Mananas.

After waking up to another day, the group started their trek back the way the came, which means that they had to pass by the location of the large-scale battle.

"Do you think there will be any goblins still around?" Lei kept vigil over the surroundings, looking very cautious.

"Who knows? That goblin leader saw the two of us, and he may assume we could go back to the valley, so leaving goblins behind for us is an option."

[I don't smell any goblins around.] Umbra spoke through Xing's mind.

They encountered no goblins as they approached the previous spot on top of the cliff that they used to overlook the battlefield.

The first thing that greeted them was the smell of decaying corpses as thousands of dead goblins were littered throughout the valley. Many beasts, birds, and insects alike had carved out their own feeding grounds amongst the mass grave, as they bit, pecked, and gnawed at the fresh meat.

"That's just disgusting. Don't goblins normally take the corpses of their fallen with them?" Lei pinched her nose disgusted.

"Do you really think they can take so many corpses with them?" Xing said obviously.

"Oh yeah, say what happened to the flower, is it gone?"

The pair scoured the valley for any sign of the pink flower, soon spotting what was left of it in the center of the graveyard surrounded by mountains of flesh, and rivers of blood. All that was left of the once beautiful pink flower was a withered husk of its former glory.

"Even something so strong was no match for goblin numbers as-well-as a tamed forest troll with a dedicated healer." Xing murmured.

[The thing that was here was taken away, Mast- …] Umbra spoke through Xing's mind, once again, almost calling him her master, managing to stop herself short.

Xing looked over the valley and noticed that it wasn't just the flower which looked drained of life, as a matter of fact, all nature within was already, or in the process of withering.

"Whatever was here, was the reason for the flower existing in the valley, and most likely had something to do with its power. Meaning that the goblin leader just got even more of a concern as it just received a massive power-up." Xing informed Lei of what he and Umbra discovered and speculated.n

Lei shrugged, "Oh well, all we can do is inform your father and the tribe when we return," she turned around and started walking away, "Now let's go, since there isn't anything for us to do here and that smell is starting to get to me."

"Right, " Xing sighed, took one last glance at the flower, shook his head, and followed behind Lei.

***

The final day dawned with morning light shining brightly through the canopy onto the trio's camp. They had managed to make it quite far during the previous day as no monsters had bothered to attack them, and the three also made no effort to attack the monsters themselves; both parties stayed away from each other.

As they were tramping through the dense jungle they started hearing what sounded like yelling between humans.

Xing and Lei looked at each other before both said in sync, "Let's go check it out."

Upon getting closer to the shouting, the pair realized that it was an argument, and it sounded like a fight was about to break out between parties.

Peeking into a clearing, they were able to catch sight of both sides of the debate. On one side was the girl Xing had thought looked familiar, but he could still not put his finger on just why. She was staring off against a group of 3 other participants; 2 boys, and 1 girl, all of which were warriors.

"Xing, look at whats in the girl's arms," Lei whispered hoping to keep the 4 in front oblivious to their presence.

Xing followed Lei's instructions and roamed his eyes toward the familiar girl's arms. Doing so he noticed that she was carrying some type of fruit, more specifically, what appeared to be a bunch of three blue bananas.

'Why am I not surprised to see another fruit from my Earth be color changed…' Xing thought to himself speechlessly.

"What are they?" He quietly asked Lei.

"They are Mananas and they are quite rare as-well-as precious for increasing mana. It's no wonder these four are about to fight over them."

Xing's thoughts turned even more speechless, 'Mananas? Really? First, we have purpapples and now this. Can't this world come up with something unique sounding?'

While he was in the middle of his own thought the screaming negotiations had broken down, and the argument had devolved into a fight.

The two boys' charged forward with their stone spears, while the female stayed back and started aiming with her bow, stone arrow notched ready to fire.

The girl opposite them did not act idly either, as she formed a wall of water in front of the charging warriors, impeding their progress, as-well-as preventing any arrow-fire.

A few seconds after the wall was conjured, the mana which was holding up the front facing the 3 gave in, and water rushed forward.

She seemed to know she wouldn't win a 3-on-1 scenario as she prepared to turn and run soon after the wall of water collapsed into a rushing tide straight toward the group, washing them back.

