30 Exland Empire

"What's he doing?" Monica said, crossing her arms, "Why does Barabin keep training Howard so hard?"

"I don't know, but we're going to the surface tomorrow," Una gently pulled Monica's hair into a bun, and smiled before kissing her on the forehead. "How's the progress with Howard?"

"Ugh, Not-not bad!" Monica blushed and covered her chest. "We-we kiss every night before we go to sleep! And-and I even let him put his arm over me now?"

"Heh, does he bite you," Una gently patted Monica on the back before spinning her around. "Ha, there, you look like a normal human girl again."

"Will-will they really not be able to see my horn," Monica rubbed the black protrusion coming out of her skull, pouting while looking into Una's eyes. She felt terrified of being back on the normal streets, hearing the noise of everyday chaos, and feeling her powers hiding beneath the surface.

Up above the Furnace, hundreds of miles above, the Ki density was much more spread out. If Monica wanted to create an ice spear, it probably be the size of a pin. If she wanted to keep her old master bed room cool, she could probably do it, however, against the men clad in black, she felt terrified.

"They-they won't be able to see your horns or your back," Una patted her towards the doorway, "Anyways, I hope your little date goes well tonight."

"Kellen promised to sing," Monica bit her lip, and fixed her white dress as her two wings fluttered. "Howard-Howard has been doing something at the oasis every night with Reece. That jerk! He better not be meeting Harley behind my back!"

"Ha, he isn't. Harley visits me every night to haunt my dreams." Una stepped outside and looked at the rising sun, looking at the strange clouds above, before she spread open and took in the air. "Ah, the surface! There is so many things I want to know! Like… How is Jenna."

"Howard! Hit harder!" Barabin created thousands of stone pillars that stabbed through the surface. "Condense your fire Ki into the smallest point possible, and then push it forward!"

"This is hard!" Howard said, holding his hands with sweat dripping down on the desert floor. Holding out his hand, Howard fired all of his energy forward, breaking through hundreds of rocks before a strange feeling spread down his body.

Like a line of light going through his head, Howard turned to the right and ignored the clapping Barabin.

"This-this is bad. Something is coming."

"What? What's wrong?" Barabin patted Howard on the back. "You finally did it. You entered into the D rank."

"Teacher, can I take a break," Howard slowly stepped back, feeling more and more afraid of the distanct expanse. He could feel something inside of him turning, and breaking. His horns swelling out of his head, while a strange force kept causing him to feel inner turmoil and trepidation. "There-there is something… I need to do! I need to prepare for tonight! With Monica!"

"We came to watch!" Una smiled and patted Monica on the back. "We brought the bride! You ready for the honey moon Howard!"

"I got to go… Be right back!" Howard smiled and ran back into the gates of the West Branch, running as quick as he could into the entrance of the building. Sprinting passed all the hallways, Howard reached an open window that lead to the desert.

Jumping through the window, he ran far as he could into the distance. Feeling a strange feeling of terror getting biigger and bigger.

"That thing. That skeleton with three heads! It wants to kill everything I love! I can't! I can't let it find Monica! I-I'll deal with it myself!'

Howard began to run at an angle, feeling something in the air that told him the whereabouts of the Ki Location of this impending nemesis' location. Stepping off his back foot, Howard jumped as far as he could, landing on a mountain before he turned and looked forward.

In front of him, millions of zombies seemed to be waiting beneath him, climbing over each other and tearing off arms on their fellow brethren. Seeing this, Howard turned around, seeing a large creature floating with a sword in its hand.

###

"Where did Barabin and Howard go," Monica pouted, "I got all dressed up for tonight early so he could say something about it!"

"Calm down. They know what they're doing," Una smiled and took out a small amulet from her jean jacket. "I want to show you something. This is who Annibell decided we should meet on the surface. His name is Indell. He knows something about the evil empire that put us down here."

"Evil Empire? Do they have a name?" Monica replied, sternly looking up at Howard and her's bedroom in the front of the West Branch's Main Building. "You mean those people with swords?"

"Yup, they're called the Exland Empire. Stupid name right? Ex… LAND."

"It does sound dumb. Heh, Why are they called that?" Monica raised her brow, checking to make sure no dirt had gotten on her white beautiful attire. "Do they not want any land to exist?"

"Yup, they want this world to be one of pure KI." Una said, looking worriedly at the storm. "A world that they can turn into whatever they want. Terrifying, right?"