"Mmmph!!!"Gavin's eyes widened as sweat trickled down his face and he wheezed—Horey had sliced off his little finger!She then picked it up from the floor, holding it at her phone as she laughed. "Do you understand now, Helen Lane? If you're actually smart, you should be looking for Frank Lawrence and getting his Bloodcrane Spiritbloom for me. You thought some stupid rich family would actually have it?""Stop…"Helen could certainly see Gavin trembling and groaning over the video call, as well as his severed finger. She turned pale as she cried, "J-Just calm down! Huub Droitner is going to find it from Frank's place! Just give me time—please stop hurting my uncle!"Meanwhile, Frank was standing outside the window, and he could clearly hear Helen's desperate pleas from Horey's phone.Naturally, that was not the point, as Helen had just said that Huub was going to find it from his place!His heart grew cold.Helen would actually allow Huub into Cologne Court to find something
"Damn it."Frank could not move when he saw Horey holding the detonator with a vice-like grip, as he also spied a red flash under Gavin's clothes.He would not get hurt by the bomb, but if he pushed Horey too far and she pressed the detonator, Gavin would not survive."Stop, Frank!" Helen cried out anxiously from the phone Horey dropped. "Do you hear me?! Stop! You're going to kill Uncle Gavin! He has to stay safe, you hear me?!It only got Frank irritated, and he snapped, "Shut up!"And with that, silence ensued."Mmm… Mmmph!!!"Gavin's eyes widened as he glanced between Frank and the dropped phone in disbelief. He started to struggle against his restraints, only to tip over and fall on the floor. Even so, his eyes were fixed on Frank, as if to tell Frank to kill Horey—to eliminate the threat and not worry about him!Frank certainly noticed, but he gritted his teeth and shook his head. "N-No. I can't do that."His conscience would not be clear if he had to sacrifice Gavin,
However, there was not even time for Frank to throw the explosives out.His eyes narrowing coldly, he instead gathered all the explosives in his arms as Gavin looked on in shock."Argh!!!" he bellowed, just as the explosives detonated with a resounding crash.Bang!A tremendous ball of flame erupted from the top floor of the abandoned office building, followed by a towering dark mushroom cloud, a shocking sight under the moonlight."Hehe…"Horey Lindt, who had leapt downstairs, laughed savagely as she looked up at the explosion and limped toward the front door, coughing blood as she did. "Bleurgh… That's what you get… for fucking with me, Frank Lawrence! I will get the Bloodcrane Spiritbloom, one way or another…"She had broken a leg, and her lung was pierced by a broken rib when she leapt down the building, and blood trickled out of her nostrils as she breathed."I can get to Helen Lane now that you're gone… the Bloodcrane Spiritbloom is mine anyway… Definitely…"Her rambling
While the building in West City exploded, Huub was in Zamri, leading his bodyguards and raiding Cologne Court."Start looking!" he snapped. "Find the Bloodcrane Spiritbloom!""Yes, sir!" they replied at once.Once inside, they threw all the food that Carol Zims had just cooked on the floor and smashed various antiques and expensive objects. Even the tea set Silverbell gave Frank was left in pieces."What are you doing?!"Winter Lawrence had just come home from work and was having dinner with everyone when they were immediately seized by the bodyguards and shoved on the floor."Search her!" Huub barked, and they promptly groped all over Winter's body."Who are you people?!" Winter shrieked. "What do you think you're doing?!""Get off!"A dainty figure leapt up just then, kicking the bodyguards and sending them flying. It was Kat Yego, and she was pointing at Huub as she bellowed, "Are you crazy?! Messing up my mentor's house?! He will show you once he's back!""The tea seat!
Running over to the Veyron, Nash shielded it while yelling, "Sir, you can search what you want, but stop breaking things! Everything here is precious!"Huub saw the red-black Veyron too, his expression turning cold from sheer jealousy right then. "Wait, that gigolo has such a nice car?! Wreck it!" he barked, not caring about Nash's pleas and waving at his bodyguards."Stop!"Nash cried even as he tried to stop the bodyguards swarming and wrecking the Veyron, only to get beaten up as well."Dad!" Kat went mad when she saw Nash coughing blood and kicked a bodyguard out of the way as she leapt toward Huub.However, with him being the heir to Droitner Inc, Huub's goons were martial elites.As one of them suddenly appeared in front of Huub, he kicked Kat squarely in the stomach.She was a vigor wielder, but she was really nothing against an Ascendant rank—the kick left her coughing blood and sent slamming into the wall, unconscious."Frank, please answer the phone…"Seeing what
Frank was not aware that Cologne Court had been torched, though he did not have the time to worry about it at the moment.He stood between the bomb and Gavin Lane to save the man from the brunt of the explosion—it was fortunate that his physique was of the Transcendent rank, or he would be left in pieces.However, being able to stop the shockwave did not mean that Frank could nullify the blast, as it rushed into the air and left a mushroom cloud.Even as Gavin was left stunned by what Frank did, the force of the explosion rocked the building, and it started to crumble.Still, aside from the finger Horey Lindt cut off, Gavin only sustained some cuts and bruises.In other words, his injury was not all that serious overall speaking."Frank! Frank!" Gavin cried, endlessly anxious as Frank lay in the debris, barely breathing.He did not expect Frank to stay with him even as the bomb went off, even taking the blow for him so that he came out relatively unscathed.The sight of Frank c
Gavin had no idea what to tell Frank just then, as the man had taken a literal bomb for someone as trivial as himself.And on top of that, he survived, though extensively hurt.It took Frank great strength to turn toward the tearful man and shake his head. "Please don't. You've helped Helen and myself a lot… I can't just let you die…""Thanks, son!" Gavin cried, his tears falling silently as he clapped Frank on the shoulder. Helen must have had several lifetimes worth of luck to get herself a man with such loyalty!"Where's Madfist?'Frank turned toward Scarface as he struggled to straighten himself."What…? Oh!"Scarface only came to his senses at Frank's questions, as the way Frank took the bomb alone left him dumbstruck."He told me to watch the door on the side of the building," Scarface exclaimed. "He was supposed to watch the entrance… and then I came when I heard the explosion.""Ah… Sorry about that." Frank sighed.Regret showed on his face—he should have done as Ma
Frank's injuries were extensive—anyone looking around his abdomen would be creeped out from a single glance, as they would be looking at his innards as well.No one would usually survive something like this, but Frank was not an average Joe.Even Madfist was left astounded by his sheer physical fortitude, and he had divine medicinal skills.In the car, Frank had stopped his bleeding, and he took several Ichor Pills that healed the gaping hole in his abdomen at a visible rate.Gavin, who was seated in the same car, was absolutely shocked.They were all trying to send Frank to the hospital for rest and recovery, but he refused as he was worried about Cologne Court, insisting that they return home first.He was worried ever since he heard over the phone that Huub Droitner would be going there, and since no one could talk him out of it, they drove straight back to Zamri.And when they arrived, they were all left dumbfounded at the sight of the inferno, still burning away.Frank's b
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