlement were elites. Therefore, maintaining a distance of two hundred metres was enough for the Zingers to target freely. It was why they launched their attacks from such a distance.

And once the elites endured the blow from the projectile and struggled to cope with their Prana being sucked out, the Zingers would enter their range, retract the Prana Bombs and go beyond 200 metres once again. Thereby, they avoided death.

Instructor Mandu’s Spirit Weapon surpassed 200 metres while targeting the Zinger just now. That could only mean one thing.

Inala cupped his fists and bowed in respect, “Congratulations on becoming a master!”

“Congratulations on becoming a master!” The other Instructors too offered their congratulations. It was a joyous occasion to greet the birth of a master. After all, the addition of every master strengthened their settlement’s defence and stability.

“Thank you, everyone. Let’s not distract ourselves and continue with the class.” Instructor Mandu flashed a curt smile and resumed dealing with the Zingers.

‘Things are still proceeding according to the book.’ Inala thought while in a congratulatory pose. In Sumatra Chronicles, Instructor Mandu reached the Life Stage on the first day of their entry into the Dieng Canyon.

“Inala, continue with the classes.” Instructor Mandu patted Inala on the shoulder, “I’ll nudge you whenever a Zinger is targeting us. Use your Skill to catch their Prana Bombs.”

“On it!” Inala nodded, feeling relieved upon seeing the expression of praise on Instructor Mandu’s face.

It was because of Inala’s display of the Puppetry Skill. This was what he used in Inala’s Comedy Troupe. Instructor Mandu later learned that the Skill had been upgraded by a master. 𝓞𝑽𝗅xt.𝒸𝚘𝔪

And upon seeing its effectiveness in combat, his opinion of Inala reached a new height, ‘The Puppetry Skill has been geared to be effective against Zingers. Spectacular. Only a master has such foresight.’

Since they were about to enter the Zinger’s territory, when a master chanced upon Inala’s Puppetry Skill, they saw the ingenuity in the Skill and upgraded it, intending to counter the Zingers. That was Instructor Mandu’s line of thought.

It was far from reality, but Inala had no intention to correct him, ‘It’s good that he’s seeing me in a positive light.’

Inala eventually concluded his class, having caught more than twenty Prana Bombs. For his lecture, he received 100 Parute Fruits. And for his contribution to the fight, he received two Prana Bombs that were full of Prana.

“Amazing!” Inala returned to his spot at the Death Row, at the back of the class, controlling his giddiness as he stared at the two Prana Bombs, ‘Each of them contains 100 Prana. They’ll come in handy during emergencies.’

‘But, I shouldn’t let this victory get to my head. We have only entered the Dieng Canyon. All I’ve faced are Basic Zingers that are at the Beginner Iron Grade.’ He calmed himself and remained attentive to his surroundings, ‘By evening, Zinger Captains would start appearing. They’re at the Intermediate Iron Grade and the Prana Bombs they hurl pack a stronger punch.’