Jouri Yelin had come proposing a nuclear power station project, did she not?And she was an executive and no footsoldier—which meant she had an interest in building it.Perhaps she had predicted the spiritron vein's intentions and was planning to help it?Confused, Frank asked bluntly, "You've met Jouri?""You're sharp, as expected of my master," the golden dragon said. "Don't worry—I may appear reckless, but I wouldn't use you as a lab rat without some extent of assurance. There's an 80% chance of success in this case, which was why I decided to go ahead with it."And with those words, it waved its hand, and a chessboard manifested. "We'd be waiting for a while, so why don't we play a round of chess to stave away the boredom?""Sure, but it'd be boring if we didn't make a bet. How about a question if I win?"The golden dragon laughed. "You took the words right out of my mouth. That's exactly what I have in mind—and if I win, you must promise me one thing!""Of course!"Man a
Sue was not bothered at all by Ian's departure as she stared fixedly at the instruments in the lab and hoped for a miracle.That was when Igor flung a syringe to the floor. "What the hell?! I asked for epinephrine, not hormones! You can kill a man with the wrong substance!"If he had not recognized that it was the wrong syringe because of the color, Frank would be dead!"I'm sorry!"The assistant was mortified but quickly reached for the intended epinephrine to Igor.However, he was so nervous that his hands were shaking, and he dropped it before he could pass it to Igor."Get out!" Igor snapped, chasing him out while picking up the epinephrine.He stood beside Frank, wiping the sweat off his brow as this was his final option.If this injection went in and Frank still did not respond, it was game over for him—and not the vegetative state Ian mentioned either, but simple brain death!That would be the worst case, as Frank's vital signs would remain normal but his consciousnes
Even as Igor received the syringe, the chess match in the void had led to the endgame.The golden dragon might be skilled, but Frank did not let up and eventually won by a narrow margin!While others would think that there was not much gap in their skill, only the golden dragon knew how sharp Frank's mind was.It would either be a win or a loss in chess—there was no such thing as close, even if it was by one move."It seems that I still have much room for improvement!" The golden dragon did not hold back on its flattery.Frank chuckled. "I was just using an exploit. You've been playing against yourself, so anything you've learned might not necessarily be right. It's like art—if you're not learning from the best, it just won't do!"The golden dragon nodded. "You're right. I think so too! And it's not the best thing to do either—I should also consider how to elevate your Mystic Sky Guild."And with those words, the golden dragon disappeared.-Igor was preparing the syringe when
"Interesting!"Frank was just as surprised as Igor, and come to think of it, Igor's research really had not much to do with this success.Perhaps the spiritron vein was helping in secret, or it already had a plan in mind on how to work with Igor's research!Not bothered to dwell on it since he would never uncover the truth, Frank simply moved on to his pursuit of immortality. "How should I cooperate in this research?"He was not actually interested in pursuing immortality, but he had to with the spiritron vein in play—playing along with its wish would just avoid plenty of unnecessary trouble."Easy. I just need cell samples—hair, nails…"Anything Igor needed, Frank allowed him to take.Interestingly, his regeneration ability was not just confined to the skin—any hair and nail that was extracted would regrow instantly! It was as if the universe was a sandbox game and Frank was an NPC that would reappear during fixed intervals!Igor chuckled as he looked on. "I have a bold theory
To the bigwigs' shock, Marlow smiled and left without snapping at Sue!If it were anyone else, he would definitely be threatening them before using money to crush their existence.However, the game has changed as Sue now possessed technology that could possibly change the whole world, and even a man like Marlow had to defer to her now.Instead of getting upset, he should be thinking how he should curry her favor.And if that was the case for Marlow, it went without saying that it was the same for everyone else. They all promptly excused themselves, worried that they would end up upsetting the temperamental heiress.Sue smiled in wry amusement as she watched them go and turned to Frank. "It's quite the miracle I earned their respect. Not even my dad has such privilege."Frank smiled but said nothing—such was the perks of a winning hand.Still, he warned, "You have to be careful—they may fawn over you, but they might also stab you in the back or take control of this facility. Ei
Regeneration was as unbelievable as seeing the sun rise from the west. How could it have succeeded? Sue shrugged and poked at Frank. "A demonstration please, Mr. Frankton?"Reasonably speaking, Frank had no reason to cooperate with Sue, but he was eager to find out how far his regeneration ability went.Directing the energy of the spiritron vein and projecting a blade of spiritual energies, he sliced off his left arm, leaving Sue and the nuns flabbergasted.Did he lose his mind? Why cut off his arm? A tiny cut would have been enough! Was he not worried that he would have to live with one arm if he could not grow it back?!Just as everyone was too stunned to speak, they soon understood what made him so confident!Something that resembled vines soon crept out of the clean cut, picking up the arm and reattaching it, while even blood was creeping back into Frank's body.There was soft pop, and Frank's arm was reattached!Even Frank's torn shirt sleeve was sewn back on by a myster
Hilda smiled in wry amusement—Frank was right.Even if they were stronger than most thanks to Frank's help, Ascendants-ranked individuals were still a challenge, and it would be more ideal to let Frank's people handle them."Thank you for your kindness, sir!Hilda bowed her head at Frank, and the other nuns did the same.While Frank appeared to be concerned for the research center, he was actually giving them freedom to continue their spiritual pursuits.He could have further strengthened them, but he did not do it out of consideration for their sake.Frank smiled but said nothing and called Higo Soldi as he stepped out. "Bring as many men as you can to Shagan…"-After making the arrangements, Frank was about to return inside when he heard footsteps.Soon, a middle-aged man in a tunic suit approached him, clapping his hands. "How envious… to think that you've achieved immortality already, Mr. Frankton!"Frank frowned. "Who are you?" "Calm down!" The man smiled. "Allow me t
Pat smiled. "But don't tell anyone that it's from me. Many would like to have it, and I'm risking the wrath of many just by giving it to you."And with that, he left, while Frank unfolded the paper and saw an address."Lake of the Broken Star?"Sue was surprised by the address, as it was Shagan's largest manmade lake and quite famous.There used to be a coal mine underneath, which collapsed after excessive digging, leading to subsidence.However, generations had since worked hard to adapt the subsidence into a man made attraction, drawing an influx of tourists and income for Shanton.That being said, how could there be anything good hidden there? With that many people hovering, it would have been discovered already…"Whatever the case may be, let's just check it out first."Frank had Sue drive him since he did not know where the Lake of the Broken Star was, and they soon arrived.Just as Sue predicted, it was filled with people!"How are we supposed to find it now?" She snort
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