Soon Mane, Lily and Lam were back at the Orange Team's residence. The guards at the entrance recognized them and opened the doors immediately they saw the trio. Even if they didn't want to, the powerful auras that Lam and Lily were exuding made the guards very unwilling to confront them. For although they couldn't tell how strong the twins were, they knew that their power exceeded theirs!
They got home to meet the place empty. From what they gathered from the guards, Vital Orange and Black Hand had left to attend to some business. As for what exactly this business was, Vital Orange and Black Hand weren't inclined to tell the guards anything and Mane didn't have the rights to ask what it was even if they did. In fact, the only reason why they had said anything to the guards was so that Mane would be aware that they weren't around when they came. As for Orange Ivy, she was also not around. Apparently, she had left to visit the injured Orange Monk. Although it was strange that Orange Monk was receiving treatment elsewhere and not in the mansion – which had healers residing in it by the way – he didn't see anything wrong with that. It may be that the healers in the mansion couldn't compare to the ones handling Orange Monk's condition now. After all, not all healers had the same level of skill. Ivor was also not back yet, and it was unknown when he would return since none of them were aware of what he was doing or what his real agenda was. As for Tucker, he had apparently left to get a few of his things from his home.
Mane felt that it was fortunate that no one was around. This was because of the twins' breakthrough. Their sudden burst of power from having the Edict of the Apex Monkeys fused with their energies was difficult to hide. Apex Monkeys were elementless Magical Beasts which made it easier for Lily and Lam to accept their energy. Plus the bodies of the people of this world were special.
Just like Dan, Lily and Lam didn't need a manual in order to keep getting stronger, and this was why Mane was able to successfully impart them with inner energy without much trouble. He did present them with Wielder Manuals before infusing the energy of the Apex Monkeys into them. But that was only to speed up their growth. He gave them the same manual he gave to Jake and John, the twins he was close to back in the True Universe – the Twin Dragon Manual. It was a High Class Manual and required the users to be twins. It had many advantages, including helping to grow a person's understanding of their element. But that also meant that Lily and Lam had to spend a lot of time refining their inner energy from its colorless form to their respective elements. But that wasn't going to happen in two or three days. It could take up to a month of constant training and meditation for this process to be completed.
But for now, there was something that had to be done. And that was helping the twins stabilize their auras. Right now both Lily and Lam were like lanterns placed within a darkened sky. Everyone would be expected to see them. That was the case with their auras. So once they were inside the mansion, Mane helped both of them settle down into their new power and restrain their auras. It took them quite a while, about 30 minutes for each of them, and an hour in total before both were able to restrain their auras. Honestly, Mane was expecting it to have been longer. But it seemed that he had underestimated the terrifying comprehension of the twins. When both had settled down, Mane left and went to his room.
"Are you okay?" Hildegarde asked Mane once they were back in his room. This was because Mane had been quiet for a very long time, lost in his thoughts.
"I'm fine. I'm just wondering if there is any merit to me joining the Orange Team." Mane replied. Hildegarde was a bit surprised by his response. Mane had already made the decision to join the Orange Team even before meeting them. So why was he doubting his decision now? Nothing had changed since then. If there was something new that could shake his resolve, it was…
"You're not thinking of letting the twins compete are you?" Hildegarde asked. That was the only new thing that had happened in the last 5 days. This was the only factor that hadn't remained the same as it was since the journey began: the twins were now wielders.
"Not the twins – just Lam," Mane shook his head to clarify his stance. Lily had made her stance on violence clear. Until she was forced to, she wasn't going to lift her hand and strike another. Why would she be interested in a competition where people just fought each other for sport? But Mane didn't think Lam wouldn't be interested. After all, not only was Lam a staunch follower of the Grand Tourney, he was also someone who craved strength. And now, he had strength. All that was left was experience and a bit of sharpening to understand just how best to use that strength.
"You're planning to let him use this chance to gain some experience?" Hildegarde asked, but she already knew the answer. Since the twins had never killed before, even sending them off against Magical Beasts would be risky. Mane was planning to help both of them with their training by engaging them in duels against him. But if Lam could compete in the Grand Tourney, it would be even better. Mane was thinking that it would be better to send Lam as a representative and member of the Orange Team than it would be to have him (Mane) on the team. That was because Mane didn't think any of the teams would pose a challenge to him, and he desperately craved a challenge. Of course Ivor wasn't a challenge. Ivor was a dangerous weapon that could easily lob Mane's head off his shoulders. Challenging Ivor wasn't seeking a challenge but seeking disaster.
"Yeah. I would train both he and Lily. That wouldn't change. But I feel that if he gets the chance to compete in the Grand Tourney he would benefit a lot. This would be especially so since the remaining groups aren't weak" Mane explained, and Hildegarde nodded her head in understanding.
After experiencing the talent of the twins and seeing their high level of comprehension, Mane had grown very expectant. He was expectant of what they would become, and the day they would be able to push him to his limits. But Mane wasn't slacking, so it wouldn't be easy for them to catch up. So he wanted to push them as much as possible. Unfortunately, Lily didn't like violence and Mane wouldn't force her into anything so she wouldn't join the Orange Team, but Mane was optimistic that Lam would jump at the opportunity to.
