When compared to someone who was as respectable as the customer's friend, Frank did not think he was all that impressive."Chief, I have a presumptuous request! I'm not sure if you'll say yes, but I'd like to ask anyway!"The customer's friend exclaimed right then, "May I join Mystic Sky Guild? I'm sure there'd be plenty of requirements, but don't worry, I'll definitely meet all of them. I really want to do good, so please give me a chance!"Frank smiled in wry amusement at the customer's friend's sincerity. "We're not all that demanding, and honorable people like you are especially qualified!"The customer's friend could hardly believe his ears. "R-Really?!" "Sure. Now tell your chief your name.""Ezel Lark, at your service. I swear to the powers that be that I shall always be at your beck and call!"Frank smiled, shaking his head. "You don't have to serve me. You're you—an independent person. Just live in an upstanding manner, and that's enough!"That enforced Ezel's feeling
Frank stopped them. "That's unnecessary. I don't see any living beings in this vicinity—they must be watching this place."Ezel nodded in admiration. "You really are superior, chief. The rest of us don't hold a candle to you!"Frank smiled, shaking his head. "It's just a cute trick."The Ghostly Six asked, "Well, what should we do now?"Frank thought about it. "Why don't we stage a duel? You should all pretend to be hurt, and I'm sure the one who planned this would show up. When that happens, I'll deal with them!""Okay!" The sextuplets nodded.But Ezel had a different idea. "Chief, may I be so presumptuous to ask for another favor?"Frank saw the look of determination in his eyes and quickly read his mind. "So, you'd like to test yourself against them?"Ezel nodded with a small smirk. "If you're not aware, chief, I despite treacherous wretches. I feel this burning desire to teach them a lesson!""Favor granted," Frank replied, nodding. "Nothing bad would happen when I'm here
If Ezel did not know better, he would actually have thought that Tarkan was honorable from his mannerisms!However, knowing what the man had done only left him feeling disgusted!If anything, it was Frank's sharp wit that quickly exposed Tarkan's ploy.Hence, assuming a combat stance, Ezel snorted. "Save your breath. Fight or flight—you decide!"Tarkan quickly shook his head. "I'd like to fight, but you're hurt. Wouldn't the world mock me for taking advantage of your injury?"Ezel smirked—if he really thought that, he could have just turned and left. Why even bother showing up?"Don't worry, I'd never say that, and the same goes for anyone else. After all, I want this!"And with those words, Ezel leapt toward Tarkan."Urgh, how inappropriate," Tarkan muttered but viciously struck at Ezel's vitals.Dodging it by inches, Ezel laughed. "I thought you didn't want this?"Tarkan quickly said, "Oh, I'm sorry—it's just a knee-jerk reflex of my extensive training! It's basically muscl
After all, Frank was supposed to be Tarkan's next target, so he knew what Frank would look like."Not bad, you actually know my face… It's such a shame!""What is?" Tarkan was left puzzled."You, of course. You have both wit and strength, but you had to take such a terrible path."Frank sighed, earnestly disappointed in people like Tarkan. "And now, I have no choice but to kill you.""What's that supposed to mean?" Tarkan growled, incensed. "Are you saying that I'm definitely going down?""Correct!" Frank smiled, nodding."You asked for this!"Tarkan attacked Frank right then, moving so quickly that neither the Ghostly Six nor Ezel could catch up!On the other hand, Frank was parrying all of Tarkan's blows with relative ease, even effortlessly!And realizing he would not win in martial arts, Tarkan backed two steps away and aimed two fingers at Frank. "It's been a while since anyone has forced me to use this—you're going to die, but consider it an honor!"As golden radiance
Suddenly, Tarkan laughed. "Unlike the others, I've more or less heard rumors about you. I must admit that you're so strong that the likes of them could never hope to match!"Then, he laughed even as he remembered the horrors. "I won't lie—the people who are behind me are much stronger, and there's more than one of them. They can bury you anytime they want!"Frank picked his ears, snorting. "To be honest, I've heard that countless times. It's really gotten dull by now!""Really?" Tarkan rolled his eyes and suddenly fired a beam into his own temples.The Ghostly Six and Ezel were left trading glances. Even they had to admit that Tarkan showed great resolve, not breaking despite the fear of death, something which set him apart from the others.A weird ringtone rang from Tarkan's pocket just then, and Frank went over to answer it."You're good, Mr. Frankton! You dealt with such a formidable foe in no time at all… Is there anyone in this world who can win against you?"Frank laughe
The Ghostly Six, Zark, and Ezel appeared confused. "Where are you going, chief?"Frank explained, "One of the ingredients isn't available in apothecaries. I have to harvest it myself—the rest of you, stay and guard Faust. I'm pretty sure this is a diversion!"Ezel, Zark, and the Ghostly Six all nodded repeatedly.-Frank arrived beneath Mount Statera three hours later.The lunarise root that he was searching for grew over three thousand feet above sea level and also required humidity and sufficient sunlight.It just so happened that Frank had seen such spots when he climbed Mount Statera before, and he thought he could try his luck.He found some soon enough, and plucked one, roots and all.With that done, he took to the skies and suddenly noticed the moving trails of flashlights halfway up the mountain.He saw that they were rangers upon a closer look, and each of them were bracing against the freezing cold to climb toward the peak.Curious, Frank landed and asked them, "Are
The tall girl rolled her eyes. "It's just one phone call. Haven't you heard of prank calls? Y'all don't take responsibility seriously anyway—who knows if you'd come?"And if it comes down to it, this was just a drill. We could report you if you failed it!"The chief ranger was left thoroughly seething by the tall girl's unreasonable retort.But so what if he was? He certainly could not lay a finger on these children!In fact, not only did he have to show restraint, but he also tried persuading them to leave again out of concern for their safety."Anyway," he said calmly, "your tent really isn't going to help you survive. Come with us—we're getting off the mountain.""Who do you think you are? You have no right to order us around!""You better watch it, or we'd sue!"The chief ranger felt like he was being fed dung—who were these suicidal and difficult people?!However, he could not just turn his back on them either. These kids were here as tourists, and he could not let them j
Just like Frank, the other rangers really did not care for the college students!"Wait!"That was when the boy Frank pushed to the ground stood up. "You shoved me for no reason! Did you think you could just get away with that?!"At his words, the college students who were going to let them leave encircled Frank.The chief ranger was naturally furious. "Don't you get it?! We're here to save you! And you should know that it isn't this man's fault—he's just stepping up against injustice! You kids, on the other hand, did not only refuse to understand his kindness, but you're actually treating him like the enemy?!"The boy laughed. "Did we beg for your help? In the end, you're just trying to show off that you're smarter than us, to mock us for being ignorant college students! This is what you deserve!"The chief ranger smiled in wry amusement—if this era was lawless, he would have killed these kids already.He had met his fair share of college students, but these brats were something
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