Chapter 9: Fire Storm

Howard smiled and looked out the window frame on the old school green bus while Una slammed the gas pedal.

Swoosh!

The old school bus had been traveling over 120 miles an hour on the black top and had lost its stop sign a few minutes ago when a zombie tried to attach itself to the bus. Because of that, Una had started driving faster. The roaring motor could be heard while the bus turned into a blur to all the zombies chasing after it.

A few of the zombies had on business suits from when they'd fallen into the Furnace.

People that couldn't sense Ki couldn't survive in the Furnace, and would usually spend a few days in agony before the cravings started to take over and they lost all rationality - that's when they became zombies. Howard had heard from Una during their drive towards the treasure trove that some companies got paid lots of money to make people go missing in the Furnace. 

Part of him wondered if that swordsman who killed him brought some of the poor zombies chasing after him down here. One blonde haired zombie looked like she had a beautiful body that had gradually deformed over time. A second later, Una struck her with the bus and she spun in the air before her set of pink stilettos' flew in various directions. He really couldn't imagine being a zombie. It must be worse than death to be left as a shell of your former self that's literal entire existence was about following the Ki present in the air. 

Thousands of miles away from where their journey started Howard noticed a large fire storm brewing in the distance. That's the only way he could describe it. Small fires traveled wildly in the wind, causing a feeling of terror to enter into his heart.

"That's the rank D Fire Treasure Trove, which we also call an element island. You'll be fine in there, Your Ki Cells have a natural resistance to the fire element" Una said with a smile. "Basically, if I wanted to burn you I'd have trouble, little cutie. Anyways, it looks like my favorite person in the world is up ahead sunbathing. Harley's a brave one alright," Una rolled her eyes.

A few kilometers down the road, Una had spotted a black escalade van that had stopped along the shoulder of the makeshift freeway. Leaning back on top of the van, a beautiful girl with a petite frame, a large chest, and curly black hair seemed to be sunbathing. She had her cute round sunglasses tucked against the bridge of her head, and had her eyes closed to get swallowed by the light, but she also seemed a little bit annoyed. She had a few beach chairs set up like she wanted people to watch her sunbath. 

Under her dress, tan lines could be seen in the shape of a bikini, causing Howard to gulp as they stopped next to the black escalade. Howard hadn't seen a car like that in the entire Furnace. He immediately began to wonder what kind of other special things this girl might be able to offer him. He instantly decided to do all he could to catch this woman's heart!

"This is Howard," Una noticed Howard staring at Harley's beautiful body and let out a chuckle. She opened the door of the bus and jumped out of it with Howard's hand tucked inside of hers. "He's new, but very strong. Wasn't too hard to find the place, was it?"

"Nope, easy. I sunbathed for two days and two nights." Harley fixed her dress and smiled sweetly with her eyes studying Howard's figure. She seemed a little bit impressed. Howard had no idea she hardly ever saw men, and already had a good opinion of him. "I fell asleep. I don't look too tan, do I?"

"It's very nice. Your skin," Howard said with a grin. "It's so nice to meet you!"

"I'm glad you like it. I brought you a special outfit." Harley tossed a bag over to Howard and yawned one more time. "It's hot over there. If you don't change, your clothes would melt. We made those clothes for you in the west branch."

"Thank you! I assume that where other students are?" Howard picked out a black shirt and pear of pants from the bag. The material felt like rubber, but something seemed unique about it. "Anyways, I'll just change behind the bus. One second."

"Howard, be careful," Una crossed her arms and walked over to Harley. "Ugh, have you seen any other teams arrive? Do the Aresoul know about this place?"

"I didn't notice any odd activity. Aren't you going to change?"

"Not until you take Howard away. He's a guy… I'll just put it that way." Una looked down at the black dress in the bag, and crossed her arms. "Wait, is this what you want me to wear? It seems a little short?"

"It's long enough. It provides more ability." Harley said while nodding her head. "They made two outfits for girls. I gave you the better one."

"You're something else," Una grabbed the outfit and looked over at some tall rocks. "Anyways, I'll go change over there. Just keep Howard occupied!"

"He's a guy. Should be easy." Harley walked over to the bus and checked out the interior. A single pillow and blanket could be seen at the back, causing her to laugh. Looking outside, she saw Howard wearing the new black uniform, punching forward with little fireballs gathered around his body.

"Training in secret. My kind of guy," Harley waved her hand out the window. "Hey, boy, you really like my tan lines?"

"Yes! You're really attractive!" Howard smiled and wiped off his sweat. "Can I see you in your swimsuit?"

"Not right now. I don't have one." Harley exited the vehicle and flamboyantly walked over to Howard. Her dress blew in the wind, causing her knees and perfect legs to show. She didn't bother to push down her dress, and leaned her head into Howards with a peculiar expression on her face.

Feeling his temperature, Harley blushed before patting him on the shoulder.

"You have very pure fire. Question, did you sleep with Una last night?"

"Yep, but just sleep. No one here is like Vicky." Howard sighed and crossed his arms. "Why? Why do you want to know?"

"I like both of you, so I have to know the details," Harley nodded her head and pointed at her car. "Anyways, I have some other gear for you. Come with me to my vehicle."

"What you mean like both of us?"

"I like fire types," Harley winked and opened the trunk of her car, pulling out a shovel before yawning agian and beginning to dig into the ground. "You and her both feel good when I touch you. Do you have a problem with that."

