It was always easy to buy statues, but when one moved or had to leave, said statues end up in religious places. After all, if one was superstitious enough to buy one, they would be superstitious enough to believe in divine retribution if they threw it like garbage.And eventually, this would happen.The hall was quite dank and had poor lighting—even Lofty found the sight of all those statues creepy."Is that all it takes to scare you?" Frank chuckled. "The worst is yet to come."Then, he shouted on top of his lungs, "Show yourself!"At his call, one of the statues shone blindingly, and a hollow spirit with the statue's appearance rose to its feet!The sight of the hollow entity that stood over thirteen feet tall left Lofty wondering if he had just seen a real god, and his knees started to shake, almost dropping.While Frank quickly caught him, he smirked at the spirit. "If my hunch is right, you're not human, are you?"Lofty composed himself right then—right, there were superio
Lofty would like to say yes, but considering Frank's dislike of the supernatural, he shook his head. "He's no god—he's human just like the rest of us, just much stronger."The girl smiled wryly but said nothing—she would have felt less helpless if Frank really was a god.With the almighty and the mysterious ways he worked, it made sense if he could do things the girl would never expect.However, Frank had to be only human, who ate food and had the same facial features of a normal person. Who could live with themselves knowing another person was capable of things one could only hope for?What was that if not demonstrating her incompetence?Still, she would feel relatively better since she was perfectly normal. Stronger individuals like Lofty definitely felt embarrassed, and the fact that his faith in himself did not fall apart right away was testament to his fortitude.-Meanwhile, Frank had arrived outside the temple and ran headlong into the hag.Her back was hunched, and she
Frank spread his palms invitingly.The hag would have killed him if it were any other person, but this boy was simply so special that she could not help loving him.As such, she had to intimidate him with a show of force.With that in mind, she snapped her fingers, and she glowed in a golden radiance!"Wait." The captive girl was puzzled as she watched. "She usually starts a summoning ceremony before she fights, but she skipped it now? Is she making light of that man?"It was only natural that the girl did not understand that the summoning ceremony was the actual trick.If such a lengthy ceremony was necessary for her to use her abilities, she would be long dead.In fact, she was only skipping it now because she had the feeling that Frank despised it. Even then, she still snapped her fingers just for the cool effect.And as the golden radiance around her faded into the air around her, thick dark clouds appeared around them before turning blood-red.As it floated behind the hag
With all said and done, Lofty personally enjoyed the glamor Frank did.But after the first disappointment he experienced, only more ensued.If his mentor knew, the geezer would actually feel crushed and start pondering the point of his existence.And it was not just Lofty and the captive girl either—even the hag was shocked.She already knew that Frank had potential for development, but he turned out to be a self-taught genius instead!Still, she laughed. "They say Einstein subverted the preexisting theory of energy in his twenties and developed the theory of relativity. You certainly have some shades of him!"For his part, Frank found it unreal to hear a wielder of the supernatural speak of science and snorted. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm no Einstein, but don't try to pose as Newton either!"The hag laughed before snarling, "Well then. Are you done playing around? Let's continue!"Seeing Frank's scary abilities, the hag knew she should not be careless and was suddenly a hundr
Still, the hag calmed down just as she finished. "Well, I guess it's understandable. You're the first opponent whom I can't even budge, so you do have reason for your insolence."Very well… It's time to teach you something new. I shall defeat you even if it burns my essence!""Then do it." Frank beckoned at her with his index finger. "Why talk so much?" It left the hag furious again—this was the first time she had ever been so thoroughly belittled!She closed her eyes and started chanting an incarnation.Blood streamed around her as her figure started shrinking, not stopping even after she regressed from her beefcake form.Soon, she was just skin and bones, looking like she was on her deathbed!Shocked, the captive girl exclaimed, "What is she doing? Is she going to kill herself?"Lofty shook his head. "I don't know what she's doing, but her abilities are rocketing to the next level!""Really?!"The captive girl did not get it, but she decided that the marvels of martial art
Dust swirled.By the time the hag pushed herself up despite the pain, Frank was already on top of her.To her shock, the gaping hole in Frank's chest was rapidly closing itself, fully healing in no time at all.Even his shirt repaired itself, as if nothing had ever happened!"Impossible!"The hag had seen others carrying some levels of regenerative ability, but that was for spots such as the face or dismembered limbs, not vital organs.Those, once destroyed, were like turning an off switch for the body, inflicting irreversible damage.Death was certain, and one definitely could not heal from it!On the other hand, disgust showed on Frank's face as he saw her disbelief. "Did you think your punch would break my defenses?"He earnestly hoped that she would pierce her defenses to then demonstrate the extent of his regenerative abilities.However, she was just too weak that she could not do it no matter how many punches she threw, and he finally decided to help her instead."What
The hag continued, "We're all students of the discipline and can't help holding discourse, but one would always maintain their own perspective and there's no belief that's actually superior. Violence is inevitable… So are you sure you can handle them?"Frank smirked. "What's to worry? I'd just destroy whoever comes after me!"The hag sighed and closed her eyes in turn, and no longer spoke.Lofty sighed too. "She wouldn't have died this horrible if she had stayed on the path of the righteous."Frank nodded. "She's gifted. I would even recruit her if she were a good person, though I really wouldn't miss another powerhouse like her. And I certainly wouldn't let her crimes go unanswered.""A champion of justice! So cool!"A woman clapped as she arrived, and who else could it be other than Jouri Yelin?Frank then took the weasel in the statue back from Lofty and threw it to her. "There's a critter in there. It doesn't think like a human, but it has a superpower and could wield it wel
However, it was understandable, since a man like Frank already enjoyed fame and the company of countless beauties. All his desires were met, aside from his insatiable inner child.With that in mind, Lofty nodded. "Whoever they are, their luck really ran out when they bumped into a powerhouse like you. They should just watch out for the rest of their lives and stay as far away as possible."Frank chuckled and snapped his fingers.Flames appeared over his palm, and he threw it nonchalantly at the temple, quickly setting it ablaze.And without another word, both men hastened to their next destination.It was already night, but it was eerily silent.Lofty shuddered and asked softly, "What the hell is going on here? Life is slower here than in the city, but there isn't even a single person out and about? Look, even the lights are out!"Frank turned to look at the unlit streetlights where Lofty was pointing.Those usually turned off in the wee hours of the morning and were usually so
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