The feminine voice changed her angle right then. "I would still insist that there's too much unknown about this energy we're testing. There's no telling how we're supposed to apply it optimally… but there's only a small chance that the limitations wouldn't apply."That was where the video ended, and the contents certainly matched what Frank had encountered this far.That elderly voice was most likely the geezer whom he had encountered in the backroom of Torchwood. As for the energy they were referring to, it was most definitely the power obtained by the hero depicted in that tomb—the energy of the spiritron vein.That certainly explained how the hero's armies disappeared—as the feminine voice suggested, that energy bound them despite its abundance. Once claimed, the individual would definitely be killed if they left Shagan.And since the power could be granted to others, that geezer must have granted it to others!However, that begged a bigger question—since that geezer was alread
Frank received a call from Lara on the way back. "Mr. Frankton? I have news for you—that person headed to an abandoned textile factory in the suburbs. I'll send you the address!"Frank's eyes lit up, and he promptly turned the Range Rover and headed to the suburbs.An hour later, he stopped outside the textile factory and alighted.He felt the unusual energy swirling as soon as he set foot there but headed into the factory without hesitation.A person appeared as soon as he strode through the gate, his back hunched and dressed just like a beggar as he leaned on a wooden cane.He studied Frank from head to toe and sighed. "Shame about that pretty face."Suddenly, he was right in front of Frank, swinging his cane straight at Frank's head.Frank sidestepped it and launched a kick at his left shoulder in retaliation, sending him flying into the dormitory straight ahead with a bang!The deafening crash drew everyone's attention, and everyone was stunned to see a youth standing right
Sally continued, "Then, by sheer coincidence, I also found that tomb under that barren ground and gathered some valuable information through the ring.""The part that was vandalized?" Frank asked.Sally nodded. "I guess you've been there too! That said, I wouldn't know anymore than you do—I only vandalized a small portion, while the rest were vandalized centuries ago."I treated the ring like a toy as you did and wasn't particularly worried, until I triggered its power when I was examining some artifacts in a chemistry lab. Since then, I devoted all my efforts into studying the ring, while also gaining the financial backing of that geezer you murdered. His name was Machi Godot, by the way—rich, but the jobless type."Anyway, we uncovered a method to create new superhumans through experimenting. We managed to circumvent the limitations of the new energy we were harnessing, so that some of the superhumans could even leave this region to a certain distance… But we ran into a problem a
Sally did not take the ring and instead took off her jacket, baring her left shoulder.Although Frank was afforded a glimpse, he had no intention of ogling—instead, he was staring at the tattoo of a dragon head on Sally's shoulder."It's a terrible curse!" she exclaimed. "Everytime I felt sick and went to the hospital to check, every type of terminal symptom seemed to happen all at once—tumor growth, organ failure, everything!"Worst of all, by the next visit, all the old symptoms will be gone, replaced by new symptoms!"Frank understood right then. "So you're suggesting that the spiritron vein is torturing you to death!"Sally flashed a pained smile, nodding. "That's why I have to help you if I don't want that, not to mention that it helps my research. It doesn't matter if you doubt me—I'm already on death's door!"Frank naturally believed her—how else would a farmgirl suddenly turn into the kingpin of Shagan, doing anything she liked?Nonetheless, Sally led Frank to the wooden
"You're not leaving?"Frank was not sure if he should laugh or cry, seeing that Sylvie was staying put.Sylvie shrugged. "Why would I? Now give me your phone. I'm applying for leave." "So you two know each other?" Alda asked as she sat beside Frank.Sylvie giggled. "Oh, we go far beyond knowing!"Alda always had an accurate six sense and soon guessed the connection. Still, it was normal for men to fool around, so she was not concerned."Well, since we have nothing to do, let's play poker!" Sylvie then suggested."Huh?!" Alda flushed right then."I mean actual poker! What are you thinking?" Sylvie smiled at Alda, surprised that the maiden was so knowledgeable despite her naive appearance."N-Nothing!" Alda quickly said.However, they played for over an hour and got bored, so they went out for a stroll.At the foot of the hill, they met an old man who was heading up the hill to pick fruits and other herbs.He immediately ran up to the trio, asking, "Is that villa yours? It
"Well, things are different now!" the old man exclaimed. "The north end is the same old, but the south is totally different now! Hell, they built a villa right out of the hill's body—it's really amazing!"On top of that, there's a tiger prowling there, and it stood over three feet tall!"Even if he painted such a vivid picture, everyone around him remained skeptical.However, it was still a tale to tell for the villagers, and the geezers who heard it were all telling their families about it.Eventually, the youths in the village gathered that night and left the village as they headed to the southern side of the hill, led by a big man in his twenties."The old man wasn't lying. That's a grand villa!""Let's take photos. We have to show it to everyone—the life of the rich is something we can't imagine!""Why don't we just check it out? There's no one else around anyway, and we'd live comfortably for the rest of our lives if we find anything good!"The group quickly split into two
"Just you wait. This isn't over yet!" Scar bellowed as he struggled to his feet and ran with his thugs down the hill.Sylvie simply laughed as she yelled after them, "I'm waiting right here! Don't go back on your word now!"-Beneath the hill, Scar ran up to a big man, exclaiming, "Ifor! Someone up there beat us up. Do what you will!"Ifor Stam chuckled coolly. "You deserved it. Who would attack you if we weren't stealing their stuff?"Scar was incensed. "You want to get hit, huh?!"Ifor snorted, undaunted. "I'm not afraid of you like the others are—or have you forgotten how you got that scar? You keep bragging that you got that from another man, when in reality, you're so weak that you can't even cut poultry and hurt yourself!"Everyone was taken aback and soon laughed themselves silly.Scar was naturally even more furious, being exposed and belittled on top of that. "It's not just us—those people will brag about beating our village! And what, you're now a migrant or something
Sylvie was slightly furious. "What, are you belittling me just because I'm a woman?!"Ifor smirked but ignored her as he walked straight toward Frank.In just two steps, they all heard a noisy rustle of bushes and turned to find a dozen glowing eyes glaring at them."I-Is that a ghost?" Scar asked, afraid."Ghost, my ass." Ifor snorted in annoyance. "There's no such thing—it must be some animal. The old man was right—there's something strange on this hill!""Quit spacing out. Let's leave already."Ifor was ready to turn and get away, only to find several wolves standing on the path, led by a gigantic tiger!"What the hell…?"Ifor and the others were shocked.This was no movie, and tigers were highly territorial—why would they allow a pack predator to prowl around its turf?Other predators such as lions and bears were appearing behind Frank too—basically anything that should not show up here!It was just so strange!"W-What should we do?"Scar and the others turned to Ifor—
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