Six days later.
Leon and Dean headed back to the City, both exuding different auras compared to how they were when they headed out. Those well-seasoned warriors could sense the slight bloodlust in their aura. Of course, it was not on the same level as those old guys who had gone through multiple life-and-death battles, but they couldn't be compared to other youngsters their age, especially those from powerful Families.
….
The O'Brien manor.
Mason was in his study, sensing the arrival of the youngsters, he came out.
Seeing the changes in the duo, he nodded in approval. He didn't speak with them. Kaleb, the leader of the Gnurx Tribe came with the warriors, he had to attend to him first.
Leon and Dean didn't say anything as they walked inside the building. They knew there was nothing for them there.
They had been gone for over a week, and their gains were very evident. Dean broke through to the Fifth layer, Leon was already close to the Sixth layer and might break through anytime soon.
Dean didn't stay long since he had to go back to his house.
….
After Dean left, Mason summoned Leon to his study when he was done handling the matter of the mine.
In the study.
Leon was sitting down, facing Mason.
"I see you've grown from the exploration." Mason commented.
"Yes, father." Leon replied.
"Good. Your mother will be returning in a few days. She heard of the attack on you two and is rushing back." Mason said, looking at Leon's still somewhat immature face.
"Oh, it's been a while." Leon didn't show the enthusiasm Mason expected to see.
Whenever he told Leon of his mother's return, he would always see some sort of ecstasy on his face. This time, however, Leon didn't show much of a reaction.
"Is anything wrong?" He couldn't help but ask.
"Father, I would like to partake in the hunt this year." Leon requested.
"The hunt?" Mason raised a brow.
Leon nodded, looking at him with determined eyes.
"You know how dangerous it is, right?" Mason's expression turned serious.
The hunt was not only an opportunity to show the brilliance of these youngsters, but it also presented the opportunity for them to take out their enemies. The reality of the hunt was for the youngsters to eliminate those they see as a threat from the other families.
"I know, father, but I don't want to hide under you any longer. If I die, then I'm incompetent." Leon responded.
Mason looked at the face of his son, unsure of what to say. He might want his son to grow, but compared to those from the other families, he was a bit lacking in terms of strength.
It couldn't be helped, Leon and Dean goofed around instead of training, making them fall behind. Take Richard Dale, for example, he was already in the Eighth layer of the Body Tempering Stage.
Leon was three stages behind him, and even with the few weeks he would have to train before the hunt, he still won't be able to catch up to him.
"Son, this has nothing to do with pride. If the Family Heads of the other families find out you will be taking part in the hunt, they would want to kill you, at all costs." Mason warned.
"I'm not going alone, Dean is planning on participating as well." Leon didn't want his father to talk him out of it.
"What? Dean?" Mason was taken aback.
Dean was well known as a cowardly and lazy fellow. It was still acceptable that he was able to train, his battles during the time they spent with the Gnurx tribe were filled with mistakes. He was lucky to come back in one piece.
According to the reports he heard, Dean was almost killed in the first battle. Leon helped him out. Even during the rest of the battles, he still made these small mistakes that would've taken his life.
"He asked if I would be going." Leon said.
Mason paused and looked at Leon, asking in shock, "Dean?"
He couldn't believe Dean would think of attempting something so dangerous.
Leon nodded, "I initially wanted to go, so even if he didn't bring it up, I would've gone alone."
Mason looked at his son, and after a sigh, he nodded. He couldn't stop him from going, nor did he plan to. The kids would leave them eventually, at least here, they could still give some sort of protection.
Leon left the study, heading back to his room.
After Leon left, Anthony walked into the study.
"Do you know they're participating in the hunt?" He asked before sitting down.
"I just found out about that." Mason replied.
Anthony nodded before saying, "Dean made mention of it some days back, but I didn't really take it to heart. When he returned today, he had also spoken about it."
"The boys are growing up, it seems." Mason sighed.
This was a day they didn't want to come so soon.
"I think that incident changed them." Anthony said.
Mason nodded, the sudden change in the behavior of the boys started on the day of the rumor of them getting killed. Since that day, they had not only started cultivating properly, but they even went out to gain experience.
The duo spoke a little longer before Anthony left.
….
Leon and Dean started their daily training, cultivating diligently. They knew they were behind their peers in terms of cultivation stage. The only way they can make up for the gap at the moment is to hone their combat ability to the peak.
The rigorous training made them grow stronger, faster. Three days after they returned, Leon broke through to the Sixth layer. A week later, Dean broke through as well.
Their cultivation speed frightened their family. Even though the Body Tempering Stage was only the initial level in cultivation, it wasn't as easy as the duo was making it look.
One has to know that the duo had been cultivating for years, albeit not really putting in too much effort, they still didn't break through so fast.
Leon breaking through with such speed is a little understandable since he had the talent, but Dean's case was different. It was well-known that his talent was only average.
The two fathers came up with the same conclusion, "Accumulation".
They felt the duo was exploding with such speed due to the number of things they had accumulated over time.