Frank's words struck Adonis harder than when he made him witness his own cabal's demise.His knees buckling right then, Adonis dropped limply to the ground, unable to get back up!After all, Frank was telling him that he was hardly the most powerful being in existence he imagined or others touted him to be.No, he was no more than a monkey who was pleased that it could hold a stick!Still, Adonis suddenly sprang to his feet, laughing maniacally. "So what? Did you think I'm dumb enough to test myself against you, brat?! You see, I don't rely entirely on my strength in my fight, but also my wit!"Just recently, I poisoned every villager here with a substance that needs no contact. Kill me, and I promise you—they'd wish they were dead!"He certainly did not forget to leer at Frank as if to gloat, but he was soon shocked.Despite his threat, Frank remained impassive!Was it possible he had a way out of this too?!No, that was impossible!Adonis was convinced that his poison was s
Adonis shook his head repeatedly even as he sweated buckets."No, you're wrong!" he cried, choking with tears. "If there's nothing supernatural about this world, how did you get such great power?! Just you wait! I'll show you in the next life!"Frank nodded. "Even if there are gods, they'd be on my side. Though I must ask… what sort of punishment do you think your soul will get in the afterlife?"Adonis panicked. "I'm a man of god! They'd never humiliate me! No… And when I die, I'll become more powerful than you could ever imagine! When that happens, you just have to wait for your doom!""Sure." Frank shrugged. "But in that case, why aren't your gods coming to help you? If they are omnipotent, surely they'd just have to bestow you strength to defeat me. Go on, explain that as best as you can!"Adonis was stumped.Either there were no gods, and his death was permanent… Or that there were, but they were not on his side.How was Adonis supposed to accept that?"Just give me a ch
Frank shook his head. "It's none of your business!"At those words, Cicero gave up on asking.Truth be told, he used to imagine gaining such power, like children would after watching superhero movies. While they were all unrealistic fantasies, seeing such fantasies given form was basically the best punishment Cicero hoped to have.It was still incredibly impressive to see that the power he coveted being wielded in another's hands, to his whims.Soon, the trio arrived at a rundown apartment in Cronde.Cicero pointed at one of the units. "My wife said that she'll be waiting for me there tomorrow night. I'm not lying, I swear!"Frank nodded. "There's no one in there, though!"Cicero nodded. "We have to be careful. We don't know if Adonis' cabal would come looking for us here."Frank sighed. "You should know what would happen to you!"Cicero was at once scared shitless. "Please give me a chance, brother! I don't want to die… at least not yet! Could you just spare me, at least un
Once the code was scanned, Frank and Yancy moved in with their belongings.While it was a rundown apartment, the facilities and daylighting were fine. Not being spoiled brats, they found the place acceptable.Naturally, it was even more so for Cicero—he might have lived rich before, but he was not interested in that, nor would he dare to say that he found this unacceptable.What he did not understand was that the other two were dressed well and clearly came from money—so how were they able to tolerate this horrid place?Eventually, he gave in and asked, "Excuse me, do you both really find this place acceptable?"Yancy nodded and smiled. "Of course! You should know that having a roof over our heads is great for people like us already, so there's really nothing to nitpick—right, handsome?" Frank nodded and smiled as Yancy turned toward him."Well, it's late—I'll get us food."Yancy stepped outside, fiddling with her remote, and an android came running to her.When they returned
Yancy was absolutely pleased and turned to shoot Frank a look of gratitude.Soon, it was time, and Cicero virtually dragged Frank along as he wanted the other man to see how interesting the woman he fell in love with really was.Frank was not sure if he should laugh or cry. "Don't get overconfident, or you'd just shoot yourself in the foot.""I'm sure that'd be you!" Cicero retorted furiously and turned to keep both eyes on the apartment unit opposite.Time passed, even passing the appointed hour, but no one was showing up down the hallway.As Cicero became visibly nervous, he exclaimed, "No, this is impossible! She agreed to come for me… She'd definitely come!"Frank sighed. "Now you're just being optimistic. She'd definitely come, but only to confirm your death.""I don't mind giving it to you straight—your darling wife has sold you out in exchange for her own safety.""Fuck you!"Frank's insult about his wife sent Cicero flying into a rage.He lunged wildly at Frank, but t
Cicero was taken aback but soon dropped on his knees with a thud, his world falling apart once more.He had to admit that Frank was right—he was just too naive to believe that his wife loved him, or that there were gods in this world.In hindsight, his existence was way too pathetic. And worse of all, he could not have another life, or he would do it right!"You're strong. I hope you'll stay like this—don't visit me in hell so soon!"With those words, Cicero did not hesitate to open the window and jumped off.Yancy came running out of her room when she heard the commotion, though she could tell what had happened just from Frank standing there beside the open window.She shrugged. "In hindsight, he may have chosen this path, but he could have changed if he had understood earlier."Frank nodded. "Shame he had to build his growth on someone's death. That's why I don't think he deserves any sympathy!"Yancy grinned. "That makes us way better than them, doesn't it?"Frank smiled
Frank then asked, "That said, why didn't you show up yesterday as agreed?"Beauty quickly said, "I was delayed… You're not upset, are you, darling?"She did not even have time to be shocked about Cicero's sudden growth in strength and quickly sucked up to him in an attempt to pacify the situation.After all, it was rare to see that power, and she certainly did not have to worry about her safety if she kept him around for the rest of their lives!Nonetheless, Frank snorted. "Like I said, I'm not so easily deceived now that I've seen your true colors!"Beauty continued to play dumb. "What are you saying, dear? Don't you want your baby anymore?"Smack!Frank smirked as he swiped his hand through the air, landing an audible slap across Beauty's face!She almost dropped to her knees in pain and glared tightly at the man before her. "W-What's gotten into you?" What the hell? Cicero had always been a loser, but he suddenly grew a spine and even dared to hit her?"What, you ask?" Fr
Frank laughed. "Next time? Give me a break. Next time, you'd be sticking a dagger up my back!"Not only was he impersonating Cicero, but he felt no sympathy for Beauty at all.At this point, even the real Cicero would probably kill her where she stood.It was simple—loyalty, once broken, would be gone forever.Who knew what Beauty would do next time if she was not destroyed?"No! Are you kidding?! You must be!"Beauty could hardly believe that the man before her was the same man who had fallen head over heels for her."Kidding? Who do you think you are? It's more like you're the one who's kidding!"Seizing Beauty by the neck, Frank lifted her toward the window. He then checked to make sure no one was beneath before kicking it into pieces and holding her outside.Seeing that she was going to be thrown down, Beauty's pride faded as she begged Frank endlessly instead.Frank simply laughed. "It's too late for regrets, and I find you unworthy of any sympathy, to be honest. If anyt
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