Kaijin Fighter: So I Have to Make Monsters, So What?

Chapter 1130: Realizing [Chaos]

"Hmmm..."

The fact that his unusually powerful grandson. and his terrifying aunt. were able to return from the [Abyssal Lands] was a good sign by itself.

This meant that whatever campaign that the Zhen Clan had led down there was either a success at best, or a timely retreat at worst. The fact that his son hadn’t mentioned anything about injuries or casualties suggested it was the former option.

"So you’re thinking that if they returned sometime in the next week or so, they might be able to assist with the upcoming tide?"

"Technically yes, but I am also painfully aware that such hordes have a tendency to speed up or slow down depending on the leader."

"Makes sense," Zhen Shi capitulated. "I want to say we should hope for the best, but I also know things might get hectic."

"Indeed, father...are you going to be getting up from there soon or..."

"Eventually."

"Okay...Father, I’m going to go back and make sure everything is still in working order. Is there anything that you want me to relay to anyone else?"

"I’ll be fine, son. Just leave me to the hippos."

"As you wish."

’I wonder what kind of gains they managed to acquire while they were down there,’ Zhen Shi mentally mused as he continued to scratch Mini’s head as Zhen Long left the stables.’Probably something related to [Chaos] if I had to guess.’

Ever since his grandson shot him in the face with that strange aether tool of his, Zhen Shi had been trying to wrap his head around the fact that there was a weird energy known as [Chaos] in this world, and that it was the bane of all aether-based abilities,save for dragon force.

Regardless, once he learned of this strange energy, and the fact that his cultivation beast spirit,the Lesser World Serpent,was able to channel it, Zhen Shi had been learning more and more ways to manipulate this strange energy and turn himself into a walking natural disaster. Granted, he had yet to figure out how to use the stuff as elegantly as Zhen Xun Tian or as brutally as Zhen Liu, but he was getting there.

Hell, he had only just figured out how to empower his [Regalia] and [Astra] with [Chaos]. Only the heavens knew how far along those two monsters were when it came to [Chaos].

Hell, he didn’t even have a clear inkling on how to cultivate this shit properly.

’Hmmm, wonder if they’d be willing to share their gains with the rest of the clan...wait, would any of us be able to make use of it?’

Technically speaking, the fact that Zhen Shi was cultivating [Chaos] already put him leagues above his contemporaries.

More than once, Zhen Shi was challenged by aether warriors who thought they could take him because of one reason or another. Namely, the questioned why they should listened to some foreign born warrior about matters regarding Stampeding Bison.

More than once, Zhen Shi managed to take them down with a single move. Evidently, absolutely none of them had anticipated that Zhen Shi could use a strange energy that could instantly annihilate any aether based defenses.

Now, these victories should’ve inflated Zhen Shi’s pride to the point that he believed himself invincible and could easily stomp anyone regardless of their cultivation. However, this wasn’t the case.

Because he got humbled before this became an issue.

"Patriarch Zhen Shi? Are you here?"

"Oh, hello Miss Aranea. Did my son send for you?"

"No, sir. I just asked him where you were," the spider silk dressed secretary answered in a straightforward manner.

"Did something come up that needs my attention?"

"No,just checking on you."

"I...want to say I don’t need a nanny, but I’m also unsure if my current state is going to be indicative of any future problems I might face."

"If it helps, I have yet to come across a case in the books about someone aging backwards because of the power of [Chaos]. Did find one about someone born old though."

"Really?"

Around the time Zhen Shi started to really embrace the power of [Chaos], which was when he returned from that expedition into the wandering ruin that had anchored in the Zhen Clan estate, he had requested to spar with Aranea and Luccile.

He figured that with his newfound understanding of [Chaos] and the fact that he was technically a full stage stronger than them that he would have a chance.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

Evidently, their understanding of [Chaos] was stronger to the point that he got taken out in three moves.

He didn’t take that loss too hard, but he did feel a bit jank afterwards.

Evidently he was reminded of the old addages of "there’s always a bigger fish" and "frogs in the well are unaware of the sea".

Either way, this allowed Zhen Shi to not grow a large head whenever he managed to defeat opponents using [Chaos].

Granted, this did also make Zhen Shi significantly more cautious when up against opponents significantly stronger than himself. Then again, that could just be cultural norms.

Silence filled the stables as Zhen Shi continued to pet Mini while Aranea simply stood by and watched. Eventually though, the former decided to break it by asking an important question.

"Aranea."

"Yes, Patriarch?"

"You’re the clan’s secretary, you’ve seen the reports and trained the warriors...do you think we’ll be able to survive the encroaching Beast Tide?"

Aranea didn’t immediately answer the patriarch’s question, as it was mildly loaded, but she did have an answer in mind. It just depended on whether or not Zhen Shi could accept it.

"Well...based on our current numbers, defensive measures and our champion fighters as it were... I’d say we have at least a sixty percent chance of surviving."

"Only sixty percent?," Zhen Shi repeated with a surprised tone of voice. "What makes you say that?"

"The Dust Devil King is a seventh tier aether beast," Aranea flatly stated. "Our strongest warriors are Aether Lords at most and Tiny here, who is at the fifth tier. Working together and making clever use of formations will allow us to punch upwards, but whether it not that blow is fatal is questionable."

"That’s...a sober analysis."

"However...this observation is based on the idea that we solely rely on aether based defenses, techniques and cultivation, and that our matriarch is unable to make an appearance. If either one of these factors are changed, then our victory is one hundred percent."

After this bold statement was made, Zhen Shi finally stopped scratching Mini’s back, and finally sat himself up so that he could look Aranea in the eyes. It was only appropriate to do so when serious business was being proposed.

"I can understand what you mean by the latter, Matriarch Zhen Xun Tian is a terror on any and every battlefield she appears," Zhen Shi agreed. "But what do you mean by that former statement?"

"I’m talking about [Chaos]," Aranea answered while raising a palm and condensing [Chaos] in its center.

When aether was condensed, it usually took on a form that was of a similar affinity as the person doing the act.

[Chaos] was similar in this regard, but unlike aether, it was more...alive and random.

In one moment, Aranea was holding a multi-colored ball of light.

The next, it took on the form of a giant spider.

It just kept changing over and over and over again, until she dismissed the display. After which, she explained herself.

"You are well aware that Lucille, your grandson and myself are able to wield this power with proficiency, while you yourself are able to a lesser extent. You’re also aware of what it can do in the right hands."

"I do..."

"What I’m suggesting is that we use the time we have until the tide hits us to shore up not only your understanding on [Chaos], but that of anyone in the clan that was willing and able. Namely, your sons and their children."

"That’s...not a bad idea."

The concept of [Chaos] amongst the Zhen Clan’s inner circle was relatively known due to the [Monkey Temple] incident and the [Nowhere Sect] making themselves known, but the extent this knowledge was used was...limited.

Not all of the Zhen Clan was capable of using [Chaos], and the ones that were able to could only vaguely describe what to do. Apparently it was a very "instinctual" energy that was hard to explain or elaborate on.

However, it couldn’t be denied that [Chaos] was incredibly powerful.

Evidently, this was why Zhen Shi was only hesitant on Aranea’s suggestion and not outright rejecting it.

"I know about the books that were brought from the [Library of Nowhere], but none of them mention anything about [Chaos]. Has that changed?"

"It has, actually," Aranea began to explain. "I’ve been correspondence with the sect leader and he has approved a limited selection of scrolls and books that should be helpful to your clan. All I need is your approval."

"...oh."