Frank glanced at Alda, understanding soon enough that the ring was communicating with him through Alda! He still had no idea what it was but picked it up as he determined that it was no cursed object.In an instant, Frank felt a mysterious energy shooting into his body, straight into his mind!At the same time, the ground of Ninedell shook, followed by volcanic waves, tidal storms, and other natural catastrophes!Everyone—be it layman or otherwise—could feel the anomaly right then.And in the compound of Lionheart Estate, one of the sophomores researching the spiritron veins announced with somber finality, "The spiritron vein of Ninedell has been claimed!"Even as the Lionhearts were left shocked by the announcement, the rumors spread like wildfire…Meanwhile, Frank had no idea what was happening.Putting on the ring, he quickly hurried back to Ingram Mansion with Alda still on his back.Donnie Ingram happened to be at home, and seeing Alda passed out, he promptly asked, "Wha
"I thought you'd keep your hands clean!"Lara breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, seeing that Frank was being cooperative. "Well, we can leave right now if you have nothing else on your plate.""Sure!" Frank nodded—taking part in a meeting was still better than getting eaten alive by the she-wolves of the PR department."Thank you," Lara said and led Frank out of the office."Hmph! What's so impressive about her? She's just a little younger!"Lara's lofty appearance certainly did not sit well with Linda—they were all employees, but she got to hold herself above the rest just because she was prettier?!-Soon, Lara took Frank to the Davos Hotel, the biggest hotel in town.As Lara stopped outside the main entrance, the bellboy hurried to help her open the door and was grinning ear-to-ear when he saw that it was her."Long time no see, Ms. Gold. It's been a while."Lara ignored him, however, and passed him the keys before opening the door for Frank. "We're here, Mr. Frankton."
"The Turnbulls?"Frank's eyes lit up, and he whipped out his phone to text Vicky Turnbull: [Cease all partnerships with Verde Limited of Shagan, and boycott their operations.]Seeing that Frank was suddenly fiddling with his phone, Verde presumed that Frank was afraid and gloated, "I'm warning you—you'll both be sold as slaves in some third world country if we want! And don't think for a moment that you'd ever make it back!"Lara was terrified. "You don't have to go that far, Mr. Ceres!"It only encouraged Verde to press his advantage. "That depends entirely on if you can show me a good time."As he spoke, he started toward Lara, leaving her terrified and at a loss.However, a staunch figure strode in between them."You should be worrying about yourself." Frank chuckled. "The Turnbulls have just canceled you!"Verde simply laughed. "Oh, you're killing me. What, are you Vicky Turnbull's fiance? You think she'd do just anything you tell her to?"Frank would certainly like to say
Later in the afternoon, when Frank headed to the hospital to visit Jason, he was studying Frank like they were meeting for the first time.Eventually, he sighed. "Aren't you just lucky or what? I heard that as soon as you insulted Verde Ceres, his company was suddenly boycotted, and word is that the man is on the run already!"Tigris chuckled. "Some people are just that lucky, boss! You wouldn't know this, but when we were at Ingram Mansion, he wasn't even worried about kissing Alda Ingram right in front of her father!"Jason laughed. "Well, it makes sense. Just look at that face and that bod. Which woman wouldn't be interested?"As the pair started teasing him, Frank sighed. "Did you call me here just to make fun of me?""Of course not—let's get serious now."Jason quickly shook his head. "See, although it's all over for Verde now, his people managed to find an old tomb. There are some official parties who were made aware of that and were interested in an expedition. Would you h
The next day, Lara and Frank met the leader of the expedition: a young woman named Sylvie Wal.She was in her twenties and wore a windbreaker matched with jeans and stilettos. Her figure was hidden behind her baggy clothes, though it made her look sharp."Hello!"She offered Frank a cheerful handshake and smiled as Frank was silent. "What, do I look too young to be here?""No, of course not," Frank replied as he quickly shook her hand."Don't underestimate me now! I may be young, but I'm experienced in archaeology and have led multiple expeditions into various tombs.""I'm impressed. You're accomplished despite your youth," Frank said in agreement.Sylvie laughed heartily. "It's an honor to receive praise from a handsome man like you! I heard that you're a student from Shagan Agricultural University—shouldn't you be on a farm?"Seeing that she was quick to be friendly, Frank chuckled. "No money in it.""True." Sylvie nodded. "A man like you should be out in the big world. Want
After they crossed a village, the expedition team arrived on a barren piece of land.Sylvie then took out a stud finder from her backpack and checked the surrounding area before stamping her feet on a patch of ground. "This is it. Start digging!""What?!"Lara was unsure how she should react. "If it's a tomb, shouldn't it have an entrance? Why do we have to dig?""Entrance? What, did you think that this is a TV show?"Sylvie laughed. "Most tombs don't even have pillars, and even the pillars of the rare few tombs of kings would erode and crumble from the shifting of the tectonic plates. That's why your so-called entrances would have long since been buried, so don't expect to find some lost world in there. Archaeology is really mostly digging and far different from the adventures you have in mind."Lara flashed a pained smile. "Then why do you need a security escort?""You'll find out soon enough." Sylvie flashed a mysterious smile.Lara did not like guessing games, however, and
Frank really wanted to go down for a look. Still, considering that there were professionals, he decided that he would eventually see what the ring wanted to show him anyway.As such, he nodded and gave in.With that, Sylvie and the rest of her team worked the entire day to excavate the outer structure of the tomb, which turned out to be the size of a football field."Good work! We won't be able to dig the whole thing with our numbers anyway. Let's just wait until tomorrow—I'll ask for a construction team."With that, Sylvie arranged for the team to depart before approaching Frank. "I'm counting on you tonight. Keep both eyes on the dig site and don't let anyone destroy it.""Don't worry!" Frank nodded and arranged for Tigris and the others to set up some tents.Sylvie then giggled. "And set up one for me too."Frank raised a brow, puzzled. "You have no reason to stay."Sylvie laughed. "I'm mostly worried, and being here means I can try to salvage something even if something r
"Now's not the time for that, Mr. Frankton!" Tigris exclaimed urgently. "We're in trouble! You have to come here quickly!""What's wrong?""You'd know when you get here!" Tigris cried and hung up before Frank could ask for details."What's wrong?" Lara asked, though she could tell that something was wrong too. "Sylvie will be fine alone. Let's go back together!"Frank nodded, and they were soon back at the flatlands.Before they arrived, they could hear noisy footsteps but found nothing when they went closer!They soon found Tigris and his men huddled together outside the tents, looking around while trembling."What happened?" Frank asked, hurrying toward him.Tigris almost broke into tears. "Can't you hear the footsteps? They're so close, but we can't see anyone! This place is really haunted!"His men were all nodding and sweating down their backs."Haunted? Not likely!"Frank did not believe in the paranormal.But he did hear footsteps… Could it be…?!"Wait, no… Someone
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