"Well they are both 1st Stage Profound Realmers now so only Predators would be a threat to them," Hildegarde stated. After Mane had infused the energies of the Apex Monkeys into the twins, they had broken into the Profound Realm as Energy Wielders. Added to the fact that both of them had elements, they were surely stronger than the average Profound Realmer. But neither of them understood their elements well enough to use them in battle, and they couldn't even expose their elements on a large stage like the Grand Tourney. After all, most people of this world were Body Wielders, and if the twins displayed their elements, they would draw unwanted attention.
"Indeed. None of the Predators in the Grand Tourney are weak. Most of them are in the late stages of the Profound Realm, and Lam fighting against such opponents would be challenging. But he would also grow a lot. Besides, the Predators would be handled by Vital Orange. Lam would have to face Thrashers first. And his main mission would only be to wear down the Predators so that Vital Orange would be able to deal with them easily." Mane analysed.
"When will you tell him about your plans?" Hildegarde questioned.
"When he's done assessing the changes to his body," Mane replied and lied down on his bed. He left the twins alone so that they could familiarize themselves with the new energy they had in their bodies. Although their auras had been stabilized, the truth that they had suddenly gained a massive amount of power remained the same. And they had to familiarize themselves with this power. If they weren't able to, they wouldn't be able to use their inner energy in a fight. Or it would take a lot of their concentration to bring out their inner energy.
Mane stayed in his room for a long time. He left to check if the other members of the Orange Team had returned but none of them was back yet. When he was returning to his room, the door to Lam's room opened and the young man came out.
"Oh Mane. I was just about to find something to eat." Lam smiled brightly when he saw his friend. The excitement from having attained the strength he wanted all these years had still not faded.
"Not to worry. I have informed the kitchen staff to prepare something for us. They would come and get us when the food is ready. It shouldn't take too long." Mane informed Lam.
"That's good then," Lam replied. He was intending to get his sister and then come for Mane so that they would go to the kitchen together. But hearing that the food wasn't ready yet, he knew that there was no reason to downstairs any longer.
"How do you feel?" Mane asked.
"I feel great! It is almost surreal" Lam sighed as he gripped his fists. Mane could understand his friend's emotions. This was what Lam had wanted for the longest time. As someone destined to lead his village one day, he was constantly troubled by his lack of power. It was even worse for him because his father and grandfather were legends, and as their descendent he had a lot to live up to. In contrast, Lily who wasn't the older twin wasn't burdened by power that much. She had her own challenges, including Village Head's Samoa's pestering son, but getting strong wasn't her main focus. It was a good thing Lily wasn't the first twin since Mane didn't know what she would have done if she was meant to lead the village. After all, she hated violence and was too naïve to be thrust into the merciless world of politics.
"Can you mobilize you inner energy now?" Mane asked. He wasn't expecting much, and was surprised when he received a positive reply from Lam.
"Yeah. Although I can't do it fluidly, I can do it to some extent." Lam replied.
"Show me then. Gather energy into a fist and strike me," Mane was curious. He wanted to see how far Lam had gone.
"Okay," Lam didn't try to dissuade Mane. He knew that his friend was stronger than him. And with the speed Mane displayed when he fought the Apex Monkeys, he should be able to easily block his fist.
Lam positioned himself properly and picked a fighting stance, much to Mane's appreciating gaze. Then he balled his fists and gathered energy into them. In no time, Mane could feel a dense amount of Edict filling Lam's fists and was surprised.
"He truly is very talented. And have you noticed that the stance is similar to your own?" Hildegarde praised and observed. Mane nodded at her words. The way Lam stood was very similar to Mane in his hand-to-hand combat stance. He had displayed this only once, and that was when he fought against the Orange Team, yet Lam had picked it up.
It took Lam about three seconds to finish gathering his inner energy, and then he struck out his fist at Mane. The power of the Lam's fist wasn't to be scoffed at. It held power that was beyond his energy level, and Mane's hair was whipped back violently by the wind that Lam's fist generated at it streaked through the air.
"This is comparable to a 4th Stage Profound Realmer!" Hildegarde exclaimed with a stunned expression. Her voice was drowned by the violent roaring of Lam's aura of power as Mane smiled in delight. When the fist was nearly upon him, Mane reached out and gently grasped Lam's hand, forcefully dissipating the power that threatened to break down the wall that was right next to them.
*Bang*
"You truly are talented!" Mane praised genuinely as his eyes shined like a pair of bright orbs. Seeing his expression all Hildegarde felt was a chill going down her spine. She knew what that look meant. Mane was excited!
Mane truly was excited. When he embarked upon the oath of wielding, he had the ability to face wielders about 5 levels beyond his own energy level. This had increased as he grew stronger and more accustomed to battles. Lam had started from 3 levels above his actual energy level and Mane was confident that Lily whose talent didn't lose out to Lam's would have similar battle prowess. And this was without resorting to their elements. Maybe if Lam used his fire element he would be able to deal damage comparable to a 5th Stage Profound Realmer! Mane couldn't wait for them to catch up!
"I am nothing compared to you yet," Lam humbly admitted, but Mane felt that he was being too humble. This level of talent was in the top 0.00001% in the True Universe. Unfortunately he couldn't tell Lam that.
"Lam, there's something I want to suggest to you," Mane suddenly said.
"What is it?" Lam asked curiously seeing the excited expression on Mane's face.
"Do you want to join the Orange Team instead of me?"