Chapter 129: Gateway to the S Rank

"So, you are telling me that neither of us won, but I also lost," Howard crossed his arms and sat down on a bench next to the makeshift battlegrounds. "How does that make any sense?"

Howard had been certain if he activated his full strength Priscilla would've lost. He still hadn't tried the one offensive technique he got from Argatha, which greatly increased his strength for a limited amount of time.

The skill, Blood Dance of the Fire Lord, could greatly increase his power for a limited amount of time. He'd been about to activate the skill when Priscilla leaned off her back foot. He had noticed Priscilla tended to lean off her back foot before she activated her ice abilities, which meant it be easy for him to counter with his flames and win.

Reslan, well aware that Howard was about to activate a powerful ability at the time, had made a tough decision. He sighed and tapped Howard on the shoulder as Priscilla put on her black long sleeve shirt and stretched in the distance. 

"She-she has a beautiful body, but why are you telling me I lost?"

"You lost because she's in charge. Listen, you can't win every fight! Especially against a girl like her Howard! Do you understand," Reslan tapped Howard on the shoulder and blew some strands of black hair out of his face. "If you won right before a battle, it would be your loss! If she won, it also be your loss! I'm doing you a favor right now, hahaha!"

"So-you also think I won,' Howard slumped his shoulders in confusion. "Great, another thing I don't understand. I tried to hard to learn how to be a leader in the last month, and now you're telling me not to try and lead!"

Howard really had trained incredibly hard the last few months to increase not only his strength, but even came up with a fun game to play with Jenny called Tactician Knights to try and improve his judgmenet. They made large battle formations and simulated the best way to win. He was certain he was doing the right thing! He was trying to lead like Barabin had told him to!

"Listen, Howard. Barabin didn't know Priscilla would be here, so he told you to be my second in command. However, now that Priscilla is here, you have to be third command and act like it. You can't just beat up your commanding officer. Do you want to leave another scar on that beautiful body of hers?"

"She's a woman and you're a man!" Reslan flicked Howard in the ear, gently patting him like a father would a son. "Damn it! You have to think about how what you do will impact those around you! You-you can't just beat up every girl that you meet! Now do you understand?" Reslan sighed and noticed Priscilla had a slight smile on her face after hearing she'd won. She needed that more than never now with the tide of a battle on their hand. "The fact is she's better at strategy, and you have to listen to her orders!"

"I get it. I-I have a feeling Monica also wants me to date her, haha! Maybe I shouldn't beat her up."

"Date her. Not yet, haha!" Reslan blushed somewhat enviously at Howard. "You-you have to get going! Remember, this is to stop the Jarkales! Priscilla is in charge, but you must protect her at all costs. I-I had no idea you mastered Ki Resonance. Next time, it will be me and you fighting!"

Reslan had a great respect for Howard's immense growth in the last few months since he went to Carelan Mountain Pass. Even though Howard's body was in the A rank, he'd mastered all three pivotal skills of the B rank, and had the hardest skill mastered of the A rank. All he need to learn now, most likely, was Ki Modification, and create a Ki Heart to enter into the S rank.

A Ki Heart was something that only a few people ever got a chance to create when they reached the peak of the A rank. All together, you could create between 8 - 64 Ki Hearts in different parts of your body depending on your mental resolve and strength. A Ki Heart was basically like a feeding ground for your Ki Cells that they could use to amplify your power during a battle. Reslan had almost fifty, which was the reason his strength greatly surpassed even Annibells during battle.

Ki Hearts didn't increase your overall ability to use Ki, but they increased your body's ability to unleash it's maximum full prowess and might. Basically, if Howard created 64 Ki Hearts, his Ki Cells would get supercharged and because of that his body would be able to unleash more damage. In the history of the Horned, only one person had more Ki Hearts in their body than Reslan, and that was the demon king, Earl. Thus, Reslan had some expectations for Howard when that time came.

"Howard, she's my favorite student, and I need you to protect her while also respecting her" Reslan patted Howard on the shoulder. "Before you go into battle with her, try to set aside how beautiful she is, and just focus on following orders and protecting her. You may be a teenager, but she's our only hope of all these people not dying!"

Reslan pointed to a small child of White Mist Nation playing with a ball with his younger sister, and took a deep breath. He pointed over to their mother who seemed to be staring up hopelessly as the flames flickered against her sandy skin and gently moved her flocks of brown hair.

Howard was the only way these children would be protected! Reslan needed to make that point clear!

"I get it," Howard held up his thumb, "I'll try and get her to like me after the Jarkales are defeated… And hopefully before someone tries to assassinate me."

###

Socran Mountain Pass, Two Hours later

Howard and Priscilla crawled up the edge of a mountain and looked down at hundreds of white tents gently visible due to small orange flames. 

A few soldiers seemed to be installing fences around the camp and looked somewhat miffed by their job. They had their back to the craggy surface of the large white and grey mountains that Howard and Priscilla peered from. If everything went well, they could take out at least 9 stragglers in the camp under different captains. Completing that task would make it much harder for the Jarkales to use their full strength. 

"Howard, you sure you know the plan? The soldiers in the camp have different marks on their back. You need to kill 5 soldiers, and I need to kill 5. They must all have unique symbols, got it?"

"Of course! However, why would they do that. Doesn't it make it easy for us to spot them?" Howard had heard of a lot of strange military uniforms in history class. Like in one of his ancient history classes in Montgomery School they had spoken of the 6 Great Civil Wars, and during each war the military outfits got more and more outlandish. During one war, the losing side had worn yellow uniforms that made them stand out like bananas. He didn't understand why they would mark themselves.

"It's-it's because they need to be able to spot each other from a distance, so they know where to channel their energy," Priscilla rubbed Howard on the back, and smiled at him. "Anyways, it's been nice knowing you. If I die, thanks for complimenting me over and over again on the way here, you make me want to take off this stupid long sleeve shirt and give up on hiding my scars."

"You should! Then I can kiss them!" Howard laughed and then turned serious. "Anyways, when do we attack?"

"Where they least expect it. However, first, Howard, are you okay killing men that didn't earn it yet. The battle will only start tomorrow?"

"They deserve it," Howard cracked his knuckles and slowly stood up off the floor. He wiped off his black cape and pulled up his white long sleeves. "I think anyone that tries to conquer any part of Horned Nation deserves to die. Anyone that is a threat to my friends, is a threat to my happiness. Also, how could I date pretty girls if somone stole them from me!"

"I see where your mind is at," Priscilla smiled and gently grabbed Howard's hand and hoisted herself up. "I-I also know what Monica wants me to be to you, and don't think you won yet. I'm fine by myself. I don't need anyone besides me. You got that?"

"I'll always protect you." Howard leaned in and gently kissed Priscilla on the cheek. "I promise. I'll even name every scar on your body!"

"Howard, let's go." Priscilla blushed and gently pointed at a single soldier that seemed to be getting out of his tent to 'relieve' himself. "Take him out first and then immediately kill four others! Remember, afterwards, run straight back to base!"

"Got it!" Howard smiled and slowly descended the large hill so silently not even the most adroit Authoritarians would've been able to hear him. "However, what the hell is with that big tent? I get a bad feeling about it."