"No… Stop!"A blood-curdling scream could be heard even as Mr. Moore watched Lucy close in, machete in hand…-As Frank strode out to the business district just beyond the alley, Frank noticed a familiar figure standing beside his Audi.Naturally, it could only be Zac, who was shocked to see him at all. "What…"Still, he quickly hid that shock with an unnatural look of anger as he strode up and seized Frank's collar, bellowing, "You brat! Where's my girlfriend?!"Frank's chauffeur was ready to jump in, but Frank held up a hand to stop him while he stared at Zac impassively. "Your girlfriend?""No, why are you still alive?! Where's Lucy?! Where's my girlfriend?! What did you do to her?!"Zac continued to rave in agony. "If anything happens, I'll kill you… I'll kill you, you hear me?!"Bystanders around them all started stopping to look, as it appeared to be a quarrel over a woman, and they were right outside a hotel."You should be asking yourself that," Frank said calmly none
Lucy—or Skyler Dawn, to be precise—suddenly appeared to be a cold killer instead of an average office lady.Her expression was icy, and even the air around her seemed to turn cool."You're Skyler Dawn, Gandon's most famous assassin and adept at disguises. Elusive, but also takes jobs from different clients, and recently came to obtain the power of the spiritron vein. Sounds about right?"Skyler's expressions turned even colder as Frank had basically read her dossier. "I'm surprised you know me that well.""True." Frank chuckled. "But did you really think that an ordinary office worker would insist on coming along when I said I'm going after Ghost?"Also, when I was being swarmed, you were ready to abandon me and flee at any moment. It's just obvious that you're much stronger than they were.""Heh."Skyler whipped out a lipstick tube as she chuckled. "I'm an assassin. Only fools would fight those mooks.""So? Why are you going after Ghost?""Sorry. Client confidentiality," Skyl
Still, Skyler sighed. "I can lure Ghost into the open with my body, and I'd even give you intel on my client for free—for a change.""What…?" Frank narrowed his eyes.Betraying a client's confidence was the worst taboo when it came to being an assassin!Skyler simply shrugged. "Like I said, I'm old and tired. I wasn't lying about that."Frank nodded. "I have another question."Even if Skyler did show her sincerity, there were questions that needed answering too.Skyler nodded. "Shoot.""According to what I know, if Ghost wants a body compatible with the power of the spiritron vein, he would need virgins. So how would you use your body to lure him out into the open?"Skyler appeared taken aback by Frank's question, her ears soon flushing. "I'm not young, but I'd pass.""You'd pass?" Frank was shocked."What? Is there a problem?" Skyler stared daggers at Frank over her cigarette. "Did you think that all female assassins need to spread their legs?""But the baby Zac was talki
Skyler blurted, "Why—"Frank placed a finger on his lips. "Shush."He then quietly led her forward until they were outside Room 1306."Excuse me, are you looking for someone?"A pretty nurse stepped between the door and Frank when she spotted him. "This is a VIP ward, and if you don't have an appointment—"Smack.The nurse never noticed the look Frank gave Skyler, or Skyler moving quietly behind her to strike her on the nape, knocking her out."Oh, sorry," Frank said out loud. "I'm looking for Ms. Yancy Junek. I heard she'd be around here…"The name was certainly inconsequential, as all Frank needed was for the person inside the room to let his guard down.Bang!In a split second, he kicked open the door."What?!"The figure on the bed was still holding his breath and listening attentively and was naturally startled when the door was kicked open.However, he promptly turned and jumped, crashing out of the window on his way out of the thirteenth floor!"Hah! Did you think
Spreading his arms, Ghost laughed maniacally. "Did neither of you feel it? I can sense the power of the spiritron vein in you… it's not impressive compared to mine, but you have my attention."Power, power! With the power of the spiritron vein, what are the rest of humankind compared to us? Livestock! Pets!"He then clenched his fists. "And yet, you hypocritical pricks insist on protecting them… those insignificant things. And it sickens me!"Leveling a grisly smile at Frank, he chuckled. "I was going to cut you two apart after I rehabilitate my body before moving on to wipe out Jouri Yelin and all her foolish mooks, but you're here already! Even if my body isn't ready, scum like you have no hope of winning!""Oh, really?" Frank remained unaffected and impassive.However, that only left Ghost seething. "Still acting tough when death has come for you? Whatever… I'll cut off your limbs soon and skin you when Jouri is here to watch, then I'll send you two to hell!""Actually, you're
Ghost bellowed, "And I'll do anything for power!"The grafted flesh around his body squirmed as he did—a sickening sight."It seems that I've underestimated you…"Frank dropped to one knee, turning pale and smiling in pain as he looked down at the gaping hole in his stomach."Frank!"Skyler stumbled backward, suddenly fearing the grafted monster beside Frank.Ghost had truly gone mad, grafting the flesh of others to himself to absorb the power of the spiritron vein!She shuddered in fear—it was as crude as it was horrific!Ghost simply shrugged. "Well, you're not getting away now that you've seen my secret. Leave me your flesh and the power of the spiritron vein that you embody!"Laughing freakishly, he lunged at Skyler."So fast!"Skyler was stunned, her mind barely registering a thing as she only saw a blur before she found herself staring at Ghost's grisly bandaged face.Bang!She raised her arms to block his punch, but it sent her flying anyway, crashing down to the ed
"Such a funny woman…"Frank narrowed his eyes and reached into his pocket. "It seems that I need the power of the spiritron vein if I were to beat him now… What a bother."-"Is he still after me?!"On the other hand, Skyler had jumped off the hospital building, spinning to direct herself through one of the windows on the eleventh floor.Even after landing inside, she never stopped and kept looking behind.Bang!Soon, the entire window frame erupted resoundingly, and screams could be heard everywhere!"You're too persistent!" Skyler growled through her teeth and kept running, suddenly accelerating exponentially."Where do you think you're going?"Even as she ran, the wards behind her were exploding one after another, and Ghost soon caught up to Skyler!She could hear Ghost's creepy laugh, just as the ward in front of her blew up, and a dark shadow intercepted her amid piercing screams."Monster…" Skyler screeched to a halt, her face pale in terror."Nom… Young girls taste
Bang!Amid a deafening boom, Skyler was sent flying by the shockwave of the detonation.Still, while she was in the air, she angled herself and pressed a button on her fountain pen.A near invisible thread shot out, coiling around and anchoring on the radio tower outside the hospital."So, one grenade isn't enough."She sighed with a thoughtful look, dangling off the radio tower.Even before she could gather herself, a red-black silhouette came bursting out of the fiery mess that was the hospital."Cunning bitch!" Ghost shrieked as he shot toward Skyler.Skyler's face dropped. "Not even a scratch?!"Bang!Just as she loosened her grip from her pen, Ghost slammed into the radio tower, snapping it in half!With a deafening metallic groan, the top half of the tower teetered and fell…"Argh!""Help!!!"The road beneath was filled with pedestrians, and they were all screaming as they ran for cover across all directions.Crash!As the gigantic metal struck crashed into the gr
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