Still, Yancy did not seem to mourn her equipment. "That's amazing, huh?""Don't worry about it. Just study the marbles."Yancy nodded and was about to return into the lab with him when they heard a strange noise around them.Glaring at Frank, she pouted. "You definitely heard that earlier, with your super hearing. You could've told me earlier instead of letting me get a scare."Frank chuckled. "Is there anything that you really fear? And your equipment should detect it anyway.""That's true!"Yancy realized with a start.With her equipment turned on, it should have detected anyone's presence.However, she was getting nothing—not even thermal work despite the voice being so close!She soon had a thought. "Maybe like that woman in the cave, they are capable of soul projection?""And they're better at it!" Frank chuckled before calling out loudly, "That's enough. Spare us the theatrics and show yourself!"There was a sinister gust of wind as over a dozen black-robed individuals
The rascal seemed to rank at the bottom of the hierarchy. Clearly afraid to disobey the woman, she charged at Yancy's android right then.Yancy wasted no breath pressing the fire button and launching a missile at the brat, only for him to disappear where he stood!Bang!The missile blew up as it touched ground, leaving a crater.Soon, the rascal reverted to his physical form and glanced at the crater, laughing. "I'm surprised that your android is that fun. I really couldn't have known!Patting his chest, he chuckled. "Come on, shoot me right here. Let's see if you can pierce my defenses!"Yancy's eyes lit up—that was certainly agreeable! She really could not do anything to the rascal if he dematerialized, but she would have a much better chance if he stayed put! With that in mind, she shot every type of artillery she had, even emptying the stockpile she kept around her lab!The woman was really not used to the ruckus and walked up to Frank, reaching out to touch his face. "Why
"I don't believe you!" the woman shrieked almost crazily.She tried to vanish again, but Frank was no longer interested in playing with her.With just a snap of his fingers, her brain seemed to be subdued by a special type of energy, keeping her from using any techniques!One of the members of her entourage quickly realized that something had gone awry and hurried forward to encircle Frank, snapping coolly, "What the hell did you do?!"Frank chuckled. "Why not experience it yourself?"Even as the entourage heard that, they realized they had been shut out of their own abilities, just like the woman!"H-How did you take away our powers?!"Frank shrugged. "Easy. It's nothing to brag about—it has a major, exploitable flaw!""What?!"The entourage traded glances—Frank was basically saying that he was the Goliath to their David!"You're getting it, brat!"Even if their soul projection was taken from them, they still had other techniques!As they did not hesitate to charge at Fran
Laughing, Yancy asked, "Now, do you understand that where there's smoke, there's fire?"It's not just bombs and artillery—I have plenty of other high-tech gadgets. You can die now, kiddo!"The rascal laughed instead of getting upset. "Did you think that science is all-powerful? The energy field is good, but it's nothing new—watch!"He waved his hand, and the energy field disappeared!Yancy was shocked—her data suggested that only Frank could dispel that energy field, so how was that brat able to do the same?Taking to the skies, the rascal then beckoned provokingly. "Are we stopping already? Come on, let's keep this up!" However, Yancy smiled, shaking her head. "I'm not stupid. Since I can't hurt you, I should just save my ammunition instead."The youth laughed. "So you're giving up? Good, spare me the trouble!"He turned, grinning. "Hear that? She gave up! Can I be the first—"He froze before he could finish, as his entire group was already gone.In fact, the only person al
The rascal took the skies, tearing through the clouds.But no matter how he flew, he just could not reach the eyes overhead!That was not all either—a mysterious force seemed to stop him just then before yanking him back to the physical plane!"Your turn!"Yancy heard Frank's voice all around her and nodded, pressing a button that fired a missile straight at the rascal.Boom!The rascal was blown away, split in two pieces from the waist and screaming in agony.It was only then that he realized his fellow apprentices were not playing a prank. They had simply died before he did!They were each so strong, but they were wiped out nonetheless. He certainly did not stand a chance!"Please don't kill me… I can be useful, I…"The rascal soon trailed off in fear.After all, they had all heard about Frank before they came.It was universally acknowledged that he was crazy—that he loved to torture people like them.And if he ever got you, suicide was the best option!However, th
Yancy has always been bright.With the help of all the advanced equipment, she created a monster soon enough.Interestingly, it could be controlled with the remote that Jouri had given her earlier.Still, the thought of being a step behind Jouri frustrated Yancy. "If I'm right, that scamp knew there was something strange about this place… She one-upped me again! Curses!"Frank chuckled. "Don't say that. You have the marbles that can be used for energies, no? You'd definitely be able to replicate it, and you'd beat her with numbers."Yancy could not agree. "Nope. It just goes to show she didn't even care… but now that I think about it, she must have something better."Frustrated, she stamped her feet, which looked adorable as she looked less mature."Alright, don't fuss over the details." Frank chuckled. "Let's go eat.""Yeah." Yancy sighed and had her lab float up in the air while they headed to Cronde.She also put on a pair of rocket boots and leapt off. "You don't have to p
Frank was unsure if she should laugh or cry. "Not mentioning something doesn't mean that I didn't notice it. And I could've saved you even without leaving the white-clad priest."If anyone else said that, Yancy would be convinced that they were lying.But since it was Frank, the strongest lifeform she had ever encountered yet, saying that was almost humble of him!Still, her protective glasses flashed as she checked the yellow talisman, scanning it. "There's nothing special about it! Both the scanner in my glasses and my eyes say so.""Now, back to my question." Frank chuckled. "Is science failing, or is the person?"Yancy's face fell—curse this man and all his teasing!Soon, they landed.There just happened to be a cleaner sweeping the curb, and his knees buckled and fell when he saw Frank and Yancy descending from the skies.Frank quickly put Yancy on her feet while rushing up to him, chuckling. "It's alright. We're not evil—don't worry."It took a while of assurance for the
Yancy was absolutely perplexed. "How did you do that?"Frank chuckled. "Do you believe in the paranormal?"Yancy shook her head confidently.The paranormal and science were two completely contradictory subjects.Strictly speaking, anything that could be seen with the naked eye or directly affected the physical plane was not paranormal. Still, while science was fundamentally a counter-thesis to mysticism, anything that worked within a system of logic fell within its jurisdiction.Frank shrugged. "It's good if you don't believe it. I don't myself—but I am using a paranormal technique to conjure that fingerprint, which was supposed to be erased."Yancy was utterly confused. "What does that mean?"Frank explained, "I'm not sure if you've seen bodies of energy resembling spirits, but they linger within a body, retaining the deceased's last thoughts to a certain extent!"Yancy nodded in understanding.There was some form of energy that lingered within the deceased.But with Frank's
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