"You people look lovely. Hahaha!" Ivor laughed boisterously upon seeing the messy appearances of Vital Orange and Black Hand. Vital Orange was holding an icepack to his head and his lips were slightly swollen. Black Hand was less miserable since he was only using ice on his belly, but he looked depressed. Orange Ivy had immediately left to shower once the duel was over. She wasn't seated in the hall with the rest of the Orange Team.
Unlike Ivor who did nothing to hide his amusement at the miserable appearance of the team, Tucker had excused himself tactfully when Vital Orange and Black Hand regained consciousness. As a Thrasher he knew better than to offend a Predator, especially when a Tiger's honour was also involved. He was currently outside making conversation with the guards. As for the twins, they weren't dumb either. Since they came with Ivor, the older man was responsible for them. Ivor asked Orange Ivy if they could be given rooms, and the Thrasher who was in no position to reject a request from Ivor the Tattler immediately agreed. What a joke! How could she reject a request from a man so powerful that even the City Lord would have to be humble before him? Besides, she could tell that Ivor was especially concerned about the twins. This was a chance for her to get into his good books, and have the powerful mystery man owe their team a favour. Once the twins were given their rooms, they left to save Vital Orange and Black Hand the embarrassment of having their sorry figures seen by teenagers. The only people in the hall now were Mane, Ivor, Black Hand and Vital Orange.
"Since you are done here, you should go and register Mane. I have some other things to take care of so I wouldn't be able to escort you." Ivor said and immediately stood up. Seeing Ivor climbing up the stairs, Mane, Vital Orange and Black Hand had no doubt that he was going to bid the twins goodbye before leaving.
"I think you've seen what I am capable of now," Mane smiled and started the conversation once Ivor's figure disappeared. Vital Orange and Black Hand blushed slightly upon hearing his words. Although Mane was also a Predator, he was very young. While it was true that in this world strength was what mattered, it was still strange to be speaking to a teenager like an equal. And that was made worse by the fact that this teenager was not their equal, but stronger than them.
"You truly are strong," Vital Orange sighed and admitted. At first when Mane easily took him out in their one-on-one duel Vital Orange was indignant on the inside. Although he admitted that he lost, he felt that it may have been because he underestimated Mane that he lost. But his thoughts changed once the two fought again. Even without a weapon, Mane proved that he was powerful enough to rival the entire Orange Team! That was spectacular, and Vital Orange was positive that no one would believe what had happened even if they were told. For even for the members of the Orange Team, they were still finding it hard to believe that they had lost so convincingly.
"Indeed. For someone who chose to fight against us without any weapons, you not only held your own but dealt with us all." Black Hand smiled bitterly and said. His expression was that of a man who had just lost his beloved pet.
"That is not entirely true," Mane shook his head and said.
"What do you mean by that? While we may not be enthused by the fact that we lost to one so young, we know what happened. We saw and experienced it ourselves. There is no need to make us feel better." Vital Orange stated, thinking that Mane was trying to be modest.
"I can't believe they think you are a humble guy," Hildegarde chuckled from her position on Mane's shoulder. Her words had Mane smiling bitterly.
"Do I strike you us a humble person?" Mane asked as he ignored Hildegarde snickering that 'she told him so'.
"Well, no but…" Black Hand replied but was cut short by Mane. Although it was rude, Mane knew what he was going to say and felt that if he allowed Black Hand to speak, the man and Vital Orange would be more convinced that Mane was only trying to console them.
"Snakes excel in using poisons and hidden weapons. Yet you only used non-lethal gases and poisons. You also stuck to using only your dagger and moved to your Metallic String when you lost them. I could smell the presence of several other concealed weapons in your coat before the battle. Yet when the battle began, these weapons were nowhere next to you, meaning that you took them off. One could infer from this that they are deadly and aren't suitable for use in a friendly spar"
Black Hand looked blankly at Mane when he heard Mane's words. It was true that he took off many of his weapons before the battle began, but he didn't think that Mane was able to see through that as well.
"Plus I did use a weapon. I 'borrowed' Vital Orange's axe when I fought you. So in a sense, I didn't fight barehanded." Mane smiled bitterly when he recalled how awkward he was with the axe. Although he felt a sense of refreshment and power from holding the weapon, his lack of knowledge on axes had left him incapable of using the weapon properly. It left him feeling uncomfortable. Not because he was a perfectionist. It was something else. It was a feeling he got when he held the axe. It was unlike anything he had experienced before. Even when he first picked up the sword to study it, he never experienced that. When he held the axe he felt a sense of comradery, like he was meant to use axes. And a strange power welled up within him upon holding the weapon, but he couldn't bring out this power because he knew nothing about axes, so all he could do was use his brute strength to get the best out of the weapon.
Vital Orange's brows twitched slightly when he heard Mane refer to forcefully taking his weapon from him as 'borrowing' it. If that's how one borrowed objects, then the word had truly lost its meaning.
