The abbess had been ready to kill—a taboo against her vows that deserved divine retribution.If her sacrifice could at least save her sisters, it would still be a virtue.Nonetheless, Frank rolled his eyes. "You're getting the wrong idea here. I'll return your powers and then some, but you'll all work for me from now on!"Don't worry—I don't know much about religion, but I shall respect it. None of you will be forced to break your vows or commandments."The nuns' eyes lit up—that did sound like a fair trade!Frank raised his ring, and in a split second, endless radiance shrouded the nuns, while another blue flash shot toward Jada."Me too?" Jada asked, perplexed."The energy of the Shagan spiritron vein is quite unique." Frank shrugged. "It sets a hierarchy to the power it bestows. Now, you're their superior, and you can kill them at any moment.""That's amazing!" Jade exclaimed in surprise.She might be a descendant of a Cerulean Summit Legionnaire, but she never had direct c
Frank did not expect Whitney to give him the go-ahead, instead of trying to dissuade him.That was precisely why Frank was now hesitant.Naturally, Whitney was too much of a farmgirl to bear ill will. She was even conscientious enough to want no harm to come to Frank or to allow her daughter to continue doing the heinous thighs was doing.But even if she did not ask why, she had every reason to protect her daughter however she could. Sally York was a part of her flesh, and detachment did not come easy. Even so, Whitney decided to take the path of justice, making it awkward that Frank could not go through with it despite Whitney's vow.Fortunately, he had a trump card in the spiritron vein—if anything, Frank was sure he could find a middle ground that kept himself safe without hurting Sally.-Half an hour later, Frank, Jada, and the nuns arrived at the hilltop villa where he used to stay, already sensing a familiar presence within.Amusingly, his already sharp senses were fu
With those words, one of the two fearsome men whipped out a remote, wagging it at Frank. "Do you want this? Then kneel!"Jada and the nuns were certainly terrified. However, Frank shot them a look, stopping them before he could make a grab for it.He then asked the two men, "And how did you boys know that I wasn't ready to die when I came?"They chuckled in wry amusement. "Come on, Lugh Frankton. You're the man chosen by the Shagan spiritron vein! Even if you couldn't wield it, your future is immeasurably bright—with all that money and all those babes, we really doubt you'd die with us!"Frank smirked and suddenly raised his hand.The remote suddenly flew out of the fearsome man's hand, dropping straight into Frank's palm."H-How is that possible?!"Both men were left dumbstruck—they had never heard anything about Frank having telekinetic powers, so how did he do that?!Nearby, Jada sighed in relief.She might have been ready to die with Frank and never imagined a peaceful d
Frank snorted. "You're right, but I'd still give you a chance for your mother's sake."Before I came to Shagan, I had a friend who was led astray and ultimately died. It was a betrayal, but I still wouldn't wish death upon him."Sally simply smirked. "Your kindness is just going to get you killed!"Frank shook his head, flashing the ring on his finger. "I don't think so. The spiritron vein has my back, and anything you try would be foiled easily!"Sally shrugged. "In that case, we shall wait and see who comes out on top… in thirty minutes."Frank certainly could see that she had other hands to play, but it was fine.Even without the power of the spiritron vein, he would continue this game with Sally just to satisfy his curiosity!-Meanwhile, at the lobby of Golden Lily, Ida Cahn was on the floor, clutching the wound on her shoulder in disbelief, as it was Rain Godot who had just defeated her!"I'm surprised I brought so much trouble on my mentor's doorstep," she said with a s
Whitney demanded sternly, "Answer my question!"Rain smiled and nodded. "So what if it was her plan? I hate talking—go on, Ida. Tell her if we can die if we bite our tongues off."Whitney smirked. "I'm not going to do that! You're not killing us, which means you'd use us as leverage against Lugh, but I'll tell him to kill every last one of you when he comes!"Rain chuckled. "Including your daughter!""Yes!" Whitney was exceedingly determined.-Ten minutes later, at the hilltop villa, Sally was sitting on the couch, leisurely snacking while saying, "I honestly can't read you. What are you going to choose?"Frank's eyes twinkled, but he soon composed himself and smiled. "Don't worry. It's going to be a surprise."Another five minutes later, Rain led everyone into the drawing room, and Sally was surprised to see that Frank was not surprised.Still, it made sense, since the Shagan spiritron vein must have enhanced his senses, and he could sense Rain as soon as he approached."Li
Sally was freaking out. "Are you crazy?! This has nothing to do with you. Why would you try to help me? Even if you care for me, do you think I'd care for you? Just go already!"Even so, Whitney smiled. "You're my daughter, no matter how terrible you've become. It's a parent's fault if their child runs astray, and this is just what I deserve."While Sally was left drawing a blank, Frank put his hands together and chuckled. "Nice family drama. I like it."Then, turning toward Sadie, he asked, "And what are you going to say now?"Sadie, however, said nothing—she would protect her brother as vehemently as Whitney protected Sally, but rationality told her not to.Frank chuckled. "Alright, since no one has anything to say, I will say it—your research is quite valuable, and you might even help me leave Shagan eventually, so I won't kill you for now."A dazzling gleam shrouded Sally and Rain right then, as Frank warned, "If either of you turn against me again, I can kill you anytime!"
Frank smiled and shook his head. "I hate being pushy. And don't worry—I won't take away your powers, so that you'd all be able to protect yourselves if you're attacked again."The nuns put their hands together in gratitude and left.After that, Frank raised his hand, directing his ring to absorb the energies from all the bodies at the scene.As he sighed in relief, Sally turned toward him. "It's all done now. Do you feel relieved?""You're a captive," Jada snapped a little angrily. "Don't forget your place!"Sally ignored her and continued, "It's not just me who's aware of the Shagan spiritron vein. And without me corking the lid, they're all going to take a shot at claiming it. Even if they can't beat you, they'd be as annoying as flies, so are you ready for that?"Frank smirked. "Ready? I'd just kill each of them when they come.""Well said! But my suggestion is to send everyone you have across the country, instead of sitting back and waiting."Frank nodded. "Yes, I just happ
Rudy rolled his eyes at the man and smirked. "I guess you don't really know Lugh Frankton. Just understand that he's not as simple as he looks, and I don't care about his wealth or women—I want his ring!""His ring?" The man appeared perplexed.Rudy ignored him and snapped coolly, "I need lackeys, so some thugs will do. For the moment, my presence here must not be known, and Lugh Frankton mustn't find out about my goal—being a thug boss would work for my operation.""What?!" The man appeared even more perplexed.After all, this man was Rudy Himmel! Fearsome as a bear, he was an Ascendant-ranked martial artist, and it was said that not even guns and bullets would hurt him. And yet, a lone ranger like him, who was infamously keen to show off and savage, would somehow be afraid of Lugh?However, the man was certainly afraid to disobey Rudy and did as he was told.Around thirty thugs were gathered by the afternoon, but Rudy was absolutely disgusted when he saw them, what with their d
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