Chapter 222: Heart to Heart

Howard arrived in the training room with Waxel and Harkel before he began explaining what truthfully happened when he met the Ancient one.

He told about the Ancient One's intent that he sensed, and how he even reached the top of that mountain. He specifically told them how thanks to his Emperor's Ki, he was probably able to get beyond the wall at the top of the mountain.

This was probably also the reason why even the Demon King Earl wasn't able to advance his Ki Hearts to the next level. He didn't have the same type of Emperor's Ki that Howard did, so he was never able to breach the barrier the ancient one had in place. Because of that, Howard was in a unique position! It was no wonder that he was able to develop his Ki Hearts!

"So you're saying that there really is something on top of the mountain,' Waxel sighed while he sat on the floor while staring up in a daze. "I-I guess it's really possible Demon King Earl made that array without finding out about the Ancient One's intent. Yet, you're saying there are 6 ancient ones?"

"Yes, and all of them are definitely at least a 1000 times stronger than the Great Last Lord. Their intents alone were able to hold me back, and they literally can be felt almost anywhere in the Furnace. I-I think. I think the beings from the other realms are the reason they died! Someone like the Great Last Lord, except a hundred times stronger, must have caused them to destroy all the life on their planet so that new life could get created! It explains why no asteroid can explain why the ancient beings died!"

"Hmmm, if that's the case then how strong will you be once you put the intent into all 60 Ki Hearts? Frankly speaking, do you think you can also do it to other people."

"There is one way, but I think only when their Ki Hearts are developing," Howard sighed and seemed a little bit upset when he looked over at the marks Priscilla had left. "I-I did it to the last 10 of Priscilla's Ki Hearts, but I can probably do it to all of Monica's."

What Howard was describing was also completely unheard of. He was talking about giving someone that was going into the S rank strength that was well beyond what was normal. However, he missed something important. By doing that to Priscilla, he gave her the ability to also subtly grasp intent. She still didn't know what the feeling was, but also found her strength somewhat abnormal. 

He'd yet to see her frankly, because he'd been spending so much time training, but if he did he'd instantly realize she had greatly benefited. 

Intent had increased Howard's strength by over 40 percent and he was also in the S rank, but his strength was already normal so frankly it wasn't as much of a boost as someone like Prisiclla got. She found, that her strength had increased by over 80 percent just from those 10 Ki Hearts! She could probably fight Waxel by herself right now and stand a small chance of harming him! Even though she'd lose, it would definitely be a good fight!

"I don't believe it. So you're saying that it's easier to put intent into Ki Hearts when you're making them? Does that mean that all the Horned… No, even the Authoritarians breaching into that rank can be assisted by you? Harkel, do you think anyone found out yet."

"It's hard to know. We can't sense intent, so how would someone else do so? Ugh, if only we could somehow go on top of that mountain."

"He-he told me to come back when I'm about roughly at the G rank," Howard sighed and shook his head. "If we went right now, he'd most likely kill all of us. He really doesn't want anyone going near the being's corpse he killed."

"There is a corpse? You mean it?" Harkel said, somewhat trembling. "Wait, if you're saying that, doesn't it mean you sensed Ki from it? How powerful of a corpse would that have to be? Even the Ancient One's corpse has almost no Ki left. How-how could it still be emitting Ki?"

"I-I don't know, but I'm glad I told you guys about it," Howard smiled and sat down. "Now, however, I do have one idea. Why don't I try and upgrade my last 20 Ki Hearts, while you guys stay here. Hehe, you might just be able to sense the intent I'm releasing then."

"Only Waxel should do it. I'm going to be around the Great Last Lord. Frankly speaking, I only have 1 Ki Heart because I'm a Ghost Authoritarian. It would at most upgrade my strength by 5 percent. However, if I ever become human again. You think you can show me?"

