Chapter 117: True S Rank

On top of the Carelan's Ninth Mountain Ridge, Barabin fidgeted while watching a blue bus zoom out of sight. He could see Monica and Harley talking on the window of the bus. On the other hand, he was by himself on top of a mountain.

A small trail of blood flowed down the side of his cheek while he watched Howard smiling and laughing with Jenny. He was supposed to be here twenty minutes ago. 

'Did she forget to tell him? Or does she not trust me?' Barabin sighed, and nodded his head. 'She probably thinks I'm dangerous right now and doesn't want Howord to approach me. Damn brat doesn't know I've spent a 100 years in isolation before! Resisting a craving for blood is nothing!' 

Barabin sighed and looked down at the silver pill package, and took out a single white tablet. It had 'West Branch' etched on the pill with a number '5' on the pill that stood for 5 milligrams. He studied it carefully and weighted it in his hands. He recognized the smell of Star Root Grass. A large field of Star Root grew behind the West Branch. 

Twice a year it flowered and beautiful starlight would seem to appear when it's bud opened to germinate it's seeds. The zombies would be naturally attracted to the Ki in the air, and eat a few of the seeds before they exploded. Thus, leading to the seeds planting in various parts of the Furnace.

Unfortunately, it only seemed to be able to grow near large bodies of water, and only grew at the West Branch because of oasis. However, he didn't understand, what exactly could a pill do? Why did he like the smell of it? 

'Should I take it? I'm not a zombie, and my body can take the small amount of Ki inside of it.' The Star Root Plant had a fairly good reputation in Horned Nation for alleviating pain. However, he didn't believe for a second it would help. 'She-she has that damn bottle of blood in her hand! Ugh, what a cunning little girl."

Barabin finally popped a small pill in his mouth and closed his eyes. He knew he was supposed to take two, but first wanted to see the effects.

Stepping off his back foot, he landed by Jenny. Reaching out, he sighed and pointed at the bottle.

"You-you were supposed to get Howard."

'I was telling Howard to bring this to you," Jenny smiled and passed Howard the vintage of wine. "However, I see you came quickly. I'm guessing you tried the pill."

"If it works, you'll be changing my life. However, no biting Howard. Don't think I'm not aware of your plan. " Barabin uncorked the bottle and smelled the scent of blood with a smile. She'd even packed it in a 200 year old vintage bottle that Sally and him had drunk on their anniversary. Thus, he couldn't help but drink it all in one gulp.

He felt a flame instantly surge inside of him with the nourishment traveling down his throat. However, for some reason, the killing intent rose instantly subsided. Did it really work?

Boom!

A surge of energy flew out of Barabin's body before he smiled with his fangs completely drawn. It felt like a monster inside of him had been unleashed! He missed the taste of lbood! His dark brown eyes started to change color to an amber hue while his muscles bulged and his legs slowly started to plump.

Laughing loudly, he looked up only to see something coming towards him in the distance.

"How dare you!" Carter's hand slapped Barabin hard against the face. "I shall exile you demon, be gone!" Carter slapped Barabin dozens of times with each hand while still in the air. His torso then turned and his foot crashed right into Barabin's chest.

He'd never been slapped so hard in his life. He felt the world spin before he spun in the air and flew off into a nearby hill! 

Boom!

Jenny stared in shock as Carter landed and cracked his neck. He created a large machete from thin air and turned to the little girl. He studied Jenny and noticed her brown eyes seemed to be full of shock. What did he do?

"I-I gave him a pill to control the cravings. He's fine, I promise!"

"Oh, sorry," Carter whistled and reached down to pick up his bucket. "I-I thought. I thought he'd try and kill you. That saves me a lot of trouble."

"Ow!" Barabin pushed away a large boulder that had fallen on the center of his forehead and rubbed some small pebbles out of his brown locks of hair. He looked forward and saw Carter whistling and walking in the other direction. He even had the nerve to spin his bucket with a smile on his face.

"I'm not a kid anymore! You can't just hit me!" Barabin launched himself forward at maximum speed. His white dress jacket spun in the air before he stomped against the ground and landed by Jenny and Howard. He looked Jenny up and down and nodded his head. The next moment, he took out the pill packet and down two more consecutively.

"This-this feels great! My body is back and I don't feel like ripping you to shreds! Howard, it's time to train! Let's go."

"Why? Why are you looking at me like that," Howard gulped. "I-I like training with Carter. He's nicer."

"Sorry, but I'm leaving in two days! Ha! This is amazing! I'm going to get you to the peak of the B rank today Howard! You won't be able to escape!" Barabin grabbed Howard's hand and spun his body around. The next moment, Howard shot through the air like a cannon ball and slid against the top of the mountain.

He hopped off his back foot and regained his balance. A few weeks ago, he would've been gravely injured if Barabin tossed him so viciously, but now he had managed to land without getting crushed! So what if Barabin had entered into the True S rank! He could survive his training!

"Howard, today, you're going to be fighting me 1 v 1." Barabin laughed and cranked back his arms. He held them to the side with his palms exposed like a terrifying villain. His chest heaved up and down as he laughed with contentment and merriment. "Ha, however, you won't be fighting the old me. You'll be fighting the new me."

"I'm stronger than before, Barabin. You've been warn… warned…" Howard saw Barabin move but couldn't believe he had already appeared in front of him. Barabin pulled back his arm, his black cape fluttering behind him, before his hand turned and gently touched against Howard's hand.

The next moment, Howard felt his stomach drop. A large burst of energy traveled through him before he felt the world around him starting to crush him into pieces. 

Boom!

Howard collapsed onto his knees instantly while Barabin looked at his hands in shock.

"Well, I guess I'm stronger than I thought," Barabin sighed and looked down at Howard. "However, you will face stronger Howard. Now get up and fight back! Use that head of yours little leader! If you can hit me even once, I'll get Carter to give you a day off!"

"And… I'm up," Howard laughed and pushed himself off the floor. ���Ugh, however, can you not use that again. You touched me, and I could barely remain standing. What was that? Some type of special Ki technique."

'It's the terror of the True S rank," Barabin smiled and cracked his knuckles. "Plus, I just had blood! My power increased by 25 percent! Ha, I feel great! Too bad you have to fight me Howard. You ready?"