A flight of stairs ran up the bowl-shaped mountain, stretching a width of twenty tres. Half the width was the flight of stairs while the other half, positioned towards the end, was a flat slope ant for heavy goods to be hauled over.
A large port had been installed at the bottom of the stairs. There were a total of two ports, situated on opposite ends of the Prata City.
Standing on the water surface right before a port was Runthral, his expression hesitant. However, a couple seconds later, he gathered enough courage and set foot on the port.
Slowly, he climbed the flight of stairs, all while eyeing the wall of the bowl in a trance, ’I’m sure of it now.’
’It is Subtle Terrain Domination that created this place. However the level of skill displayed here easily dwarfs the 1st Empyrean Snapper.’ He was in shock, ’I heard the Cooter Clan branch at the Dralh Sea had so of our strongest Deities.’
’How did such a powerful force get destroyed without leaving behind any survivors?’ He was puzzled, only feeling bouts of fear the more he stared at the wall.
’Father seed visibly shaken and hasn’t said a word since he hugged on the deck.’ He thought, wondering what was up with Raurau who had shut himself within a cabin room and refused to see anyone, even Bnapbnap.
He had never seen his father so visibly shaken before, and so...fragile. It was why he approached Prata City, trying to understand the cause. ’The rest of our Cooter Clansn were emotionally distraught too. However, father’s case seem especially worse.’
The flight of stairs only scaled up a hundred tres, at which they reached the rim of the bowl-shaped mountain. A huge ground presented itself before him, unlike what he had expected when he stared from the sea level.
The buildings were made of stone, and bereft of walls along the pathways, allowing people to stroll through the place and scour through the goods being sold there.
It was a marketplace, and considering how the pathways alone stretched over a hundred tres, humans weren’t the only ones ant to tread the pathways. Or rather, the Free Humans in the market only seed to act as servants.
Both the sellers and the custors were...Pranic Beasts. "What...what the heck is this place?"
Runthral was stunned to see the market street filled with Pranic Beasts dragging their heavy bodies while acting as if they were on a shopping spree.
Literally the shopkeeper of the first stall caused Runthral to stare with a stupefied expression. ’A...C-Centinger?’
The shop stretched over a size of forty tres, within which the Centinger had curled up to appear as small as possible. Its lower body had been positioned at a corner, while its long, centipede neck scuttled to and fro the shop to lift the wares ant for selling.
[A Cooter Clansman? Considering your Gold Grade presence, you must be a Settlent Leader.]
The Centinger spotted Runthral eyeing its shop and quickly revealed a comfortable smile, which only seed terrifying.
[I have just the good for you.]
Saying as such, the Centinger used its mandibles to gently open a shelf. Within it was a large container that had a spike attached to its lid. This spike was the one the Centingers typically used in their artillery strikes.
But now, it didn’t ooze out the corrosive substance it typically did. The spike was attached to the lid only as a ans of convenience, for the Centinger could treat it as a Spirit Weapon.
Using psychokinesis, it lifted the spike, in turn bringing out the container and hovered it before Runthral, giving an explanation.
[It is a concentrated extract of the corrosive substance I secrete through my neck. Using Mystic Mist Art, you can control it and lt through any opponent you face. For every litre you purchase, you only need to pay a small sum of 800 Parute Fruits.]
’800 Parute Fruits is reasonable. But,’ Runthral smiled wryly, "I don’t have Parute Fruits on at the mont."
The Centinger casually used its head to point towards the end of the street where a large tower stood.
[You can sell your valuables at the Bank there to receive Parute Fruits. Even if you don’t wish to sell them, you can still pledge them to obtain a loan, with a promise to repay the sum within a certain duration.]
’A bank?’ Runthral frowned, feeling completely disoriented by the experience he just had, ’Pranic Beasts do trade from ti to ti, but that is extrely rare.’
At most, forces on equal standing will trade out of necessity. However, Runthral had never expected such an open market at the place where Pranic Beasts from across the region had gathered to trade.
[You can take a look around the shops. Every Silver Grade Pranic Beast native to the Dralh Sea has set up shop here, ignoring existing conflicts. This is the only neutral zone in the Dralh Sea.]
"Thank you for the explanation." Runthral stated politely to the Centinger and took his leave, "I’ll head to the Bank first."
As he walked past the shops, his expression only grew more and more surprised. There were famous Pranic Beast races like the Centinger that he recognised. But there were countless other Silver Grade Pranic Beasts that he had never heard about, much less seen in action.
’Wait!’ Suddenly, the appearance of a certain Pranic Beast alard him, ’Why is it here?’
Beginner Silver Grade Pranic Beast–Death Knell!
Just like the Nirclick Race, this was a Pranic Beast Race that had once invaded Sumatra Continent and resulted in the collapse of most forces, whether it be Pranic Beast settlents or Free Human Kingdoms.
It was called the Death Knell Invasion, and happened in an era vastly preceding the birth of the Cooter Clan.
Death Knells were extrely rare on Sumatra now, but were still the most fearso Race to encounter in the wilds.
’It’s my first ti seeing one.’ Upon realising the Death Knell had no intention of attacking him, Runthral could relax a bit. But he didn’t stay around to interact and instead rushed towards the Bank.
"Welco!" A Mystic Human woman announced chirpily upon seeing Runthral and rushed to greet him, "Welco to the Dralh Bank, your ultimate destination of wealth!"
"I am Karlbantu, your financial assistant!" She announced excitedly and held Runthral’s hands, "How many Parute Fruits do you seek to purchase?"
"Since it’s your first visit here, we’ll purchase all your dicines at market price!" She twirled once and pointed in the direction of the marketplace, "With a large wealth at your disposal, you can purchase goods from the shops that you typically can only afford to obtain in small amounts after years of war and conquest."
"Everything can be purchased here for a small price." She announced, noticing Runthral didn’t seem all that excited. Then, she casually approached the other party and slung herself on his shoulders, until her mouth reached his ears in proximity to whisper, "If our goods don’t interest you,"
"Surely our information will." Her eyes curled upon noticing Runthral’s visible change in expression that only flashed once, ’He’s controlling his expression, but that told everything I need to know.’
"Please follow ," The woman, Karlbantu, pointed towards a nearby sealed room, "I’ll prepare what you seek there."
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