Chapter 116: Ki Viruses

The next morning, 

Jenny left Howard's bed room, and went to meet with Barabin. She had a few hours to explore before she had to go back to the East Branch, but had to tell him about her research.

She'd done some research in the West Branch on blood coagulation and Ki Cells. She used herself as her own test subject and analyzed her blood and examined her bloods reaction to other blood cultures. To her surprise, her blood viciously attacked the Ki cells of other blood types. Specifically, her blood seemed to have Ki Viruses fused in her mitochondria that attacked other blood types and transformed them into host cells for the Ki Viruses. 

However, when she looked under the microscope, she also noticed something else. The reason her craving for blood made her so viscous is because of the antigens released from her own body when this process occurred. 

She thought about this for a few days in the lab, and had a few assistants put several different chemicals into the petridish to try and neutralize this reaction. Finally, after two months, she discovered that a certain root called Star Root Grass neutralized the antigens. 

A few weeks later, she now had a packet of pills made up o Star Root Grass. If she gave these pills to Barabin, he could once again drink blood, and he'd no longer have to worry about consequences! 

'Howard did a number on me, ugh…" Jenny yawned and looked at her lips in the mirror over a sink basin. She quickly washed her face with running water and pulled the pills out of her black jean jacket. After taking a single pill, she cleaned off some blood from the side of her mouth. "He-he's such a monster. And he isn't even dating me!"

Jenny sighed and reflected on how Monica asked her to try out with Howard to be his fourth girlfriend. She didn't even know what that meant! She felt irritated, but fixed her top before rushing out into the hallway.

Barabin was waiting for her outside by the well. 

He had a glow on his body that she didn't recognize, and had his brow tensed while wearing a leather jacket with blue jeans. However, today his dark scruffy brown hair seemed to be slightly standing up above his head, and he seemed a little taller. 

When she arrived by Barabin, she noticed he seemed to be up to her brow. The last time she saw him, he'd been by her neck. What had happened to him? He had to be at least 1.4 meters tall now? Thus, she couldn't help but make a remark about it.

"You-you reached the True S rank?"

"Yup, the hair isn't too bad is it?" Barabin snickered and looked up at the orangish fluffy clouds slowly drifting through the air. He nodded his head and took a deep breath. "Anyways, what is it? My cravings for blood our bad today. I shouldn't be around people."

"Wow, I wanted to talk to you about that," Jenny took out a pack of pills from the back of her jeans. She could almost still feel Howards hands against her hips, and couldn't help but blush. She didn't expect Howard to kiss her for three hours, but what really got to her is how bold he was! He wouldn't let her get out of the bed all night! He even kissed her when they woke up in the morning! "I made something special for you. It's a pill that will stop the negative reaction when you drink blood."

Barabin instantly didn't like where this conversation was going, and shook his head. He had a trail of blood running down his lips because he had to bite himself to stop the cravings. All around him girls had begun doing rigorous exercise routines. Monica and Founder Arista had been training, and he could smell their scent. 

He had also noticed that Jenny's neck looked flush, and part of him wanted to drain it of all it's blood. Even if it could stop the negative reaction, he'd still have to bite someone!

"I appreciate it, but I really gotta start training."

"I got a bottle of blood with me, so you can try it!" Jenny liked to think ahead, so she packed a bottle of blood that he got from one of his lab assistants. He had them donate blood once a month, so she could experiment on worked for her cravings. Now, she felt pretty certain of her formula. It definitely would work! "You have to take two of these pills a day when you're going to drink your blood. If you still feel a craving to kill, just take a third pill."

"I'm not risking it. I didn't spend my entire life resisting these cravings just to believe a pill works." Barabin shook his head and pushed back the silver pill container that Jenny had carefully prepared. It took her weeks to figure out how to make pills without a pill machine. She ended up using a mold that Reslan helped her make, but that wasn't the point! He needed to try it! Why would she four months on a project just to get rejected! 

"Please! Please Barabin!" Jenny bit her lip, and turned serious. "I spent so much time trying to isolate the right formula! I studied thousands of different cultures! I promise it will work!"