"No, I like how you feel too," Howard touched her back and started rubbing it. "Do you want a massage? You look sore."

"No, maybe after we're done." Harley handed him a small trinket. "Here, I made this for you. Took a few nights, but I think you'll like it." She picked out three more little trinkets from her car and put them in her back pocket.

The objects looked like golden stars, and when you pressed them they transformed into objects. A powerful feeling seemed to be emitting from Howards hand, one of untamable might. He pressed his hand into the small trinket, causing a large sword with a gem to appear in his hand.

"That's a special sword. It can strengthen fire users. Oh look, the dress didn't fit," Harley smiled and watched Una pull down her dress with anger on her face. The dress extended a little past the waist, and besides covering a few inches of thigh, left little put pale skin in the gentle breeze.

"You-you did this on purpose Harley!" Una bit her lip and angrily walked over to her! "Ugh, I don't know why I let her send you here!"

"You look good. Turn around," Harley nodded her head, "Howard, doesn't she look good."

"I like that on you! Very Much!" Howard laughed and ran over ot her. "Wow, you have such nice legs!"

"You-you two are dead once this is over!" Una laughed and pointed to the fire storm. "Let's go and get some treasure shall we?"

###

Waves of fire spread in all directions inside of the firestorm.

Una, Howard, and Harley walked further and further into the flaming expanse. In Una's hand, a small compass turned rapidly before locking in on a direction. Turning to her right, she pulled her dress down, looking back at Howard and Harley as they walked behind her.

"It's in this direction. Once we get there, grab all the treasure you can! Then run as fast as you can!"

"Why?" Howard said while holding Harley's hand, "Why do we need to run?"

"Ki disturbances, Anything powerful nearby will feel us moving the treasure. Zombies, skeletons, things hundreds of times stronger will tear themselves apart to get there in time." Harley patted him forward. "Anyways, rate my craftsmanship. It's just short enough that its wearable right?"

"10 out of 10!" Howard laughed and squeezed Harley's hand. "Perfect!"

"You two! Get in front of me!" Una blushed and wiped the sweat off her head. "It's right there. The treasure trove is right there." Una pointed at a large rock that had been cut into pieces a few meters away. "I-I cut that rock to signal where it is. Howard, grab three treasures as fast as you can. The brighter they are, the more valuable."

"You mean you were here before?" Howard asked with a surprised expression. "Why not grab something before?"

"Ki disturbances. If she did, it would be too dangerous to return," Harley patted Howard on the back and smiled at him. "She asked for us to come so we could take more before others arrived."

"That makes sense. So just go for the brightest objects." Howard nodded his head, and looked at the strange glowing objects in the distance. "What about you girls? How many objects will you take."

"I'm stronger than Una, so I'll take 10." Harley spun a tricket out of her pocket that soon transformed into a bow. "Una will take 8. You take three or else you body won't be able to handle it."

"Okay, I'm ready," Howard nodded his head, looking at the two beautiful girls shimmering in the flickering flames. Una sighed and reached back for Howards hand, putting it in her grasp before leaning back.

"Good, well, I'm going to throw you over there Howard. Remember, grab the brightest thing you find. Once you do, grab two more bright objects and rush in this direction! I guarantee you, there are at least 10,000 things stronger than you hiding in the darkness of flames and ash! Do you hear me!"

"Got it! Ready to go!" Howard grabbed her hand while Harley stepped on her back foot. Looking at the little man, she smiled and kissed him on the cheek before whispering "good luck into his ear."

"You too," Harley kissed Una on the cheek and nodded her head. "Now shall we?"

"Go!" Una used all her strength to send Howard flying into the treasure trove. Traveling almost 50 meters in a second, Howard landed in a field of thousands of glowing objects.

Dozens of shimmering objects laying in different piles created mounds of treasure all around him. However, at the top of one pile, a treasure brighter than the rest, manifested, spinning as if it had a will of its own.

"That one!" Howard climbed up the treasure mountain to get it, grabbing it before hoisting it in the air. Smiling, he looked over at Una and Harley dashing back and forth in the piles. Sensing his tardiness, Howard put the treasure in his back pocket and rushed over to another pile to his right. Hearing a powerful bang, he turned back, seeing Harley already firing arrows into a large figure forming in the storm.

"Quick! Quick!" Una pointed at Howard as he scrambled to grab a seocnd object! "Stop trying so hard, and grab anything!"

"One more good one!" Howard turned back and jumped to another pile, grabbing another object that shimmered in the light. Behind him, he heard dozens of arrows firing from Harley's bow. Feeling satisfied with himself, he felt a strange sensation in his stomach.

To his right, the brightest object he ever saw, seemed to be calling for him. Wiping off his sweat, he tossed aside the first object he found and hopped in that direction.

'What is that? Such a strange feeling?" Howard picked up the object and put it in his pants, turning to notice Una had already rushed out of the storm.

"Let's go Kid!" Harley picked up one more treasure as the entire treasure trove began to glow. "They're coming! Go after Una now!"

Swoosh!

Howard jumped into the air and nodded his head, landing by Una as she rushed back out of the storm. Looking on in the distance, Howard looked on in surprise.

"Una, why is she still in the storm?"

"She's waiting. Now come here and give me your hand." Una grabbed his wrist and created a large pylon of fire around their bodies. "Don't move no matter what okay? Whatever you do, don't move."