"Hey Lei, we should go help her in exchange for a fruit each," Xing suggested.

Lei's eyes lit up with the prospect of eating a manana, "Great idea! I might even be able to reach Rank 2 if I eat a manana!" She then realized just who the opposite party was and with a jealous pout said, "Hmph, I'll save your little damsel only for the reward, no other reason."

"My little damsel? It's nothing like that, it's just because she's the youngest participant beside me."

"Whatever, let's go get ourselves a delicious fruit!"

Lei jumped out of the forest and into the clearing shouting, "Hey, Water Girl, you give me and Xing a manana each and we'll help you beat these 3! What say you?"

Looking over at Lei and Xing, who had just walked out of the clearing, the girl agreed, "Alright."

The female warrior of the other party, who appeared to be the leader, looked furious, "Hey! Why did you negotiate with them and not us!"

"Simple. 2 of them, we can share; 3 of you, we cant share." The girl stated matter-of-factly.

"Ugh," the female warrior realized that the girl was correct, she set her gaze on Lei and Xing for a moment before turning, "We're leaving keep your dumb fruit. Let's go boys."

They didn't appear convinced, "Why do we need to leave? Is it just because the fight is even now?"

"Those two don't even look like a challenge. We can take them!"

The female warrior clopped them both over the head, "Idiots! The female is the Great-Warrior's disciple, and the male is the Tribe-Chief's son! I know how strong Lei is, and I cannot beat her. And then there is no knowledge of what the boy can do, but why would his parents allow him to enter if he was not capable?"

She shook her head and began leading her two male companions away, they both hung their heads low in admonishment, "There is no way we can win, so we will give up."

***

After the rival group had vanished into the jungle the girl tossed two mananas toward Lei, "There."

Lei caught the two fruit and then passed one to Xing.

Upon receiving the manana Xing closely inspected it, 'Sure enough, this is just a blue banana, you even need to peel the skin away before eating.'

[Ssss, master I want some too.] Umbra sent mentally, using the m-word to try and plead.

During the walk back Umbra had been instructing Xing on how to communicate mentally, so he was able to reply telepathically, [There is none for you I'm afraid. Besides you're a monster, you can eat cores to increase your mana and rank up. We humans can't do that and need to rely on things like this fruit.]

"Hey, Water Girl, what's your name, and do you want to stick with us on the way back? Who knows if those 3 will stage an ambush." Lei asked the girl.

The girl stared at Lei for a few seconds of awkward silence.

"Wei. And okay."

"Hmm, a woman of few words I see. Well time to eat," Lei peeled her manana and began eating.

Both Xing and the girl Wei followed Lei's lead and they too began eating their fruit.

They all finished their manana and then sat down to meditate, focusing on gathering the surrounding mana. Umbra set up a shroud over the surroundings so nothing could see inside, or get into, the clearing.

A few minutes later the surrounding mana density increased as mana directly surged into the bodies of the 3 humans. This phenomenon lasted for another few minutes before quickly dying down.

Xing and Wei were the first to stop and reopen their eyes, while Lei continued on for another minute before she too stopped and opened her eyes.

Lei looked excited, "I've reached Rank 2! Hahaha! Xing, the moment we get back to the tribe we are going to spar again! And this time I'll kick your ass!"

"Who knows if you can or not? Besides you know how Mother treats sparring as close to the real deal as possible, so that means I can be assisted by Umbra. So I don't see any way for you to win." Xing stated smugly.

Lei's excitement turned into stupefaction, "No! You're not allowed help from Umbra!"

Xing didn't bother to respond, instead glancing at the quiet girl Wei who was silently staring at the pair. "Hey Wei, you don't mind if I call you that right? Anyway I've reached the maximum amount of mana I can store, and all I need now is Elemental Comprehension and I will reach 2nd Circle. What about you?"

A few moments of silence reigned before she spoke, "Calling me Wei is fine. And I'm the same- close to 2nd Circle."

'Just why is this girl so familiar… Wei? Wasn't that the name of the small tribe I was born into in my first life? Did she come from there? Whatever, I'm sure I can figure it out eventually'

Giving her a look of encouragement, "Well let's work hard then."

Xing stood up and said, "Come on, time to go back to the tribe."