Chapter 112: Dream Ki Fusion

Nellon shut his eyes tightly in anticipation of his death, and thousands of regrets flooded his mind. 

He had underestimated Howard completely. Even in his wildest dreams, he never thought it would be possible Howard would reach the peak of the B rank and have minorly understood an A level concept like Ki Resonance. 

Not only that, but Fire King's Embrace had improved drastically. Howard had mastered the first level of the gauntlet, the second level of the grieves, and part of the third level. He was getting closer and closer in strength to one of the Four Guardians.

Opening up his eyes a moment later, Nellon saw Howard had stopped his attack a few inches from his face. In the last battle, Nellon had to be killed, but now Howard felt no threat from him. He smiled and gently slapped Nellon in the face.

"Ugh, maybe in the future I'll kill you?" Howard offered out his right hand. "Let me help you up. I want your help doing something."

"What?" Nellon shook his head. "And let you pity me! Kill me, Howard! There is no place in this world for defeated Aresoul Brigade Members! Kill me!"

"No, I need your help. I'm supposed to be the leader of the Horned soon, and the Jarkales are invading. I need all the help I can get," Howard really could've easily killed Nellon, however, he also could've easily lost against him. Nellon had made a terrifying array of mirrors that Howard only noticed because of his training with Carter.

Carter had taught Howard to survey the surroundings no matter where he went, so he happened to look all around him when he first met Alrok at the ridge. Normally, he would've never looked down, but when he did, he noticed a small shimmering mirror made out of Ki. This had also been the reason why he didn't hold back when he struck Alrok. He could tell from that moment he'd been set up.

However, even though he had won by a thread, the more allies he could make, the better. The Aresoul had a huge deal with the Exland Empire, and because of that could never ally with the Horned. However, nothing said that Nellon couldn't leave their nation and join theirs.

Even though this was wishful thinking, he really hoped that Nellon would agree. Pushing aside how he felt about what happened with Monica and Reece back at Jarlon Valley, saving his life would pay dividends if he joined their nation.

"I-I quit. I can't be angry at a loser," Nellon smiled and grabbed Howard's hand. He liked people who were upfront, and didn't hide their cards. "However, I'm going to be killed no matter what! I lost at Jarlon Valley, and that monster over there is even more terrifying than you are, hahaha! Howard, you're too much! I just tried to kill your girlfriend! Just kill me, dude."

"I need to be a leader," Howard shook his head. "I can't kill you just because I don't like you."

"Hey Nellon. How'd Howard figure it out," Alrok jumped out of the craggy rubble of a destroyed mountain and covered nearly 1000 meters instantly. "I told you not to use those mirrors, but you didn't listen to me."

"I lost. Howard broke my rib cage," Nellon barked back at his friend. "I can't help you, Alrok. If he kills you, all I can do is watch."

"I'll kill you and then him next," Alrok's body began to shimmer with a white light. He activated the 3rd stage of body awakening which only became possible for a Mocralin in the S rank. Suddenly, his power started to explode and large rings of dust blew out in all directions.

A large skull made of dust manifested behind him, his power surging more and more, before he lightly stepped off his back foot and pushed forward. He looked extremely focused, and his muscular body tensed before he shot off his back foot. 

Swoosh!

Howard smiled and also began to increase his power. His Dark Ki slowly started to manifest while he also activated his Dream Ki. He smiled and turned to look over at Nellon who gasped in disbelief. If he used Nightmare energy, Howard would have no choice but to die!

Yet he just couldn't do it! Not only could he barely move, but Howard had just saved his life! He had dreamed of killing Howard so many times, but he never dreamed of being saved! He gulped and looked over at Nellon. His black shirt fluttered in the wind with his blue jeans being torn from the strength he'd released. Yet as soon as he realized Howard had activated his Dream Ki he pushed his foot into the ground. Suddenly, he felt a minor tinge of apprehension towards Howard.

"Just great. You can combine Dark Ki and Dream Ki. That's excellent," Alrok averted Howard's gaze and turned to Nellon. "Hey, liar! Zap him! What are you waiting for?"

