Chapter 162: Shattered Return

Howard took three days to fully wake up after using Fire King's Last Stand. 

Inla had made sure to tend to his wounds, but she had just confirmed her brothers had been discovered laying on the floor with their bodies in tatters. Every single important part of her felt like it broke in half. She no longer felt like that little innocent girl that would always be protected on the mountainside. She felt alone, and couldn't stop crying even with a few Authoritarians coming to pay respect.

In 1000 Monster Valley, there was hundreds of Authoritarians that knew of Inla and her four brothers because of their good deeds. They regularly saved weak Authoritarians from the Valleys and made them stronger by teaching them valuable techniques.

Most Authoritarians protected their techniques at all costs, but Warletz and Bracston gave away their best techniques without asking for any help. Because of this, some of their friends and allies had decided to camp around the 56th Mountain Peak in order to protect Inla. Though together they were weak, they were now aware of the Ki Drain ability and had prepared traps to counter it.

Where the Arthraku were originally from, the Eighteen Eyed Juggernaut and many of the other Authoritarians had developed powerful skills to counter Ki Drain such as the Eighteen Eyed Juggernauts strange eye destruction ability. Every time one eye destructed, it sent a surge of Ki into its body that allowed it to breath easy in any battle. After three weeks, its eyes would heal, however, obviously in 1000 Monster Valley this wasn't the case! These Authoritarians had to adapt or they'd die!

"I-I'm guessing it's been a while," Howard smiled and woke up. He saw the gauze on his arms and chest and felt his heart start to race. "Oh god! What happened to your brothers! Where's Bracston!"

"They're protecting another mountain peak now," Inla smiled and turned around. She had the weight of the world on her shoulders, but also wanted to keep it hidden inside of her beautiful eyes. "Hehe, however, what about you? Did you recover your strength?"

Howard sensed his body really quickly and immediately noticed his strength had fully returned. He sighed and smiled before he looked a little bit further. His organs seemed like they were about to break into pieces every time he moved. This was exactly what Jenny said. If he used Fire King' Last Stand again his internal organs wouldn't be able to take it. However, how was he supposed to know that Bracston and Warletz were going to intervene!

He grinded his fist into a ball and smiled before jumping up and immediately pulling something out of his pocket. It was the Ki Jar that Demon King Earl had given him that he just so happened to keep on hand. 

Inside of it, he knew there was a way to get rapidly stronger, but he wasn't sure of how much time he had. He was about to activate it, but then he saw Inla standing in front of him with tears dripping down her eyes. He couldn't just leave her out here and go inside the Ki Jar! If they attacked, and he was distracted, she'd die instantly!

"I take it, by other mountain peak, you mean they died?"

"We aren't one hundred percent sure. Bracston and Warletz have a special healing ability only one in ten thousand Authoritarians are born with called a Silver Heart's Blessing. A Silver Heart is just a special type of heart that only a few Authoritarians have that can heal their bodies even on the precipice of death. However, if that was the case, then why haven't their bodies moved for four days! Those damn bastards didn't' even bury them!"

"I'm so sorry. It's all my fault," Howard rushed over to Inla and gently put his arms around her beautiful blonde hair and kissed her gently. "I'm so sorry! I should've stayed up all night! If I stayed up all night, I would've sensed that Ki Drain Earlier!"

"It's my fault," Inla shook her head. "I-I went to get you this stupid calming Garland and got ambushed and taken hostage! I'm the real reason my brothers are dead! I-I'll never forgive myself! Never in a million years! However, I'm going to kill one of those damn Arthraku! You just watch! I'm going to tear them apart when they least expect it!"

"I-i know you will," Howard stared deep into her eyes, and felt her penetrating gaze. However, Inla could barely manage to stop trembling thinking that her brothers were dead. She smiled and then pushed a tear off her beautiful pale skin before she turned and looked at a giant Authoritarian with silver horns slowly walking in her direction. Turning to Howard, she could tell that the leader of the 56th Mountain Peak had sensed his arrival, and he most likely wasn't happy.

"Howard, how strong are you right now? Have you recovered your full strength?"

"Most likely, however, I'm probably only able to unleash 90 percent of my strength for the next week. My organs are really badly damaged, why?"

"My brother was arch enemies with the leader of the 56th Mountain Peak, and now that I'm here his Authoritarians are regularly coming to check in on me. They-they are protecting me even though my brothers and him fought every month for resources and women! And-and now that you're here, he's even asked to see you! I'm afraid its a trap! I'm afraid he wants to kill you and take away the only man I have left in my life!!"

"Hehe, well, let me go and see him and find out," Howard smiled and brushed back Inla's hair. "I'm really fast when I want to be. I promise, I'll make sure you're always safe, okay! Aftre all, I owe your brothers my life!"

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Howard went to the top of the 56th Mountain Peak and followed a large Two Horned Wilderness Beast. It had an extremely large body with two large horns that seemed sharper then the finest refined sword. However, it was also really nice. It kept asking Howard if he was okay, which was really strange.

"The Leader of the 56th Mountain Peak will see you now," The large beast smiled. It's humongous black eye nested under its horns stared into Howard's eyes while he slowly ascended to the peak. "I'm too large for that small mountain peak, but tell Waxel that I'm going to get us some dinner from the valley. Tell him he's doing it tomorrow."

"Okay, heh, seems fair," Howard walked up the path to the top of the mountain and saw a single man with his arms folded behind his back. He had on a black cape and had two extremely beautiful amber colored eyes. When Howard saw him, his body almost instantly froze. His strength was definitely at least 10 times higher than Warletz from a glance! However, why did he seem so sad?

"I-I'm happy to meet you," The man turned around and smiled. "I just heard Warletz and Bracston died. I was hoping one day those two would take over this mountain."

"We hated each other on the surface, but we both wished each other well. Regardless, they're dead now, and you're still alive. I suppose they'd want me to make sure you live, however, I can't do that. I'm going to go kill those Arthraku right now. Would you mind staying here until I return?"

"I-I don't mind, but wait, shouldn't I kill them?" Howard said while a thousand thoughts fluttered through his head. "If I kill them, then you won't get in trouble. I heard the Arthraku are extremely vengeful. They'll probably come back here and try and exterminate all of 1000 Monster Valley if you wipe them out. How about instead of that, you train me in whatever strange ability you're using. I-I can sense it when I first saw you and it made me terrified. What is that?"

"This? This is the eyes of someone who knows death in and out. Are you sure you want to learn it?" The man's amber eyes began to turn darker while three blue lines began to swell towards his pupil. Instantly, Howard felt the world around him turn cold before he felt like dropping to his knees. It was strange, but terrifying to look into those eyes! What the hell was that strange ability?! 

"Hmph, you aren't worthy of learning this technique yet," Waxel smiled and suddenly appeared in front of Howard with appeared to bea single step. "However, I suppose I should train you. Bracston and Warletz saw something in you. I'm going to make it sharp and then crush it with all my anger and rage! Now are you prepared Howard?!"

"Yes!" Howard smiled and stood up to his feet. "I'm ready!"

"No you're not," Waxel smiled and suddenly his arm blurred. The next moment, Howard shot off the ridge and flew down into a tree almost a kilometer away. "Hehe, strong body for a brat, but I'm sorry. Tonight those Arthraku are dying. Unless, of course, they somehow vanished from existence."