There was no telling how long Frank had been walking before he finally looked up and around him.He was in the middle of a busy street, and there was a crowd around him, staring at him fearfully.Eventually, a pretty face emerged from the crowd, telling him something he could not quite hear.Frank could not hear what she was saying and could only whimper, despite his best efforts in responding.He had torn off his own vocal chords and could not speak now.The skies were already dark, and everything around him looked like they were dyed in blood—be it the pedestrians, the cars on the road, or… the ambulance?As Frank recognized that it was an ambulance, he limped toward it, using all his strength to shout at it."Stop…"Frank begged inside out, "Please, stop…"The ambulance seemed to hear Frank's call and stopped by the curb.Delighted, Frank limped toward the back of the ambulance and passed a bloodied Kat with both arms to a nurse."Hngh…" He tried to tell the medical staff
The ambulance sped all the way to Zamri Hospital, and the medical staff were quickly discussing the condition of the girl who was just brought in."Her vitals aren't stable. There's plenty of shrapnel in her body—surgery would decide if she survives, but her chances don't look good…""What about the other two?""Nothing we can do. All vitals lost upon arrival…""Hey, what are you doing?!"Nurse Faith quickly stopped Frank, seeing that he was trying to get inside the ER despite being covered in blood.Turning toward a doctor, she explained, "Oh, he's a patient too, Dr. Zinder—he was carrying the girl all on his own when we found them. He's covered in blood, and there's not a part of him that's fine, but he's somehow still alive and kicking."With that, she started pulling Frank toward an ER, snapping, "You're very hurt yourself. Don't go away—let us help you!"To her dismay, Frank seemed not to understand and was insisting on charging into the ER.Nurse Faith therefore had to m
Frank promptly picked up the box of needles, which he opened beside Kat, while also taking a scalpel from a nearby pile of surgical equipment."Hey!"Nurse Faith finally had enough as she saw that Frank really was going to operate on Kat and pressed Dr. Zinder, saying, "Do something! Are you just going to let him operate on a patient?!""Hmph. How is that my problem?"Dr. Zinder folded his arms before his chest, snorting, "He barged in without a word, ready to cut into the patient. It's obvious he's crazy from the start, and I'm not about to mess around with a nutjob."Then, glancing at the security guards around, he added, "And it's their job, no? The man is holding a scalpel—who's taking responsibility if I get hurt?"Nurse Faith was left further anxious as Dr. Zinder was clearly just shirking his responsibilities. "Are we just supposed to do nothing?""So be it. I'm just a doctor—not those martial artists that people like to talk about. Oh, but you could try the chief and let
As the last of the shrapnel was dumped into the basin, Frank breathed out a sigh of relief… and a mouthful of black blood."Guh…"Frank was clenching his knuckles and sweating all over his face, as he was reaching his limit in body and spirit."Take your time. There's no rush."Nurse Faith came up to him, carefully wiping the sweat off his face.Caught by surprise, he nodded slightly in gratitude.Nurse Faith smiled in turn and looked down to find that she had also wiped off dirt and blood."Gosh…" She clasped a hand over her mouth, staring at Frank in disbelief.How did he last until now?"Affixing acupoints, facilitating the flow of vigor…"As Frank continued to stitch up Kat with one hand, he inserted a needle into the acupoint between her brows, stimulating it so that she absorbed the Celestial Dew he had just fed her.Spoon, the Celestial Dew kicked in—it really was more valuable than the Bloodcrane Spiritbloom.As soon as Frank sewed up the gashes on Kat's skin, blood
However, Nurse Faith flinched in shock at the next instant as Frank abruptly collapsed."W-We have to move him!" She shrieked for other nurses and the security guards to help. "And clear the ER!"Just as chaos ensued, a young doctor in a white coat entered, and Nurse Faith exclaimed in delight when she saw who it was. "Chief!""Chief."Dr. Zinder, the other medical staff, and security guards all greeted her too.However, Winter Lawrence's eyes were fixed on the man lying unconscious on the floor, his body a blood mess."Frank!" she cried, her voice cracking. "What happened here?! How did this happen to Frank?!"What? He's… Frank Lawrence?!"Dr. Zinder and Nurse Faith were both left stunned.But seeing that the usually gentle hospital chief was suddenly snappy and furious, Nurse Faith quickly told her everything that had happened since Frank got out of the ambulance."There were two more? Both are dead?"Winter asked, her voice cracking. "What are their names? Have you found
There were just so many gaping holes on Frank's body that needed stitching, and all his internal organs were shot.Along with his other injuries, Winter basically had to sew up a gunny sack filled with holes if she wanted to save Frank, and without filling those holes.In his state, she would not be surprised if he stopped breathing the next instant.In fact, she could only watch as Frank's breathing turned weak, clawing her own hair and almost suffering a breakdown. "What should I do, Frank?! What should I do?!""Gurk…"That was when Frank suddenly coughed violently and spat out a mouthful of black blood."Frank!"Winter's eyes lit up in delight as she watched Frank open his eyes, rasping, "Winter…"-Seeing Winter was like a dream for Frank. She felt so close, yet so far.At the same time, his body was cumbersome, and he could not even lift a single finger."Frank… What should I do? Tell me how to save you! Please, tell me…"Winter's tears were falling on her fall head, l
It went without saying that Frank's heart had stopped, and Winter almost passed out instantly when she saw the flatlined cardiogram."No, that's impossible… Impossible! Frank, Frank… open your eyes! Look at me…"Winter panicked—she expected the risk, but when she realized that she had killed Frank with her needles, she still could not forgive herself.She was left staring as her hands trembled, and she fell to the floor with a thud. "How… How could this be…?"Seeing her anguish, Nurse Faith quickly tried to comfort her. "Chief, it's alright. You have to let him go…""Yes, I have to let him go…"Winter's eyes turned blank as she laughed miserably. "Could you do the same if you killed the one you love the most? Can you?"Nurse Faith felt pained as she looked into those empty eyes too—she had never seen such despair, misery, and endless helplessness in Winter's eyes.Nurse Faith tried to say something but eventually breathed a long sigh as she had no words that could comfort Winte
And just like how dew appears quietly in the mornings, the Celestial Dew's effect was subtle.Unlike the Bloodcrane Spiritbloom, absorbing it was a mild and withdrawn process, but the effect was just as impressive, if not better.Naturally, Frank only felt that when he woke up.It did not take that long either, as it was just two days later.The instant he opened his eyes in his ward, he felt the difference in his physique.Not only was his physique more malleable, but his senses were also sharper, and he could actually hear someone complaining downstairs when he closed his eyes, talking about how unpleasant work was."The Celestial Dew…"As Frank slowly sat up, he instantly sensed the presence of countless foreign objects in his body—the shrapnel from the RPGs and grenades.Winter did not remove those since it was risky, but it was no big deal for Frank as he was now.He could feel that he had advanced well into the Ascendant rank and could control his physical body at will.
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