"He won't. I'm coming now!" Howard stepped off his back foot and caused the entire world around him to shake. He hadn't used Dream Ki in a while, but it still felt excellent to experience. He seemed to disappear into three shadows that blurred in separate directions. It looked like ten copies of Howard appeared in several places. Finally, five copies of Howard all merged into one.

In the air above Alrok, Howard punched forward with all his might. A aqua blue and jet black set of flames fused in the air and turned into a gigantic trembling fist that instantly shot forward. 

To be honest, this had to be the strongest attack Howard ever used. He turned his torso in the air and felt all his muscles tense with the attack flowing outside of his hand and striking towards Alrok.

In response, Alrok tensed his brow and fired forward with his maximum strength. His foot gently turned to face Howard's floating body before he hammered forward with all his strength. His small hand thrust forward like a missile and struck the incoming flames. 

Boom!

Alrok felt his body slightly pick off the ground from Howard's massive attack. Howard hadn't just used his own energy, but he could feel some of Nellon's Ki wrapped up inside of the ice cold flames. Yet, he could see the light at the end of the tunnel. His strength clearly surpassed Howards by a large margin. This was Howards first time fighting a Mocralin after all. Alrok smiled and increased his strength by 10 percent before he cut through the flame. Howard could only look forward in disbelief before an uppercut slammed against his chin and sent him flying into the air.

Alrok laughed and clapped his hands watching Howard sail into the distance before he turned and looked at Nellon.

"Dream Ki isn't as impressive as I thought. Now, you ready to die, traitor?"

"I'm behind you!" Howard smiled and proceeded to ram his arm at maximum strength into Nellon's back. Howard was using Dream Ki after all, and not everything in reality had to affect him for twenty seconds! 

He'd gotten hit, but he'd also chosen to dodge Alrok's attack. Because of the extremely obscure nature of Dream Ki, Howard had gone floating in the air before he activated Dream Ki to go down a different path of reality.

This was called Dream Surfing, and was a B rank Varlen skill.

Howard had no idea, but right now if the Varlen saw him they'd be bowing their heads in reverence and shame. It was the hardest B rank skill they had in their skill vault, and he used it with little regard for its complexity!

Boom!

Howard sent out three consecutive jabs into Alrok's back and then took a step back before he aimed a powerful burst of Dark Ki towards his face. With a small step forward, Howard's blue shirt flew out of his black pants as his blue eyes ignited with killing intent. He had to kill this man at all costs! He could never be trusted!

"Die! Ignite my flames! Kill him!"

A jet of black flames instantly swallowed Alork's body and sent him sailing into the distance. At the same time, Howard felt the last bit of Dream Ki he had available leave his body. 

"Huh…." Howard took a deep breath and smiled. "That should take care of him," He wiped off his hands and walked over to Nellon. "Now, how about that alliance."

"You-you tried," Nellon shook his head, "However, he isn't dead yet. Alrok activated the third level of body awakening. For three minutes, he's going to be practically invisible. Of course, if he doesn't defeat you, he'll die."

"Hey, don't give away all my secrets," Alrok shook a few rocks off his brown haar, and clambered back to a standing position. His white shirt had been ripped, but he had a large smile on his face. "Geez Nellon. I should've just killed Howard myself. This is all your fault. He definitely saw the mirrors"

"How, how are you okay?" Howards mind and body were rushing. He'd never felt so tired in his life. Fusing both Dream Ki and Dark Ki was like trying to mix oil and water or fire and ice. 

Normally, he could use his Dark Ki for about 5 minutes and his Dream Ki for about 20 seconds, but that all changed when he activated them at the same time. Right now, he could hardly feel his Dark Ki, and his Dream Ki had vanished. 

The Dream Myth inside of him had even instantly fallen asleep. There was nothing he could do right now but hold his heart and try and regain his balance and composure! 

"You-you should've died!"

"You will die," Alrok cracked his knuckles, "That's all that matters. Now, ready for round 2?"