Divine Beast Ascension

The man once again broke out in laughter, putting a hand on Bradok’s shoulder. “Really, you remind me too much of him...”

“I take it I’ll know who he is after you tell me your identity?” Bradok questioned.

“I’m always amazed at how straightforward you apes are. I admire that...” remarked the man.

“So hurry up and-”

“Shhh... First, calm down. Otherwise, I won’t say another word.”

“...” Bradok was about to say more but he threw a hand over his mouth to silence himself.

.....

Brandishing a genuine smile, the kind shown while bantering with old friends, the man patted Bradok on the back. “I understand your curiosity. I do. But I can’t just tell you. Your strength isn’t sufficient enough to learn it. And you’re not offering me anything in exchange, a terrible bartering method to be sure...”

Hung up on something, Ania asked, “Can you at least tell us who we reminded you of?”

Sighing, the man shook his head. “That may be worse than sharing my identity... I’m not entirely sure what consequences may come from sharing that information, so I’m too anxious to give you a proper answer.

“However,” the man continued, not letting Ania continue her questioning, “aren’t we getting off-topic? Weren’t you here to see Oli? And weren’t we discussing his current training?”

“I guess...” Ania sighed. Knowing she wouldn’t get much out of the man, she followed along, “So that’s some kind of raw energy?”

“Correct. Also known as cosmic energy. This is the energy that the world takes and uses to create life. And on this planet, the inhabitants were blessed with the ability to wield that energy through the world’s natural filter.

“What I’ve done is create a new filter to return the energy to its natural form, cosmic energy... And you wonder why I did so?”

Nodding, Bradok spoke, “You said it was to help his affinity.”

“Exactly. You understand how perfect affinity is better than peak affinity. It’s that same concept. And since Oli must compete in the upcoming tournament and has no time to train his weak third essence, this is the only hope we have-”

“THIRD ESSENCE!” Thinking Bradok turned to Ania. “He’s got three?! What-”

Ania sighed. “Yes, Dad, Oli has three essence types.”

“But how-”

“Shut up and let me explain!” Waiting a moment for her father to be compliant, Ania went on to say, “Like he said, Oli mutated his bloodline to gain peak affinity for dark essence. As for the third essence, I don’t know how he got it.”

“But he has three? My grandson really has THREE essence types?!!” Bradok was overtaken with excitement, shaking where he stood. “He’s crazy! The craziest gorilla ever!”

“Perhaps, but I wouldn’t say that just yet,” stated the man, wagging his finger yet again.

“Impossible! How-”

“You of all people should know the tales of the Demon Ape. You think such legends came to exist without a cause?” the man reasoned, surprising both Bradok and Ania. “But you’re right. Oli just might become the craziest ape to walk this planet. And I hope that’s how it will be.

“For now, you understand that we’re forcing his body to increase its affinity for essence. This is the only way he’ll manage to train all three types in time for the tournament. So all we can do is hope that he finishes adapting sooner rather than later.”

“You mean-”

The man nodded and cut off Ania, “Yes. Only he can determine how long this will take. Waiting is all we can do. I can promise that he’ll see you soon after he emerges from the formation, and before he resumes training for the tournament. Is that satisfactory?”

“... I suppose-”

“NO!” shouted Bradok, noticing the pain in Ania’s voice.

“Huuh... Then what do you propose?” asked the man.

Bradok boldly replied, “To know the truth!”

“I’ve told you-”

“Don’t interrupt me!” Pounding his chest, Bradok continued, “We want the whole truth! Who are you!? Why choose Oli!? What ties do you have to us Iron-body Gorillas!?! Don’t just take one of us and assume we’ll roll over without a proper explanation! We’d sooner die at your hand than become pawns to your-”

“Enough!” Bradok’s jaw locked in place as the man sighed, covering his face with his hand. “I get it. You want to know and understand more. I would want that if the roles were reversed.”

“Then-”

“But don’t think that’s enough to give you the right to such information,” claimed the man, interrupting Ania. “Really... I’m only doing this for the greater good of your family and clan, let alone the world...”

Meeting Ania’s gaze, the man showed his pale grey eyes from under his hood. “You understand a fraction of my true strength, so you should understand that I play a large role in the fate of this world. You forget to wonder what else is on my plate. You forget to think about all the responsibilities that burden a man of my position...

“Having friends in high places will either raise one’s status or ruin one’s status... You don’t get to a place of my standing without gaining enemies of equal or greater status. Or would you disagree with that logic?”

“That...” Ania swallowed her reply.

Letting Bradok loose, the man turned to him with a grin. “What do you think?”

“Hmmm...” Showing uncharacteristic calmness, Bradok sighed. “That’s why I said to tell me.”

“Oh?”

“Because I can die, so long as my family lives to see the age you promised them.”

“... Ha.. Ha. Ha, ha, ha, HA, HA, HA!!”

Breaking his aura of mystery, the man laughed again and again. It was as if he and Bradok had swapped roles for a moment. Both Zelsh and Ania were stumped at the sight.

“Ha, ha... Ha. I like you...” The man eventually calmed down, noting the seriousness remaining on Bradok’s face. “I’ll tell you.”

Zelsh was taken aback but said nothing. Ania’s jaw dropped but she was also speechless. In her mind, it was better for one person to know than for everyone to be out of the loop.