Chapter 376: Orthar (1/2)

”Glad to have you on board,” Gravis said to the octopus.

”I want to see the wider world and know more about it,” the octopus slowly answered. ”I have stayed in isolation for far too long, thinking that there was no more to achieve. Your words have shown me a new world, and I feel the excitement from my youth return.”

”Judging by your words, you are probably pretty old, huh?” Gravis asked.

”I do not count my age, but all the offspring I have fathered have already died. I haven't spoken to anyone in a very long time,” the octopus said.

”Do you have a name?” Gravis asked.

”What is that?” the octopus answered.

”A name is a word or concept that only refers to you. You are an octopus, but there are many other octopuses. How would anyone be able to refer to you specifically when you don't have your own name?” Gravis explained.

The octopus remained silent for some seconds. ”Refer to me as Orthar,” Orthar said.

Gravis nodded. ”Fitting name. I will call you Orthar from now on. My name is Gravis.”

”I will remember your name, Gravis,” Orthar slowly said. ”What guidance do you require?”

”How well do you know the surrounding areas and the Spirit Beasts ruling them?” Gravis asked.

”Very well,” Orthar answered. ”I have traveled far and wide, and I have seen the rulers.”

”Do they know you exist?” Gravis asked.

”No, you are the only being that knows of my existence,” Orthar answered.

”But then how did you travel? The others should have noticed a huge octopus swimming around in their territory,” Gravis asked.

CRRRR! Clank! Clank! Clank!

Orthar's form changed until he looked exactly like a conglomerate of crabs. The crabs even had their claws and snapped them threateningly at him.

”Like this,” Orthar said.

Gravis' eyes widened in astonishment. If he hadn't already seen Orthar, he would have believed that this was only a wave of crabs. This went way past the simple concept of a disguise. Orthar has basically transformed into a swarm of crabs.

Yet, if one looked closely, they would see that the crabs were all connected by some thin lines or at areas where they touched each other. But if one didn't already know what to look for, they would never notice that.

”Impressive. I believe you, Orthar,” Gravis said. ”I am searching for Spirit Beasts with small bodies. I need to eat them to evolve, but I don't want to eat for a really long time.”

Orthar morphed into his normal octopus form. Initially, he had still looked like a coral reef in the form of an octopus, but now, he was showing his original form. Orthar was utterly black, and his tentacles were massive. His head was ”only” around 200-meters-long, but every tentacle had a length of 300 meters. His size was awe-inspiring, and Orthar towered over Gravis.

”There are ten beings that fit your requirement in the surroundings. I will lead you to them,” Orthar said as he swam into the distance with his original body. There was no more reason to keep himself secret since he would leave this place soon.

Gravis followed him but needed to use his Spirit to keep up. After all, Orthar was already a high-rank Spirit Beast.

After some minutes, they arrived at their goal. Yet, Gravis furrowed his brows. ”This isn't small at all,” Gravis said.

He saw a clam, nearly 100-meters-wide. That couldn't be considered small.