"Sure!" Howard smiled and nodded his head. He was extremely excited that he seemed to have discovered something great. For months, it felt like the only thing he truly accomplished was getting stronger only to attract more powerful enemies.

Yet during this time, he also realized that he was only one person. 

Since he was only one person, it was inevitable that the enemies he attracted would try and go after his friends. And even if he was stronger, the longer time went on, the more danger everyone seemed to be in.

Yet now, if he could strengthen his allies as well, it would be somewhat ameliorate the pressure on him. He was especially excited to make Monica stronger! He almost couldn't wait!

"I'll come back with Monica. She should be here in 5 hours." Harkel smiled and walked over to the door, his black cape following behind him before he turned with his amber eyes. He stared straight at Howard and then began laughing! This was really too rich! The Great Last Lord might really be able to be killed, and even before the 4 years are up. "Anyways, Howard, just be careful to not show that intent to anyone in the Jarkalon Abyss, no matter who it is okay? Don't trust anyone when you're there. You got it?"

"I-I'm not that stupid. I've learned a lot in the last few months," Howard smiled and sat down before he closed his eyes. "Now, great grandfather, put your arm on my back okay! I-I can't wait to see if you can figure it out!"

###

Monica looked out at the window as Harley drove her to meet Howard in 1000 Monster Valley.

She'd seen so many horrible things in the last few weeks, but a lot of good things as well. Reslan and Annibell had finally gotten back to full health, yet she felt like she was running in circles.

The hardest thing had to be that Howard had surpassed her strength by not only leaps and bounds, but by planets. It felt like Howard was now a monster and if he wanted to he could crush everyone except maybe Founder Carter.

What did it mean when the strongest person in your Nation was just 16 years old?

'I-I'm going to turn 18 in a few months. I'm about to be an adult, yet I'm practically doing nothing useful for the Horned. All I've done recently is make Howard risk his life to save me. Even Jenny is good at science! I-I feel like I'm at a dead end! I simply have no way to get stronger!'

"Monica, you realize you're the 10th youngest person to get her Ki Hearts right,' Harley yawned and stared back at Monica. They'd been driving for like 10 hours straight, and for the last 10 hours she felt Monica wallowing in sadness. She could no longer take it! "Priscilla, though she's stronger than you, is barely in the top 100. Why do you look like you're beating yourself up? Aren't you proud that the man we share is strong? Why does it have to be a bad thing."

"Heh, maybe you're right, but doesn't that mean he needs to protect us." Monica felt a tear beginning to fall out of her eye while she looked at Harley. Harley, as usual, could see what Monica was worrying about at a glance, and she tried her hardest to stay calm. "If he keeps having to protect us, aren't eventually one of us going to get in his way?"

"Hmmm, I think you're wrong there. I think we will all keep getting stronger, but he'll just do it faster. However, even weak girls like us have value. When we share him at night, don't you think that gives him strength. In a way, aren't you glad we're weak? Haha, why else would he get strong?"

"Monica, I bet one day you'll save him. Whether its with your lips or with that smile of yours. Now come on. Try and be happy that Howard is getting stronger. Please? Just for an hour, let him be him and you be you. He can probably tell how you're feeling! Is that really a way to encourage him to get stronger?"

Monica looked out the window and sighed while she buried her head in her crossed arms. She had on a short green skirt today with a black top that she spent almost an hour picking out because she was so excited Howard would get to see her soon. Maybe Harley was right.

"I-I'll try my best Harley, to be supportive of him, haha. But am I really that transparent."

"Almost as transparent jacket you thought about wearing today when you saw Howard. Now come on. We're like 10 minutes away. 10 minutes away before Howard gets to turn you into a star." Harley winked while she sighed.

'If anything, I'm the only one that's weak here. I'd need a miracle to ever reach the S rank.' Harley dropped her head on the steering wheel before she smiled. 'However, unlike you, I learned years ago how to hide how I feel. If anything, I should be the one doing what you do instead of the other way around.'