Frank never responded, merely knocking on Jace's seat.As if linked with it, his data appeared, and he chuckled. "That's what I am!"Jace felt his stomach churn even as he read the data—because of Frank, his equipment was suddenly working perfectly again, just like with all those other martial artists.Even its analysis was close to perfect, as it indicated that only Frank could defeat himself!And for Jace, it was even more horrific than seeing the sun rise from the west.At least that could be explained with science, but Frank's existence was out of this world.How was he even going to understand that?Nonetheless, Jace shrieked defiantly, "Once open, the gates of sin never close! With people like you whose existence is illogical, but yet definitely existing, countless challengers would flock to you, pestering you endlessly. Are you ready for that?!""Don't worry—I've always been ready!"Frank laughed. "And you're not going to live to see it."Jace sweated buckets at Frank'
Yancy pouted. "How could it work if you don't drink it?"Frank smiled in wry amusement. "You really know nothing about my abilities. There's no reason to drink it, and this is enough to absorb it anyway.""Oh," Yancy replied shortly, her eyes widened as she pressed, "How is it? Do tell!"Frank raised a hand in response, and the entire lab was lifted by an unseen force. "How else could it have gone?" he chuckled. "I've gained all the tortoise's powers.""What?!"Yancy had presumed that Frank would only absorb the tortoise's energy, but he gained the tortoise's powers instead? Was that not a little freaky?"You are a natural lab rat." She smiled, shaking her head. "You're so much more amazing than I thought."Frank chuckled and put down her lab. "Well, the ability is pointless to me. I can initiate it anyway even if I didn't gain it through its blood.""Makes sense!" Yancy nodded. "That said, there are plenty of applications if it's perfected. Take my lab for example—you couldn
Jouri laughed. "Talk about a cliche plot for the twenty-first century. See, we never fought—we simply had a difference in our theories."Frank understood then—so the ladies parted ways over their research?"What's the big deal?" He shrugged. "Different theories like relativity and quantum mechanics are always at odds, so just stick to your guns and continue onward with your research. Whoever's right in the end wins, that's all."Jouri laughed and stared at Yancy pointedly as she said, "You get it. Shame others don't."Yancy smirked. "Don't give me that look. There are only the three of us—even an idiot knows that you're talking about me."To be honest, I thought I was right at first too, only to agree with your stance once I met him. I really wouldn't have been able to help him improve to his current level if I were in your shoes."Jouri shook her head. "Guess I can't lie when you're being so honest. To be honest, it's not all thanks to me, nor does it have much to do with my the
Even if Jouri cheekily did not tell Yancy where she had put it, Yancy was still way smarter than the average person.Dismantling the remote and studying it for a moment, she soon had the answer!Sighing, she soon said, "I'd have to bring my lab over, but it'd cost energy to fly it—""Not a problem!"With just a thought, Frank slowly levitated the lab before launching it beyond lightspeed!One should note that Yancy's lab had no vents, and the air flow within was not ideal. Flying at such breakneck speeds would leave passengers dizzy, and their internal equipment might not survive.However, as if he was superhuman, Frank cast a magnetic field that shielded the lab.Such were the perks of having special powers—even mundane work could turn impressive.Yancy giggled. "Don't let my former colleagues see this, or they'd die inside."Frank smiled but said nothing, and with Yancy pointing the way, they soon arrived at a canyon near Mount Statera.When Frank put down the lab, Yancy pr
Frank was perplexed. "Why waste androids? Just leave it to me."Still, Yancy smiled. "How could I bother you so often? Just let the android deal with it while you get some rest."Seeing that she had made up her mind, Frank simply played along.That was when strange footsteps resounded across the room—it was as if the entire hypogeum was shaking! Yancy promptly took the pair of night vision goggles from her friend and realized that it was a rather tall monster.He was wearing armor, but rot had already set in. Its joints were replaced by special mechanical parts too, like a cyborg!"Amazing. The ancients really were smart!"With her night vision goggles which also had a scanner function, she immediately analyzed the age of the machine structure, which was just over a few centuries ago.And that meant it was made by the ancients!"That scamp… Hiding the good stuff and never telling me," Yancy complained as she directed the android, intent on testing the freak's ability.Howeve
Frank nodded and led Yancy further inside.Seemingly to prove that her android served a purpose, she summoned ten to them, leaving Frank chuckling with a look of resignation. "You're really rich. Aren't you worried about losing more than what you bargained for?""Of course not."Yancy shrugged. "You're my patron from now on—I'd never run out of money with your funding."Frank smiled but said nothing.They then walked for around fifteen minutes, when they encountered a tiger.Like the monster before, its body was rotting and held together by machinery.Still, the tiger seemed to have consciousness.As if to intimidate them, it struck its head on the wall instead of attacking them right away!Boom!The hypogeum shook from the collision, and Frank had to catch Yancy before she lost her balance."Amazing!" she exclaimed nonetheless. "It's on a different level than the monster too—time to have some fun!"With those words, she sent the ten androids at the tiger.Frank smirked—he
How was this possible?!No matter how strong Frank was, surely there was a limit?!Moreover, Yancy knew that her analysis was on point, so how did Frank break that limit?No, she needed to ask in detail when he had the chance!While Yancy was still allowing her mind to wander, Frank had wiped out all the imps.Picking up one as he returned to Yancy, he flung it on the ground in front of her, smiling. "You can start researching now!"There was no point stooping for the second best, and Yancy was now studying Frank from head to toe, completely losing interest in the imps. "Did you plant a virus in my equipment? How could the analysis have gone wrong?"Frank laughed. "Don't forget that Jace Harken failed to analyze my potential too… Or perhaps I should put it this way? I can gain new techniques as I wish, but also never use it again."Yancy nodded in realization—that much could be true, as Frank had been a constant bag of surprises.That being said, the readings on her equipment
Curious, Frank asked, "If his creations are that amazing, why not send them to rescue her family instead of digging himself a grave?"Yancy shook her head. "There's nothing detailed here, but I'm sure he had his considerations."As she spoke, she reached toward the box and picked it up, since it was very light.Click.Frank promptly grabbed Yancy by the shoulder when he heard the sound, as if a button had been pressed.As the entire hypogeum started to shake violently, he kept the imp and the marbles levitated behind them as he fled outside with Yancy.Just as they reached the surface and managed to plant their feet on firm ground, the hypogeum itself hovered up into the air, launching countless tentacles at them."No way I'm losing every single fight today!" Yancy exclaimed and turned to Frank. "Don't move a muscle."The way the imp destroyed her androids really hurt her pride. Whipping out her phone, she went to work.Soon, her lab was in the air as well, facing off against
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