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 obviously read their thoughts. "Don't worry—since I have the power to take them down instantly, I'd have the power to save them too.""What is it they say? Know thyself. And I am not one who boasts!"Since Frank was putting it that way, they all nodded.Before they parted, however, the big man warned, "You have to watch out, kid. Word is that Mount Statera can get restless in the night. I don't know how much truth is in such hearsay, but it's better to be safe than sorry as they say."Moreover, the drop in temperatures between day and night can be overwhelming. Don't worry if you can't save them—your own life should take priority." Frank smiled, nodding. "Don't worry—I'm no saint. If they are that suicidal, I'm not going to screw myself over for their sake!"He then split up from the rangers and flew up the mountain.Soon arriving at his destination, he scanned his surroundings and quickly noticed his objective hiding behind a man-sized boulder.He pulled the herb out of
A girl pleaded softly, "Please, sir. We made a mistake… Forgive us! As a man, you should assume the responsibility of protecting us! I'm begging you!"Frank did not budge from her miserable begging, however. "Sorry, I'm not a hero and you're not a damsel. Such cheap words really wouldn't force my hand."Also, everyone else really doesn't need to bother with moral blackmail. Because to tell the truth, I'm immoral!"The college students were left trading glances.But right now, Frank was the only one who could save them!As such, they had no choice but to ask, "What do we have to do for you to help?""It's simple!"Frank held up two fingers. "First, get off this mountain! Second, apologize to the rangers who came to help! Do you really not know how much trouble your mischief has caused for them?"The college students did not really agree but had no choice but to comply since they needed Frank."I hope you'll make good on your promise!"Then, with just a stare, Frank sent the wo
While no one would miss those college students, Frank and the rangers could not allow their deaths to ruin Mount Statera's tourism industry either.Otherwise, Frank would not have intervened earlier and would have let the wolves tear them to pieces.To no surprise, the college students arrived at the foot of the mountain looking exhausted.Seeing Frank and the rangers having a chuckle naturally sent them flying into a rage, and a girl even strode up to snap at Frank, "If you could fly, then why did you make us walk?! Don't you know how tiring that was?!"Frank turned to leave, ignoring her—it would only leave a bad taste in his mouth to talk to people like her."Hey, I'm talking to you! Are you listening?!"Still, the girl hounded Frank, but he kept ignoring her.That was when the chief ranger did a head count, only to notice something amiss.Four of the students were missing!"Who's the leader here?" he asked. "Don't you know that there are four of you missing? Anything could
On top of that, the college students could not forget that they had provoked Frank considerably.As such, they all started running back up the mountain without another word."What are you doing?!" the chief ranger exclaimed in shock. "You'd just get in the way if you go up! Get back here!"Naturally, his words fell on deaf ears, and the other rangers flocked around him."Just forget it, chief. They want to die, so let them—it's none of our business."Moreover, that kid is the type who makes sound decisions. Those brats wouldn't be swaying him—if he can't save them, he'd just abandon them and return on his own."The chief sighed. "That's true, but that man is obviously also a man with principles. What if he took my words seriously? We can't just wait here… We have to go up too!"With that said, the other rangers had no choice but to follow their chief up the mountain again.-Meanwhile, Frank had arrived at his destination to find two boys lying prone on the floor just as he la
Frank chuckled. "You'd better make up your mind now. If I free them, you'd all be in pieces!"The four college students traded glances.The girl whom Frank pointed out stood up, but the boy stopped her and snapped at Frank, "To be honest, we were in this situation because we deserved it. We should've listened to you instead of mocking you… So do your worst! Even if we have to die, we're dying together!And with that, all four college students held each other's hands, closed their eyes, and waved.Frank smiled and waved his hand in turn, and when they eventually opened their eyes again, he had frozen the pack of wolves!"W-What are you doing?" the boy exclaimed. "Well done." Frank nodded. "The fact that you'd correct yourself means you're good kids, and I won't go as far as to kill!""Y-You don't look that nice to me," the boy blurted.They had basically just met Frank and had no idea who he was. Still, they could see that he was a man of determination, and the lives of others
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