Chapter 82: Intense Burden


    The moonlight drizzled into the windows and painted against the oak floorboards in the top floor of the West Branch.


    Monica and Howard could be seen underneath a sleeping back with their arms wrapped around each other. Howard had struggled to get his lips free after ten minutes of their reunion. His jet ck hair had been used like a vehicle to bring him closer to her.


    She seemed both worried and thrilled that Howard had absorbed her Dark Ki today. Truthfully, it had gotten stronger since her brother had arrived, and she almost pped Jenny in the face three times for just being around her. However, today, for the first time in years, the weight on her chest had lessoned. It kept heaving up and down, trying to contain the love she felt for Howard.


    She had on a ck dress and a pair of jean shorts that had gently been curved by Howard pressing his hands against her back. She literally had the marks of his embrace, her skinpletely flush red, while she gently lowered her head into his chest.


    "Howard, I-I''m so grateful for you! Without you, me and my brother would-would We''d probably end up killing each other." Monica bit her lip, staring into his glimmering, green eyes. They looked like two beady orbs that had sunken into his face. "Please! Please don''t push yourself though! I-I''m only kissing you so long tonight because you deserved it!"


    "Heh, I appreciate it," Howard gently brushed back her hair before pushing all his love from his lips to the top of her head. Her melodious voice seemed to seep into his being, and prepared him for the training toe. "I like sharing your burden! It makes me feel better when we cuddle at night!"


    "I''m I''m serious, I-I like you a lot Howard." Monica wanted to p Howard she liked him. It felt like a thousand explosions every time she looked into his eyes. "In-in a few years! I-I want us to beat each other up! Right in this room!"


    "What do you mean?" Howard said,ughing and gently kissing her head. "We got to go to sleep. If I beat you up every night, wouldn''t that hurt you!"


    "That''s not what I mean!" Monica turned around, tossing the nket around her while her face fumed. "Goodnight! Howard! Now put your damn arm around me! You''re to stay around me at all times!"


    One weekter,


    Howard''s body swirled with a ck me, however, this time the me seemed almost scared to be in his presence.


    Holding out his hand, the Dark Ki in Howard''s body seemed to coagte, before it shot up into the sky. Taking a deep breath, Howard sat back down between Monica and Zack. Returning to a calm state while he searched for the Dark Ki lingering around their bodies.


    Barabin had brought out a few beach chairs today so that he could sitfortably. Howard had started being able to handle Dark Ki for 20 minutes at a time.


    ''His bloodline is probably the strongest a Horned can have. It seems like he''s even beginning to get used to using Dark Ki.''


    ''However, my worst fear is that he is able to fully control it. If so, he might be evil permanently, and be able to use a strength that no one can match.''


    Barabin sighed and crossed his arms, leaning back on the chair while he drank a morning cup of coffee. He''d just began getting used to the new food from the current century, and had even had scrambled eggs a few weeks ago.


    Back 100 years ago, chickens weren''t a major food source, and either were poultry eggs. He gently stared up at the clouds, seeing them getting tossed and turned by a malevolent wind.


    ''In a month, the Varlen will be here. The Aresoul will be here. Howard will have topletely shatter my expectations and reach at least the middle stages of the C rank.''


    Students of Horned Nation got divided into three levels once they reached the C rank. 1st Door, 2nd Door and 3rd Door of the C rank. The 3rd Door of the C rank meant someone had gotten close to the B rank! This involved opening three essential Ki Skills.


    ''The first door is Ki Enhancement. Howard can almost do this already. The second door was Ki Transformation, but Howard managed to learn this even before the first.''


    ''Heh, when he enters into the C rank, he''ll already be at the third doorway! Once again, his body is behind him. However, I''m still impressed,'' Barabin watched Howard begin to tremble from the Dark Ki, causing him to somewhat worry. He sighed, stepping towards Howard before his eyes shot open. A maniacal stare appeared on his countenance. It looked like he wanted to crush the world.


    "One more minute!" Howard''s voice seemed to beced with pure malevolent intent. "I-I can feel the bottom of the well, hahahaha! Soon, Monica''s pain will be over."


    "And what? Your''s will begin," Barabin shed forward, smashing his hand into Howard''s face before he surfed against the winds and crashed into a mountain. "Thats'' enough for today. Monica, and Zack. Go back to training."


    "Ugh, I feel bad," Zack got up, rubbing his stomach. "I feel so much better, but what''s with Howard and trying to help us. It feels almost unfair."


    "I assure you. It will make him stronger," Barabin patted Zack on the shoulder, and slowly ambled over towards Howard''s location. His body had gotten so strong that he acted like a cannon ball when he mmed into the mountain. "Now, Monica, Annibell wants you to try and reach the B rank by next month. You''ll also go with Howard."


    "Really? You aren''t going to check on Howard?" Monica got up, shivering when she saw him stand up in the distance. "Ugh, I''ll be right back."


    Monica had started to get scared of Howard when he absorbed her Dark Ki. The more she regained her rity, the more she''d seen her madness start to surface in Howard. It terrified her that he now had to live with her pain.


    "Howard, Are you alright? Why did he hit you so hard?"


    "Because I''m going to destroy it," Howard said, climbing to his feet as his body slowly began to heal itself from the massive st that had his against his chest. "I''m going to destroy the 11th Massacre, and conquer it. I''m going to make sure you two can be happy!"


    "And, what about you, idiot?" Monica flicked Howard''s nose, which was just enough pressure to cause him to copse into her beautiful bosom. "You-you forgot I need you? Who the else am I going to kiss in the Furnace? Do you see any other guys?"


    "Monica, it''s time for Howard''s training," Barabin gently tapped her shoulder. "You can''t be close to him for the next hour. You remember the rules." Barabin didn''t want Howard getting ess to more Dark Ki. It could consume him even with his recent sess in training. "Please, like I said, go train."


    "Hmph, Howard will be stronger than you someday, and then what?" Monica mmed her foot. "Are you still going to try and keep me from him! Are you still going to force other girls to suck his blood!"


    "I-I am his teacher!" Barabin pulled Monica away from him, noticing a ck aura beginning to reappear. "He''s doing this for you, Monica. What are you doing for him but underestimating him!"


    "I-I don''t know. I-I''m still stronger than him," Monica bit her lip. "I-I''ll do what you said teacher. I-I''m sorry."


    "I didn''t mean to," Barabin watched Monica run off before Howard copsed on the floor. The pressure his body had been going through had gotten too intense. He could tell Howard didn''t want Monica to see him falter under the tremendous burden he as bearing. He understood. He also wanted to appear tougher than he was for Sally.


    "Anyways, Howard, today. Just rest." Barabin gently ced him on the floor. "A few weeks from Tomorrow, we''ll be counting on you to save Una. Please don''t disappoint."