'Let me drink your blood then," Barabin laughed. "I'm experiencing such strong cravings now. If it works, I won't kill you right?" He shook his head and snatched the pill holder. "Heh, just kidding. Now go and run back to Howard! Tell that monster to meet me by the mountain! I want to test my strength!"

"Sure… Just take three okay. The cravings will go away, I promise," Jenny bowed, and smiled before she turned to walk away. Barabin watched her and couldn't stop staring at her neck. She had such a beautiful figure for her age. He couldn't help but think of Sally. What he'd do to bite the hell out of her neck right now.

"You're not taking these capsules Barabin." Barabin hadn't seen the progress of science for 100 years, and couldn't believe a pill could change his life. "Ugh, I guess I can leave it on me just incase it gets bad."

"Hmph, I fought cravings for 500 years, and now there is apparently a medicine for it? Right, and the Aresoul are actually good people. Hmph, she should've just given me a bottle of blood."

Barabin took a leap and went to the top of the mountain top before he tossed down the pill bottle and kept staring at it. 

'You're not taking it! You're definitely not taking it!'

###

Howard smiled and kissed Monica goodbye. 

She had to go ahead to the East Branch and take the White Mist Merchants and Warriors to set up camp. Barmenthol had promised to set up crops and raise livestock once they got to a more agrarian and rural land. 

The East Branch was actually quite close to the Unclaimed Shrines, and Jarlon Valley, and because of the Dream Ki the land was quite fertile. The White Mist Nationalists thought it be easy to raise crops and animals there, but they needed protection. Founder Arista and Monica agreed to escort them.

Unfortunately, that meant she had to leave Howard with two girls, but she was determined to get stronger along the way! Founder Arista trained her 10 times harder than Annibell ever did. She felt she was a step away from the peak of the B rank!

"Howard, Jenny is still on try out. Remember, she's going to sleep in your bed for a week." Monica bit her lip and kissed him on the forehead. "I-I want three words from you, right now though! Stop taking so long!"

"I'll miss you!" Howard laughed and kissed Monica on the lips. He gently pulled down her blue sweater and slowly slid his hands down to her hips. "Mmmm, and I also might love you." He said with a laugh. "However, only you so far! Don't tell them I said that!"

"Howard, I love you too," Monica watched a tear drop down the side of her eye. "Omg! How I love you! I-I can't wait until you're eighteen! I'm going to marry you immediately! I-I love you with all my heart!"

"I love you too," Howard smiled and kissed her one more time. "Mmmm, it's a shame Barabin wants to see me. I was hoping to kiss you for a few hours before you left."

"She has to go," Founder Arista blushed and cleared her throat. She had on a white gown today that stopped at her knees, and her blonde hair folded in a bun. Though she'd been around for a 1000 years, she actually just lookedl like a mature twenty year old. She had beautiful slender cheeks, and a nice jawbone. "Howard, take care. Remember, practice that technique. In two months, I expect to see you using it!"

"Teacher! Why are you helping him?!" Monica slammed her foot down in anger. "He's going to surpass me!"

'Does he need to surpass you? Or do you need to surpass yourself?" Monica felt her head get rubbed nad blushed before she looked up tearfully at her teachers face. Arista was roughly 1.75 meters tall so she was only maybe 10 centimeters shorter than Howard with her shoes on. "Now, Howard. Harley is coming too. That will just leave you with Reece and Jenny."

"I'll be fine!" Howard kissed Monica one more time. "However, what's up with your brother?" Howard suddenly realized he'd not seen him or Una in a while. "Where have they been?"

"They went back to the Dark Bloodlands a few weeks ago. You missed them," Monica sighed and tapped him on the head. "Blake wants to work on a project with them. You remember him, right?"

"Anyways, we got to go. In a month, Howard, you'll be in charge of the East Branch and we'll have to leave. You going to be ready?"

"Of course!" Howard said with a smile, and nodded his head. "I'm going to destroy those Jarkales until not a single one remains!"