I could tell you had reaped enormous gains.
The Twin Popes sensed Ian's delight and smiled as well. "Unfortunately, this is as far as we can help you—we can shelter you and your friends, and if you advance to the Fifth Energy Level in the future... we can conceal the phenomena for you."
"But beyond that, we will do no more. Ian, you have your own path to walk. You cannot become part of 'us.'"
"Yes. I would not ask for more."
Ian came back to himself and bowed to the Twin Popes in gratitude. "My Fifth Energy Level, Blood of the Apex Seat, has long been complete. So long as I perfect the fourth stage, I will no longer need to take risks. Light's Embrace has helped me cross a step with ease. I am deeply grateful."
Your body still requires one more transformation.
The Twin Popes said softly, "And that 'weapon system' you mentioned... we can offer you some advice on that."
Ian nodded, indicating that he was all ears.
"If you wish to learn the City of Knowledge guardians' Myriad-Form Core Body, you may ask the grand scholar's split soul at your side. Beyond that, your friend Isengard is also an option."
Light's Embrace looked toward the split soul and the blond youth. "After the City of Knowledge began cooperating with the Empire and Frontier Reach, it achieved a breakthrough in the Ice-Prison Floating Dust research direction first, based on the Thousand-Stars Beast."
"A guardian's body is, in a sense, a mechanical Thousand-Stars Beast. It can transform freely, condense freely into immensely powerful forms, and revert when no longer needed, conserving energy."
"And the Sun God Bird's Light-Magnetic Body is another excellent choice. You are already the Immovable Fortress, so a complete conversion would be difficult... but