"Heh."Frank snorted fearlessly despite Sif's threat, even grabbing her thighs."What are you doing—argh!!!"Sif actually thought for a moment that Frank would force himself on her, only for Frank to break her legs with relative ease, leaving her with heartrending agony."You're not getting away now," Frank smiled sinisterly, flashing his bright white teeth.Sif finally understood fear in that instant even as she was left sprawled on the floor.She watched as Frank left her and walked toward Vicky, intent on cursing him, but she was in too much pain to do so.All she could think just then was that Frank was far more powerful than she thought, and barely a handful of individuals in her family could take him down…And that she could not die here yet!Gritting her teeth, she started crawling toward the stairs with all her strength, bolstered by the thought that she must escape. And once she did…-On the other hand, Frank had cut Vicky loose and relocated her arm."Frank…" V
Seeing that Damon had Vicky, Frank did not hesitate. "Deal."His quick response actually left Damon taken aback. "Are you sure, kid? Were you really listening to what I'm saying?"Despite his nonchalant expression, his eyes were glued to Frank, as if to read what was really on Frank's mind."I am, though I have a condition in return," Frank said and pointed at Vicky. "I'm not interested in the Turnbulls' affairs, but the Lionhearts are not to bother Vicky's immediate family in Riverton.""Sure." Damon nodded, but he soon snorted.Both his eyes and Frank's narrowed, reading each other's intentions right then.Damon was just using Vicky to divert Frank's attention and find an opening, while Frank was just responding haphazardly in his attempt to get Vicky back.For Frank's part, he could see that the old man was more than met the eye, and the fact that he easily agreed to Frank's request meant he was at minimum a Lionheart executive.On the other hand, Damon was narrowing his eye
Damon laughed. "Hah! Names are all the same. They're all just syllables. But you are here now, a mere Birthright rank. Your abilities really leave much to be desired!""That's not up for you to decide." Frank sneered, his eyes red—he could not hold back against an opponent who was a full rank higher, or he would get killed."Very well." Damon smiled. "It seems you're ready to put your life on the line… Though you have been a constant thorn to the side for us Lionhearts, I shall be getting rid of you once and for all. Remember—when the reaper asks, it's Damon Lionheart who sent you!"Suddenly, a gust of violent pure vigor erupted away from him, almost knocking Frank off his feet."So this is the power of peak Ascendant ranks…?" Frank muttered to himself.While Ciril Janko was a peak Ascendant rank individual as well, Frank fought him under unusual circumstances, and Ciril was barely going all out.And now that Frank was facing one who was not holding back, he was certainly pressur
A old man in Draconia's military uniform emerged from the darkness, laughing raspily. "Hehehe…""What…" Frank struggled to get up despite the agony of his broken ribs, as he recognized the geezer right then.He was Frank's father, worshiped and admired across Draconia, and the bane of Talnam—the Lord of the Southern Woods!"What are you doing here?!" Damon was actually panicking, even fearful as he stared at the rows of military medals adorning Godwin Lawrence's jacket.It was certainly unusual for a peak Ascendant rank to react like that, especially when he was so nonchalant when he first showed up.And he was a man whose power was above question, too!"Hehe. I'm just taking a stroll before I kick the bucket," Godwin said calmly, a slight smile showing on his lips as if recounting the good old days with a friend.Damon kept backing away until he felt his back reach a wall. "Don't you remember the agreement you signed three years ago?!" Damon snapped, but he was glaring warily
Frank struggled to look up just as the scarlet lion shot past him, his pupils dilating when he saw what happened.Damon, who thoroughly overwhelmed him and unleashed such a frightening technique at Godwin, was caught by the neck, his feet dangling and kicking in the air.It was such a plain counter, as if Godwin did not use an ounce of pure vigor."What the…" Frank was actually left murmuring out loud in disbelief. "Watch closely now, brat," Godwin said calmly. "This is called the Lioncrusher—your grandfather taught me that, and it's used specifically to crush Lionhearts."On the other hand, Damon's eyes were starting to roll up into their sockets even as he flailed around, his entire body feeling like it was being jolted persistently."I know what you're going to say." Godwin chuckled. "Why is it called the Lioncrusher, no?"Damon gasped. "You wouldn't dare…"Splat!Suddenly, Damon's body bloated like a balloon before blowing up in a large puff of bloody mist. His blood spla
Vicky breathed a sigh of relief when Frank appeared, but Jet and the other Turnbull blackguards were immediately snapping at him."What have you been doing, Frank Lawrence?!""Why weren't you protecting Ms. Turnbull?! What were you doing down there by yourself?!"Frank was so shocked by their accusations that his vigor churned, aggravating his blood and causing him to cough out a mouthful of blood."Are you alright, Frank?!" A petrified Vicky hurried to his side before wheeling on Jet and the other Turnbull blackguards with a furious glare."How many times do I have to tell you?!" she bellowed. "Frank was fighting one of the Lionhearts' best, and none of you helped him! And you're now snapping at him after he won?!""Forgive me, Ms. Turnbull, but we're supposed to prioritize your safety," Jet replied, frowning and clearly upset that Frank was alive.In fact, Frank vaguely sensed his look of disappointment when he stepped out of the elevator."Heh. Well, that's not important." F
