Chapter 228: Fading Away

Howard spent roughly two hours saying goodbye to Monica, Priscilla, and Harley before he was ready to leave 1000 Monster Valley.

Though it was only two hours, Monica, Priscilla, and Harley seemed like they'd developed so much since he met the first of them just two years ago. Monica, frankly, had yet to come to terms with her new found strength, but was gradually realized whatever Howard did to her had immensely increased her strength. However, she had definitely thanked Howard as much as possible with her and the other girls lips, and even promised Howard a special present when he returned. Soon, Howard would be eighteen, and he could finally get married to all the girls he was with in a grand ceremony. Yet now, now they had to watch him leave. Avena, who had heard Howard 'working' with the girls, sighed while watching him disappear as well.

"I hope you girls don't mind, but I want to train you while I'm here," Avena said, looking at Monica, Harley, and Priscilla. "You especially, Harley, have a lot of strength inside of you just waiting to bloom. It shouldn't take very long for me to get it out. Then, when Howard returns, you can also enter into the S rank."

"Why? Why do you want to train us?" Monica said, watching Howard disappearing into the distance. "Aren't we useless to Howard at this point? We can't even follow in his footsteps, or we'll just hold him back! What do you think you can do?"

"I think Howard left you a bigger present than you realize." Avena gently brushed Monica's green hair before placing her arms around the two girls standing beside her. "Now, girls, you mind telling me how far you and Howard have progressed? I'd love to hear some of the gossip? It sounded like you guys just had a lot of fun."

"We can tell you all about it after you train us," Priscilla turned and looked Avena in the eyes. "You are one of the Demon King Earl's Originalities right? Tell us, do-do you think we can ever measure up to his strongest fighters? Do you see in us what he saw in you? I mean… Demon King Earl you know?"

"I see the same desire to get stronger in all three of you that all of us had." Avena nodded her head and then leaned in and gently kissed all three of the girls on the forehead one after the other. "Now, let's find out how strong you can get, shall we? All three of you, fight me with all your strength. Harley, especially, don't hold back, okay? I know you're hiding some techniques. You like creating your own techniques right?"

'How would she know that by just seeing me. They are stupid techniques anyway,' Harley sighed and shook her head. "Sorry, but all the techniques I created are stupid. Also, I'm still in the A rank. Why don't you just fight these two?"

"Because I feel like you remind me of me, the Hammer Originality. You heard of Demon King Earl's 12 Originalities right? Well, I think, all three of you will becomes Howard's strongest weapons in the future. Now, shall we start?"

###

Howard activated Fire King Sprint for the first time since transforming 59 out of his 60 Ki Hearts.

Boom!

Like a missile shooting from a turret, Howard shot through the desert with his body barely touching the ground. He was so fast, that even he was surprised. One moment, he was by 1000 Monster Valley, and the next moment he was already getting close to Jarlon Valley.

The last time he ran from Jarlon Valley to 1000 Monster Valley, it took him roughly 20 minutes. However, this time, it was like he got 10 times faster! He made it to where Jarlon Valley was in almost two minutes, with probably a few seconds to spare.

He had to be going at least 10,000 kilometers an hour! Such a speed, in the past, was almost unheard of! This was great!

He couldn't help but smile and laugh at his new found speed! This was absolutely incredible! 

Swoosh!

Howard passed Jarlon Valley almost as fast as he approached it before he kept running towards the Jarkalon Abyss. It was right next to the closed Furnace, and after days of talking to Waxel about it, he knew that he'd have no trouble finding its current location.

However, as he was running there, he couldn't help but think about Oclen. He had a feeling something terrible was happening to him right now.

'Even-even when I asked him if he wanted help fighting his brothers, he refused. And then, after getting defeated by them it's pretty easy to extrapolate that he got taken over by Parlee.'

'I-I wish I could help him, but I guess this is what Teacher Annibell and Reslan meant. If you try to help everyone, you'll end up harming everyone at the same time. Well, Oclen, I promise right now that when I meet your father I'll do everything I can to kill him! Just you wait! Once I breakthrough into the SS rank, once I understand the last barrier! I-I will find your father and destroy him then, the only one remaining will be the Great Last King!!'

Swoosh!

Howard shot forward at his fastest speed towards the Jarkalon Abyss, passing by the Aresoul Camp where he remembered Una almost being executed. There was so many memories in the Furnace. He couldn't help but smile as he got closer and closer to the next part of his journey.

'Everyone, soon, I will make sure we rule the Furnace!' Howard thought while he finally saw the large curving lands that would lead him up to the next level of the Furnace. 'Let's just hope I'm strong enough to handle it!'

###

Just outside of Jarlon Valley, near an area called the Lost Hills, a person was lying with his body in the mud.

He had dark brown hair, and used to be one of the proudest warriors of his nation. Yet, right now, it felt like his entire body had been completely desiccated. All of his strength, seemed to have been taken from him by the being that had invaded his body.

That person, once known as Oclen, was now just a shadow of his former self.

Oclen's body laid face down in the dirt with his arms and legs ripped from his body.

Three of the five Authoritarians he had inside of him had been completely destroyed. At the moment, the pain he felt simply couldn't be described in words. His goals hadn't even become close to being reached. In fact, he was pretty certain, unless something happened, he'd die in less than five minutes.

'I-I'm sorry Howard. I said we'd fight Armecolith together, but the only thing I did was cause you pain.'

'I could've asked you to help me fight my brothers, but instead of doing that I simply chose to fight them by myself. And then… when Parlee showed up, I could've at least tried to attack him so I didn't end up hurting the girls you loved. I-I'm pathetic! I'm completely and utterly pathetic!"

Oclen looked down at the last of his blood flowing out of his body and closed his eyes. 

He didn't want to die! Not with his father undefeated and all the women he wanted to be with in his life still not in his grasp! However, he knew in just a moment, unless a miracle happened, his life was going to completely vanish into the other world.

'Howard, please-please get revenge for me,' Oclen shut his eyes before he turned completely pale. The next moment, all his Ki Hearts stopped. All that remained beating was his one final heart in the center of his chest, but in just a moment, that too would vanish. 'I-I'm also sorry mother! Sorry for not making you happy! I'm so sorry!"

Oclen let the final tears drip out of his eyes before he finally felt the cold overtake him. No matter what he wanted now, all that seemed to be waiting for him was the endless darkness of death.

'Goodbye,' Oclen smiled, 'Hehe, and thanks Ho-Howard. Thanks for pretending to be my friend for a little while. It was-was f-fun."