Chapter 120: Room of Sacred Chaos

Unclaimed Shrines, Jarlon Valley, Sunrise 

Howard's small blue bus arrived in front of a 20 by 20 meter bungalow on the peak of Jarlon Valley.

He'd been told to come here to meet Founder Arista and Barmenthol before heading to the East Branch. Apparently, they had to go over battle simulations with the Jarlalen. However, he felt something else seemed amiss. 

He looked and noticed a few Varlen dream beasts sleeping in front of one of the Unclaimed Shrines, and they looked like they had been here for weeks. It was strange because the Varlen Dream Beasts slept with their eyes open. One of the Dream Beasts seemed to be some type of black haired wolf that had spiked yellow tips on its fur and extremely sharp teeth.

If he had to guess, it was probably a B rank Dream Beast, but didn't seem at all intimidating. In fact, when he walked passed it, it seemed content. Did it sense the Dream Myth inside of him?

"Howard," Jenny said and grabbed his hand, "Be careful. You have a Dream Myth, remember."

"I got this," Howard winked at Jenny and smiled before tugging her closer. "Founder Arista is here. No one would dare hurt me."

"They don't need to hurt you, but they might want your Dream Myth in trade negotiations. She's been dormant right? She hasn't talked in months?"

"Yes, but how did you know?" Howard asked. "She told me she needed roughly a year before she could wake up again. However, she said I could still use her strength if I need to."

Howard had an on and off relationship with the Dream Myth. Occasionally, she visited him in his sleep and told him stories while other times she seemed to disappear for an eternity. A few weeks ago, after the fight with Arlok, she said to Howard "See you in a year. I'll be stronger then." She Didn't mention anything about what she was doing. It greatly perplexed him. However, she was also one of his biggest trump cards. His body had almost reached the A rank, and he felt himself getting stronger daily, yet the dangers for his friends and allies hadn't decreased.

Without the Dream Myth, he'd probably have died against the Aresoul. Let alone when he fought Arlok and it ended in a draw. He needed everything in his arsenal, and Jenny could see the flustered expression on his face.

"Howard, she's probably trying to turn into a Dream Enchantress. Once she does that, she'll be able to exist in the real world almost like a Dream Beast." Jenny held Howards hand and crossed her arms. "She will be in the S rank immediately when she awakes, if not stronger. She probably waited a long time to find someone like you. She's practically using your body as an incubator for her new body and I don't like it!"

"Haven't you noticed you sleep a few hours extra every night? She's using you to absorb Dream Ki into your body in order to transform! Howard, how are you not upset?"

"I'm not upset because she saved my life two times," Howard winked at Jenny and walked down the long stone hallway. "I know she makes me sleep an hour extra every night. However, I agreed to that. She deserves something from me too."

"You-you agreed to this? Howard, are you insane!" Jenny turned and saw Founder Arista standing by a wooden doorway in front of a table. She immediately calmed her temper and bowed to the gentlemen sitting a few feet from her in the Unclaimed Shrine's Meeting Room.

The room had a few dossiers scattered wantonly around the room in different piles with a large Ki Hologram made up of Dream Ki. Two Varlen technicians seemed to be looking at a fluctuating schematic of Jarlon Valley. She didn't understand. Why would Founder Arista let the Varlne here. Didn't they win the unclaimed shrines in a competition?

"Sorry, but what's going on Founder Arista?" Jenny asked with a perplexed risen brow. "I thought-I thought the Varlen lost and we won the valley. Is something going on."

"Something is going on. We're getting invaded from two separate places. Howard, you said you met Earl around here right? You said he prepared an army of Ki Enigmas."

"Yes, but what happened?" Howard smiled and walked into the room. A table had already been pulled out for him so he took a seat. "How are we getting invaded from two different Nations. I thought the Aresoul are restructuring. Who could be attacking us."

"Sit down and we'll tell you." Jsak pulled off the white hood he had on his head. Howard instantly remembered him as the leader of the Varlen and soon realized this had to be about the invasion discussed at the youth competition. "Howard, it's nice to know you got stronger. Because the youth of the Arthrak are going to be invading. Do you know about them?"

"Just from what Founder Arista told me? How-how strong are they?"

"The portals they are using can only transfer Ki Users in the S rank, so we're assuming they're all at the peak of the True S rank. " Founder Arista sat down and pulled in her chair. "They will most likely send 100 of their strongest youth. However, it gets more complicated."

"They-they are specifically here hunting for you, Howard." Founder Arista crossed her arms trying to hide her discomfort behind the beautiful shield of her blue elongated sleeves. Her blonde hair dropped over her shoulders as she looked at the schematic. "Jarlon Valley is full of Dream Ki as you know, and because of that it is very easy to make portals here to other parts of the Furnace." 

"Howard, we expect right after you fight the battle against the Jarkales you'll be getting hunted by the most notorious assassins in the entire Furnace. They are called the Blood Banishment League. If you are to win against them, do you know what you must do?"

"What?" Howard said, laughing and shaking his head. "What do I have to do?"

"You have to go to the most dangerous place in the Furnace. A place called the Silver Banishment Marshlands. When you're there, I expect you'll be hunted by the Arthrak, and also thousands of power hungry Authoritarians. However, if you survive, you'll probably reach the S rank. Are you willing to do it to save the Horned?" Founder Arista touched a small floating green hue panel on the diagram on the table in order to shut off the schematic. At the same time, she raised her hand, and gently tapped Howard's face. "It's that, or I stay behind and we risk total annihilation in 5 years? What's your choice?"

"I'll stay here and crush them!" Howard shook his head. "I'll get so strong in the next few weeks, that they won't stand a chance against me!"

"You'll do what I say, and that's the end of it! Do you hear me?" Founder Arista sighed and pointed down the hallway. "However, before that happens. Go down the hallway to the sanctuary with Jenny and train. In fact, do whatever you want, but tomorrow I'm leaving."

"After that, you'll be going to the East Branch, and will probably have to watch your students get massacred if you make a single mistake. Are you ready?"

"I'm going to be fine. However, I'll do as you say. What's down the hallway?"

"They call it the Room of Sacred Chaos. You can use it once every 5 years. It will make a single day of training feel like a year. I'm giving you 5 hours to train with Jenny. Don't you dare make out with her all the time! I want you to at least be in the A rank when you exit!"