"Oh, what a pathetic bunch…" Vicky sighed as she suddenly remembered everything Sif said to her downstairs."The geezers of the Turnbull family would never dare turn against us Lionhearts! I've looked into your family—none of them would even give a damn if you die here. All they care about is protecting their precious wealth, while living in fear of the day we Lionhearts would come for them!"Vicky's heart bled even as she laughed at the thought—how could her family be so short-sighted? Endless compromising and never stepping up against their enemies, all in the name of self-gain. What was that if not handing their enemies rope to hang them with?They felt nothing even if Titus was exposed for his savage ambition, rather living one day at a time.Likewise, they never showed any gratitude, not even if Frank saved them from the literal lion's jaws."Mongrels," Vicky swore under her breath."What was that?" Jet thought he misheard."I called you a mongrel!" Vicky snapped at him i
Sif kept bellowing, "You, Vicky Turnbull… Everyone around you! None of them will be spared, I swear!"Her threat left Frank incensed, and he turned to bellow at Jet, "You heard that, didn't you?! Aren't you blackguards supposed to protect the Turnbull family?! Sif is threatening to hurt them, and you're just standing there?! Is your brain smooth or something?!"Jet, however, remained unmoved. "That's your personal grudge against Ms. Lionheart. I'm afraid you've made the wrong move if you're planning to use us against her.""Shit!" Frank bellowed furiously, wanting nothing less to round up the Turnbull blackguards and burn them. "You're not going to fight back even if your enemy has a blade against your neck?! When are you going to do it—after they stab you half to death?!"His words did not sway Jet at all, and he even shook his head. "The blackguards carry out orders of the Turnbull family—not you, a person of no consequence. If I were you, I'd really stop flailing around like you
Frank snorted. "Alright, I'm hanging up. I'm getting started over here soon.""Yeah. Good luck," Jouri replied.Hanging up, Frank looked up at the waterfall overhead, and then at Skyler, who was standing beside him. "So? Is it time yet?""Almost… Now!" Skyler's eyes were glowing even as she stared at her watch."Alright."Frank looked up just as the skies abruptly darkened. "Ah, there it is—the eclipse."The sun seemed to disappear, and the world was suddenly shrouded in darknesses.And beside him, a stone door imbued with the power of the spiritron vein also rumbled as it parted."Got it!" Frank rushed inside without another word as soon as he saw it."Hmph. I'm surprised that you could reach this place." A cold, wrathful voice resounded inside even before Frank got a hold of his surroundings.Looking up, Frank found a youth in a black cossack and sporting grey-white hair, standing upon a cliff as he looked down on him.Frank chuckled. "Hehe. Like I said, I've come to kill
Frank narrowed his eyes. "Is that so?'Crane shrugged. "I don't mind giving it to you straight—members of Torrent are actually… Ahem. A part of Torrent himself."Frank paused. "What's that supposed to mean?""You don't get it, do you?" Crane grinned. "Then let me put it to you this way—every member is a clone of Torrent.""A clone?" Frank gasped in realization."Yes," Crane nodded. "That's why I believe that challenging Crane is just suicide. You have no idea how powerful he is—only death awaits you down that path."Frank smirked. "Oh, but I don't think so."Crane rolled his eyes. "Fine, whatever—now listen closely. You will find Torrent in the Mystic Trail, but you would only find that place when the sun and moon coincide, and the entrance is beneath the waterfall south of Horton."As he finished, he snorted coldly. "I have no idea if you can actually do it, but I'm hoping you do kill him… Heh. I'm getting tired of being stuck under his control for so long."Then, waving off
Frank abruptly turned, immediately noticing one of the Cranes crouching, ready to spring forward and blindside him."Got you!" He laughed."Hah! You fell for it!"Just as Frank swung a punch to pulverize that Crane, he suddenly burst into pus that splashed at Frank's face."Damn it!" Frank took a step back, surprised that the clone's presence was identical to the real Crane, and a trap on top of that!"Die!"The Cranes around him each whipped out a dagger, all of them stabbing at Frank at the same time."Get off!" Frank bellowed, unleashing a shockwave that sent all the Cranes flying across all directions."Frank! Above you!" Skyler suddenly shrieked."Yes! I'm right here!" A strange laughter sounded above Frank just as he wiped the pus off his face.Crane was suddenly directly above him, launching an aerial kick straight at Frank's head, and Frank had no time to dodge!"Die!" Crane's smile curled into a twisted angle as he saw that too.He was very confident with this kick
