The youth frowned. "When did you become such a coward, Rudy? Are you still really you?""Leave!" Rudy snapped, reluctant to speak with him any further.He wanted the Shagan spiritron vein soon too, but he also knew better than anyone about the true depths of Frank's power.As such, unless he was a hundred percent sure that he could take down Frank, he would not make any moves recklessly."Fine! Have it your way!" the youth snapped. "Just don't get jealous if I reach it before you do.""Nothing to be jealous of if you're dead. Now get out!" Rudy barked.The youth snorted in turn before leaping over the wall, and he left.-Early next morning, Frank had just arrived at the office when Jada placed a photo on his desk, asking, "There's an auction to be held here. Interested?"Frank glanced to see that there would be a painting to be auctioned. "Ask Sylvie. Buy anything she fancies."Jada shook her head. "This is not your ordinary artifact. According to the brochure, it just happe
Jada nodded. "In that case, I shall be awaiting your revenge… But you should worry about yourself before that, because I can crush you anytime I want!"Incensed, she punched Uran in the stomach, leaving him on his knees and sweating profusely in agony!Everyone around them turned to stare.They knew very well that Uran had just propelled to wealth and influence and was shocked to see Alda attack him anyway.Naturally, they felt bad for Frank—he was going down even before he established himself now!"How dare you! But I'm above you, so I won't stoop to your level! Just you wait… I'll be whipping you into my obedient slave soon enough!"Uran did not expect such utter disrespect from Jada, with her directly attacking him! Since he did not bring that many men with him, and being aware of how good a fighter Jada was, he decided to take the loss and leave.Still, Jada seemed to realize that she had made a mistake and quickly apologized. "Sorry, Mr. Frankton, I couldn't stop myself.
Ken smiled. "It seems that we haven't been generous enough. Gentlemen?"At his words, two bodyguards appeared at his side, and they had a brief exchange before leaving.On the other hand, Ken gestured for someone to bring Frank and Jada chairs and snacks.Frank and Jada sat down although they were unsure about his intentions, and in ten minutes, the two bodyguards returned with Uran… whom they beat up right in front of Jada and Frank!Everyone was left dumbstruck, as Ken had always been a fence-sitter and never provoked anyone. What had suddenly gotten into him?Moreover, that was Uran Wal! Never mess with a lion in its den, as they say—even if Ken was well-connected, he probably would not escape unscathed.What was worse, Ken was doing this for Frank!Still, it begged the question why—Frank was just a little famous around this town at best, so did Ken really have to go against the bigwigs of the city for him?Either way, it was clear that Frank was more than what he seemed. Th
The town's bigwigs traded glances—so this was the wealth of the top family in town, throwing a million for a rotten painting like that!However, while most of the bigwigs stayed silent for a second, a hostile voice snapped, "1.5 million!"Everyone turned and saw that it was Uran again.He was quite the tough nut, quickly getting bandaged before returning.And this time, he had twenty bodyguards standing right behind him, clearly here to get payback!While Ken scowled, he asked, "Are you sure about this, Mr. Wal?"It was a trap he laid in place for Frank. While it did carry secrets not known about the Shagan spiritron vein, he had also poisoned it so that the man chosen by the Shagan spiritron vein would lose its power temporarily.Uran's bid, however, would likely discourage Frank from bidding for it.Even if Frank was rich and was the type who did whatever he could to get what he wanted, he was no sucker either—if Uran pushed the bid to a price Frank could not afford, Ken's tr
"Any other bids?" Ken asked calmly, looking around.However, the threat in his words was clear. And if he did not worry about Uran, what were they, a bunch of town bigwigs, in comparison?As everyone shook their heads, Ken nodded. "Alright, then Mr. Frankton's bid for the painting was successful. You may take it now, Mr. Frankton."He waved his hand, and a pretty lady opened the glass box containing the painting and passed it to Frank with both hands.He took it and abruptly sensed an unusual presence, but it was gone in an instant."Thank you, Mr. Zacek!" he said and got up to leave with Jada.Ken was left staring in disbelief.How was that possible?! The poison that he had put on the painting was very potent!Even if it might not kill the man chosen by the Shagan spiritron vein, it would at least render him immobile, but Frank did not even twitch!-Meanwhile, Frank and Jada were soon back at Frank's office.Putting the painting in front of Sylvie Wal, he asked, "Can you r
Meanwhile, at Rudy's house in the old town, Ken was fawning all over him. "I'm sure you know how we can obtain the power of the spiritron vein. So why don't we do this together? You can claim the spoils once it's done."Rudy smirked. "You're actually capable of being a trustworthy partner? I never knew… Anyway, stop messing with me already. This is a job for lone wolves, and do you really think I don't know what your owners want?"I crave power, but I won't stoop to your level. Moreover, you're an expendable asset… and you've just been expended!"Ken was left frowning in silence, but Rudy was right.Not only did he burn through the company's resources without achieving his goal, but he had also allowed Frank to obtain valuable information on the Shagan spiritron vein. At this point, the company had most definitely started moving against him."Now that you mention it, I still don't understand…" he suddenly said. "Why was my plan useless against him? Did you rat me out?"Rudy lau
That much was true—even if Uran had managed to kill Ken himself, there was no saving his legs.And Uran certainly did not want to stay wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life. Even if people would not mock him directly because of his power, they would definitely regard him with contempt.Uran himself would never be able to get over it either!"I'll pay you as much as you want, as long as you fix my leg!" he exclaimed, knowing that Rudy must have a reason for mentioning it.However, Rudy shook his head. "I don't need the money, and I don't care enough to make more. Also, I'll be frank—I can't treat your leg, but there's someone else who can… though I'm not sure if he would help.""Who?""Lugh Frankton.""What?!" Uran was mystified.He had heard that Frank was extraordinary, even treating Alda's seemingly terminal illness.However, no matter how good he was in medicine, was he really able to treat an injury like a crippled leg? They were not talking about illness here…Still,
Frank shrugged. "There's no harm in giving it a try, and Sally is onboard with us now—I'm sure she won't do anything out of line."Seeing that Frank was so sure, Jada decided against stopping him.Moreover, Frank was right on the money since Sally had made a lot of enemies. With everything she had been working so hard for now collapsing in itself, she would definitely not let harm come to her only protector.Meanwhile, Frank put on the helmet.His consciousness seemed to drift away right then, as if he had transcended beyond the material world, and yet whatever he saw was nothingness. It was not darkness that one would see when they close their eyes, however… there was simply nothing!Frank had no choice but to take off the helmet just then and shake his head at Jada.Jada sighed in relief—it was a fruitless effort, but at least Frank was fine.While they were sure that Sally would not try to hurt Frank, there was always an exception, and they would lose more than what they ba
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