"Thanks. I feel much better now." Black Hand smiled slightly when Mane was done speaking. He could feel Mane's sincerity, and could tell that the boy wasn't trying to comfort him at all. He was genuinely saying what he felt. Mane was basically saying if Black Hand had all his tools, it would have been a much harder fight. But Black Hand knew that although the fight would have been harder, there was no way he would have won. If he used all his weapons and traps as well as his lethal poisons, then Mane wouldn't have any reason to hold back and would have used his full strength. Plus Black Hand and Vital Orange knew from the sharpness of Mane's aura that he was skilled with the sword. So throw in that factor too and the probability of victory for the Orange Team would be less than 10%.
Vital Orange gazed at Mane with hopeful eyes. Since Mane had said so much to make Black Hand feel better, then he surely had to have some good words for him as well.
"What?" Mane asked as he feigned puzzlement upon seeing Vital Orange's hopeful eyes. "I beat you fair and square you know," Mane smirked and Vital Orange almost coughed up blood. The kid was right when he said he wasn't humble!
"But I did fight you very seriously. At the end of our fight, I had resorted to using over 60% of my strength." Mane looked at Vital Orange and spoke seriously. Vital Orange smiled bitterly upon hearing Mane's words. How was that meant to comfort him? Mane's words sounded pompous and arrogant, but Hildegarde knew they weren't. Since her power level was higher than Mane's, she could sense just how much power he had at his disposal. Although she was restricted from using her strength, her senses were still accurate. She could actually tell that Mane was being modest.
"If he knew that you only actually used 50% of your power I'm sure that he would faint from embarrassment," Hildegarde giggled. Mane smiled and turned his head away from the eyes of Black Hand and Vital Orange. Using Lock-On he said to Hildegarde, "It's a good thing that no one other than you can hear me then."
"I know you think I'm bragging. But if you ever see me fight at full capacity one day, you would know that my words are true." Mane said with a small smile.
"Oh I believe you," Vital Orange said. "Your aura is concealed, but when we fought I could feel the sharpness of your aura. When sword users have such sharp auras, it usually means they are straightforward and unboastful. It's just I was hoping that I got you to use more than that." Vital Orange admitted with a bitter smile.
The trio continued their conversation and grew more familiar with each other. It had been quite some time since they started talking, and Ivor had already left the premises. It was then that Mane made a request to Vital Orange.
"I want to learn how to fight with an axe."
"Why? I haven't seen you use the sword but my intuition tells me that you are brilliant with it. Why not stick to it?" Vital Orange was confused, and so was Black Hand. Although Mane was a genius, it was never wise to learn too much. That would only make you a jack of all trades yet master of none. It was better to study one thing and master it so that one could become the best at that one thing.
"I grew intrigued by the weapon as I held it in my hands. Plus I believe that it would further my attainments in the path of the sword." Mane gave an excuse for his decision to learn how to use an axe. But this reason was sound, and Vital Orange and Black Hand bought it.
After all, it was true that many masters branched into other paths whenever they reached a bottleneck with the weapons they favored; not because they had given up but because they sought to gain inspiration from another field. So Mane's words made sense. Black Hand didn't ask Mane whether he wanted to learn the art of concealed weapons or poisoning because it wasn't the path for Mane. Mane's straightforward nature made him very unsuited to being an assassin. If he studied the ways of concealment and poisoning, his sword arts would become tainted because sword users were meant to be as sharp and unconcealed as their blades.
"Okay. I would be happy to guide you then." Vital Orange was enthused by the opportunity to aid a talented young man. He didn't dare accept Mane as a student because Mane was stronger. But he could guide Mane in understanding axe techniques.
"We should go and register you now," Vital Orange suggested, and Black Hand nodded his head in agreement.
"Can I be registered tomorrow?" Mane asked.
"Why? Do you not want to join our team?" Vital Orange sounded a bit anxious. After seeing Mane's strength he was certain that the Grand Tourney trophy would be theirs as long as Mane was on their side. On the other hand, were he to join any other team, the Orange Team would undoubtedly lose.
"I do. I like your personalities. But I want to take care of something first." Mane shook his head and explained. His words had Vital Orange sighing in relief.
"In fact, I need your help," Mane stated.
"Oh? What can we do for you?" Vital Orange asked curiously.
"I was told that I can gain access to Asher City's Enchanted Forest if I had you as my backers. I want to train there for a bit. Can you help me out?" Mane requested. He learnt this from Tucker.
"Oh that? It's easy." Vital Orange answered enthusiastically. He thought Mane was going to make some unreasonable request. Luckily, it was something that they could easily handle.
"Do you want to go now?" Vital Orange asked.
"I do," Mane nodded his head.
"Then let's get going. We would take you there personally. They would allow you to enter if they see you with us. Let me just put the ice away and change" Vital Orange stated and got up. Black Hand also got up.
"Can I bring the twins?" Mane asked.
"Okay," Vital Orange replied, but he was slightly baffled. The twins didn't seem like fighters. What could Mane want with them? But that wasn't his concern. They looked like they were close, so Vital Orange was sure everything was going to be fine. Besides, with Mane's strength even Mythic Classes would be the ones in trouble if they provoked him.