"Disgusting…" Skyler murmured through her hand.Despite being skinned and scalped, the women were all still alive and singing to the music that was playing despite their anguish."Talk about a terrible fetish."Frank was scowling too—why were all the members of Torrent such sick deviants? It seemed like his plan to wipe them out was absolutely correct!"So, you killed my clone?"The lanky man on the couch slowly turned to level his bloodshot eyes at Frank.His lips were wet with bed as they curled upward into an eerie smile."Clone?" Frank narrowed his eyes."Hehe. It's a sage art."Crane shrugged as he stood up and wiped the blood off his lips. "It's only natural that you don't understand… Still, you deserve praise. If you can kill my clone, that means you're not just slightly stronger than Ghost."Naturally, the man was none other than the real Crane.Still, as Skyler studied him from a corner, even she could notice the strange twitch of his fingers, and his veins were pro
Even as Crane ran, he was looking over his shoulder, his heart pounding. "No… I won't win in a one-on-one!"No, as long as I get back to my real body… we can do this together!" He frowned, having seen how Frank sliced off the pinkies of those hood rats. It hence quickly dawned on him that Frank was not just slightly stronger than Ghost, as Torrent had put it!"Almost there!" He gasped when he saw the signboard of Pegasus Showtown in the distance. "As long as I get there and rendezvous with my real body, that brat will lose—"That was when he turned and saw that a shadow had caught up with impossible speed."What?!" Crane's eyes almost popped out in bewilderment. "What speed is that?! Are you kidding—"Even as he spotted the shadow, the shadow turned into a youth with an impassive visage.His fist outstretched, he was clearly punching toward Crane's forehead!"Argh…"Even as Crane looked on, the youth's punch slowed down by tenfold, but his fist kept closing in.Then, whe
Seeing Skyler sigh, the tattooed thug presumed that his extortion worked.He strode up, grabbing Frank's shoulder. "No one's gonna help you, boy. Pay up, or you're not leaving.""Exactly! You're not getting away!" the crowd of hood rats hollered. "Last chance."Frank's eyes were cold and fixed on Dani, however. "Are you going to intervene? If you do, you can keep that check. If you don't…""Ugh. Fuck off! I don't care!" Dani spat, her expression smug as she folded her arms before her chest. "Who do you think you are to threaten me?!""Exactly! Pay up, and you can leave!""Yeah! Ten grand, at least!""You probably don't know my boss Wyvern, but when he's here, you won't get away with just ten grand!"Even as the crowd closed in, Frank shook his head. "Well, you had your chance. Don't blame me for what happens next.""You're giving us a chance?! Hah! Who—argh!"Even before Dani could finish gloating, Frank was suddenly in front of her, grabbing her viciously by the wrist."Arg
"Five grand?! Did you hear that?! He just threw five grand!""Must be a rich kid coming here for a secret rendezvous, out of prying eyes? Those types are the easiest mark!""Fuck! And Dani got one of us… It hurts me more than losing at the races!"Frank could hear the buzz around him but ignored it as he strode past the men flanking him and headed toward the street that stank of blood."Stop!" A big tattooed man grinned sinisterly as he intercepted Frank.As his buddies encircled Frank as well, Frank snorted—it seemed that they took his reaction for a sign of weakness and thought that he could be cowed.The tattooed man rubbed his chin as he leered at Skyler's voluptuous figure, chuckling. "Look, boy. I'm short on cash, so let me take a loan. I'll pay you back some other day, how about that?"His friend laughed. "Exactly! You just gave Dani five grand, and we won't ask for more… just four, how about that?"Skyler scowled in turn and glanced worriedly at Frank beside her—was he
Frank himself had just stepped out of the nightclub when his eyes narrowed."Blood," he murmured, his nostrils twitching."Blood?"Skyler sniffed the air, puzzled. "I can't smell it.""It's from the opposite street… I smell the blood of over a dozen people.""A dozen?!" Skyler did a double take.He could identify the number of people who were killed?! That was just ridiculous!"Come on, let's take a look."Just as Frank led the way toward the source of the stench, a woman suddenly came up, catching Frank off guard and throwing herself into his arms."Hmmm?" He looked down to see that she had thick makeup, average looks, and a rather pudgy belly."Argh! He touched me!" she pointed at Frank and shrieked even before he realized what was happening."What?!" Skyler was staring at the woman too, mystified."Oh, sister! You just didn't see it!"The woman kept hollering, pointing at Frank's face. "Your boyfriend grabbed my ass! Is that how you teach him manners?!""Teach him ma
Wyvern screamed even as he clutched the stump that was his hand, screaming so shrilly one might mistake his voice as inhuman."Oh, just shut up." The lanky man glowered and launched a kick, reducing Wyvern into puddles of blood and pieces of innards, splattering all around the lobby. "Argh!!!" the devilish lady screamed as she watched the carnage unfolded."Another sound, and you'd end up just like him." The lanky man turned and frowned at her impatiently."Hngh…" The devilish lady promptly clasped a hand over her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes as she trembled."What the hell?!"Outside, Wyvern's lackeys heard the screams and ran inside, looking for him. "Hey, where's Wyvern?!"However, the lobby was too dimly lit for them to notice the blood and guts scattered around the walls, and they only sensed that terrible stench."Hngh…" The devilish lady was too scared to speak, and tears trickled out of her eyes."Fuck!"One of the lackeys strode up and seized the lanky man