"You look small and weak. I imagined you bigger, way bigger, more dangerous or monstrous looking," Toko replied for the group since everyone else was too tongue-tied to speak their mind.
He decided to take the risk on behalf of the others. Being the weakest, he felt that if anyone should be at risk for their words, it should be him. If he were eliminated, his group wouldn't be at a disadvantage, and his sacrifice would help them understand how this creature reacted to certain words and adapt accordingly.
"Ohh," the creature said as it turned its head in Toko's direction, as if it could see through the Grand Elder's body that was blocking its view. Toko felt like his soul was laid bare in its presence.
The Grand Elder moved his body directly into my view. Before, only part of his body was blocking my view of Toko; now, his entire body was, as he used his presence and energy to shield Toko, finally allowing him to breathe again. He was on full alert, ready to fight to the death to protect Toko.
"Hmm hmm hmm, hahahaha," I wanted to chuckle a little but couldn't help bursting into laughter.
"Calm down," I said to the Grand Elder as I took a few steps away from him. I controlled the sand to make a small shed over my head, blocking the sun, and created a small hump of sand in front of me, which I sat on elegantly.
"I am not interested in killing any of you. If I wanted to, I could have already done so, and nobody could stop me," I said.
"What I did just now was merely teaching Toko manners. If you had said that, Grand Elder, I and most outsiders would accept it. But coming from a subordinate of yours during a conversation where they are meant to be silent, and to add salt to the injury, it was from an emperor-level subordinate when there are higher-stage subordinates in the vicinity who knew to keep their mouths shut. Another outsider could have simply ended him. Since he wants to risk his life, I might as well kill him now," I said in a carefree tone.
"I sincerely apologize for his behavior," the Grand Elder said.
"I understand why he did it, but that can't be used as an excuse. What do you think? If I showed them a bit of my presence, unlike you, they don't understand what they are dealing with. They don't understand me."
"I don't believe they can survive it, so I would prefer if you didn't," the Grand Elder replied.
"Of course, I wouldn't be releasing all my presence. Even you wouldn't be able to stand it. I plan on giving a good chunk of what I believe they can take without any serious consequences."
"I still wouldn't want that for them," the Grand Elder remained persistent.
"Haa," I sighed. "This is the thing, I respect you, so I won't force you. You know I called you here for a reason. If you don't accept this, I will leave this world without telling you anything."
'I couldn't think of what he wanted from us. If he wanted anything, he could have already taken it. I don't believe we have anything that could interest this being… maybe *the night stone*, but he gave us an entire lake of holy water without our night stone ever going missing, that I am sure of. So he already has one; he probably took one from the other ponds.'
"I am tempted, but I still don't believe they would survive it. The amount that Khan and Mul can take is more than the others can, and that would mostly lead to serious injuries for the others. As for Toko, I don't believe he would survive."
"Stop comparing me to you. I can divide my presence to give all of them simultaneously the amount they should be able to take. Any that can't take it and faints would not be able to participate in what is next. After that, I will tell you what you need to know."
"What do we need to know?"
"How to save your dying world."