Chapter 224: Venturing Forward

Howard finished developing his 59th Ki Heart and then watched Waxel leave as Monica walked inside the training room chamber.

Waxel seemed to know almost immediately that Howard would want to be alone with Monica. However, he couldn't help but smile at the beautiful girl as she walked passed him.

Monica, seeing him leave, instantly felt a strange sense of fear in her gut. Today was the day she was supposed to get her Ki Hearts. Today was the day that Howard was going to be in complete control of her future.

'He looks like he got even stronger. What am I doing here wasting his time?' Monica thought while she saw Howard smiling at her with his muscular frame fully in view. 'He-he doesn't need you Monica! You should just come up with an excuse and leave! That way, you won't be bothering him so much!'

"Monica, you seem worried, haha. What are you doing? Why haven't you attacked me yet?"

Howard looked at Monica staring at him with her green-blue eyes before he finally felt like something inside of her snapped. She instantly jumped into his arms and hugged him with all her might. Tears started flowing down her eyes that were a mixture of both happiness and fear. She was terrified that she was going to fail today, but also happy that Howard was here to support her!

"I-I'm sorry I'm so weak! I'm sorry I couldn't have helped you save your grandfather! I-I don't even know if he's alright yet."

"Hehe, he just passed you. I think I saw him study you. He even gave me a nod of approval," Howard said and gently brushed back Monica's hair before he kissed her once more. "And what are you talking about? I want to protect you more than anyone on the planet. You don't need to apologize."

Monica looked at Howard and wiped off her tears before she smiled and nodded her head. 

"Hmph, well, haven't you grown up," Monica said before she bit her lip. "You think it's okay if I have some kissing you over and over fun with you before we start? To calm down my nerves?"

"I'd like to do that, but I have a feeling I don't have much time," Howard turned to the distance and felt a distinct presence emitting from somewhere in a nearby canyon. He could almost sense it was someone in the SSS rank because of his new developing intent. "How about this? If you get up to 55 Ki Hearts, I will spend an extra night here, but only if you can manage to do that."

"I-I'm not expecting to get more than ten, but I'll try for you," Monica sighed and snacked on Howard's lips one more time before crossing her legs and sitting on the floor. She could already feel how to develop her first Ki Heart, but her nervousness was palpable. 

Howard smiled and kissed her gently one more time to ease the pain she had brewing in her heart.

'I-I should probably tell her what I'm going to be doing,' Howard put his hands on Monica's shoulders while she shut her eyes and began focusing on her hands and specifically the major meridian located in the center of her fist. For some reason, he had a feeling Monica wouldn't want to be assisted with developing her intent.

She had such a strong personality that in the past, when he tried to help her train even at Jarlon Valley, she seemed to almost resent his help. She wanted to get stronger on her own, but he needed to help her right now! After all, wasn't she here anyway expecting his help?

"Monica… I-I wanted to ask you. Are you okay with me helping you totally? Or do you want me to only interfere when you're having a hard time?"

"Howard, I-I realized recently that I'm weak and powerless compared to you. I spent months thinking about ways to catch up to you. When I think about it, at your last birthday, you were already becoming stronger than me. You fought with Barabin, and actually managed to stay in one piece while I did my best just waiting for you to finish."

"You-you are pretty much in charge of me right now, just like you will be in charge of me when I'm your wife. I-I know that I'm selfish, and that it's selfish for me to want to be stronger than you. However, that doens't mean that I don't want your help! I want you to make me a 1000 times stronger if you can! I don't care anymore! I just want to be by your side!"

Monica seemed to feel something inside of her snap when she said those words, and Howard couldn't help but feel his connection with her grow.

'So, I guess then I don't have to hold back.' Howard smiled and gently rubbed Monica's shoulders before plucking her pink lips one more time. "Very well then, start Monica! I know you can do it!"

###

Monica's Ki Hearts started to go quite quickly with Howard's help, and it was even a pace that Priscilla hadn't managed to accomplish.

Monica, however, didn't understand what Howard was doing to her Ki Hearts. It's like every time she was about to create a Ki Heart, she'd feel something extra flowing into her. A feeling that she couldn't explain.

"I'm putting my intent into your Ki Hearts." Howard tried to comfort Monica while he felt her attention waining. "I know it feels weird, but trust me it's useful. Just keep focusing okay?"

"Did-did you feel a lot of pain when you were doing this?" Monica's brow twitched in agony while she looked up at Howard. She had tears coming down her eyes and her chest was heaving up and down. She was wearing a grey jean jacket, but at this point it had been covered with sweat. Howard could see the white shirt she was wearing underneath as he looked down at her eyes. "However, for you, I'd take almost any amount of pain in the world! I-I will do it Howard! I will make it to 50 Ki Hearts!"

Howard smiled and nodded his head while Monica once again returned to focusing on her Ki Hearts. The next second two Ki Hearts seemed to flourish at the same time! Even Howard hadn't been able to do that!

"What a terrifying procedure," A voice could be heard in the distance, instantly causing Howard's stomach to churn with fear. "I-I see… So you are the one who made it to the top of the Mountain. I shall let the others know."

###

Monica got up to roughly 45 Ki Hearts in less than three hours.

She had managed to make her Ki Hearts almost 3 times faster than Priscilla. Yet Howard was keenly aware that Monica was running out of steam. Even with his help, he didn't see her getting to more than 50 Ki Hearts.

'Am I pushing her to hard?' Howard forced his intent into the 46th Ki Heart that Monica was making to force it from collapsing. Basically, Howard had been doing this for the last 10 Ki Hearts. 

He figured out when Priscilla was making Ki Hearts that his intent could allow him to minorly assist in someone else's Ki Heart development. Of course, if he knew the reason, he'd be using it much more efficiently right now. When he used his intent, unlike Priscilla who had been unconscious. He could tell Monica experience an almost indescribable pain.

"Please-please don't worry about me. Do that one more time, Howard. I-I don't care if you're helping me." Monica had a trail of saliva coming down her mouth while she looked up at Howard. She could see his black hair only vaguely. The entire world in front of her seemed to have blurred. At the same time, she felt so much pain in her gut that she hardly felt like she was alive. "Howard, I can take any pain as long as it makes me useful! Please, keep doing that until I make 50 Ki Hearts!"

"Try and go 8 at once!" Howard said, pushing his hands into her shoulders. "If you really want to get stronger, than force yourself! Force yourself to go beyond your boundaries! Activate as many Ki Haerts as you can! Do you think you can do it?"

'For-for you Howard," Monica's eyes started to water while the last of Howard's face disappeared into the blurry world that had appeared in front of her. "For you, Howard, I-I will do almost anything haha. However, if I fail, will you still always kiss me first? Hehe, you won't forget about me, will you?"

Howard shook his head and saw Monica close her eyes and then instantly use the last bit of her strength to start the process to make the final Ki Hearts. 

Instantly, a total of 4 Ki Hearts started to grow in Monica's body while she almost instantly passed out. 

Howard smiled and then instantly used his intent to cause those four Ki Hearts to grow to full size. Rubbing her on the shoulders, Howard smiled before gently putting Monica down on the floor. She had done so well, but even she had no idea how strong Howard had just made her.

"You now have 51 Expanded Ki Hearts. You, right now Monica, are probably as strong as Waxel and you don't even know it. Sleep well. While you're here, I might as well develop my Silver Ki Heart too."