"It's just a little something… Don't worry," Frank said, deciding not to tell Helen.He did not want Helen to worry about Nash, since Nash had been kind to her."Okay," Helen did not press Frank since he did not want to say, and instead nodded. "In that case, I'll be going back to Mr. Yego's cottage. Be safe.""I know. See you." After sending off Helen, Frank took a moment to calm down and strode toward the operating room, his knuckles clenched.Nash was so thoroughly maimed that he could not recognize Frank at all—it was not just a beating, but it was violent torture!"Nash…" Frank felt a pang of guilt just then—this would not have happened if he did not send Nash to deliver his pills.Naturally, he more or less had an idea who had done this."Willy Sorano…" he growled, his eyes flashing viciously as his rage flared."Hey! This is an operating room! You're not allowed in here!" A nurse promptly stopped him when she saw Frank about to barge inside."I'm a family member and a
Bang!Frank kicked open the door to the operating room, and the doctors all jumped and turned toward him in shock. "Hey! Who are you?! What are you doing here?!""How confident are you about saving the patient, doctor?" Frank asked bluntly as he strode inside, staring icily at Dr. Brent as he stood near the operating table."Well…" Dr. Brent was hesitant.The patient was maimed, but not lethally, since the torturer had been… methodical. They knew how to maximize pain but keep the victim alive.But even if there was no chance of the victim dying, a full recovery was a pipe dream too. The torturer made sure that their work was permanent, shattering the victim's thigh bones and leaving him wheelchair bound.As the doctor in charge, even he would not be able to do much with the full extent of his abilities.Moreover, he had express orders to keep the man alive and in pain—they were not supposed to help him at all, only prolong his pain."Is that so? I understand." Frank could r
Although the dozen over security guards were wearing uniforms, their boorish speech made it clear that they were just some street thugs.Frank slowly looked up at them as they charged inside, growling, "You have five seconds. Get out of here, or I won't hold back.""Shit, we have a cocky one!" The security guard leader leapt up at him, stun baton raised."Hmph."Frank really did not have the time to waste with these thugs.Nash was still on the operating table, groaning softly in pain and in need of medical attention.Leaping up right then, Frank knocked out the security guard with the side of his palm, and the guard was sent rolling as he eyes rolled up in its sockets.Bzzt…Frank had grabbed the first security guard's stun baton before he was sent flying and shoved it at the next closest security guard, leaving him convulsing as black smoke billowed."Out!" Frank bellowed and kicked the security guard into another.More kept coming, however, and Frank did not hold back.Cr
Dr. Jomer kept gloating. "In the end, Draconian traditional medicine is a weak copy of modern medicine, imitating stuff like removing dead tissue and sewing open wounds. It's all just a scam."While the other doctors nodded in agreement with Dr. Jomer, Dr. Brent frowned. "Just shut up and watch what that kid's up to."Dr. Jomer shook his head and clicked his tongue. "Probably someone with a grudge. I mean, hurting that poor man even after all that? I really pity the man…"-Meanwhile, Frank placed his needles beside Nash on the operating table—it was only up close that he saw the true extent of Nash's injuries.Nash's face was left completely and gruesomely disfigured, and his ribs were almost completely broken. None of his limbs were left whole and even some tendons were cut.It was utter savagery.Frank actually felt the impulse to charge into Sorano Estate and find justice, but he could not—not until he saved Nash.Shoving two Ichor Pills into Nash's mouth, he focused as he
Ghent did not really get along with Gus even though they were both retainers of the Sorano family.However, while Ghent deferred to Gus because Gus outranked him, that did not mean that Ghent feared him.And now that Frank had intruded into Sorano turf and caused trouble, it was a definitive slap in the face for the Soranos.If anything, he was dead sure that Gus could not argue if he killed Frank right here and now.With that in mind, he strode up and barked coldly into the operating room, "You have five minutes to come out and apologize, Frank Lawrence, or I'll kill you in the name of the Sorano family!""Hmph."Frank could certainly hear him but merely leveled a brief glance of disdain at Ghent before returning to work.Nash stirred just then, looking around in confusion but soon saw Frank.He was immediately apologetic. "I-I'm so sorry, Mr. Lawrence. I failed to do what you've asked me to…"Frank frowned, withholding his age as he asked, "What the hell happened? Who did th
"What…?"Nash did not expect that even a bodyguard of the Soranos would be this pompous, let alone suffer such harassment. He was just here to deliver some pills!Moreover, he knew plenty of pharmacies and apothecaries, but he kept true to his honest nature, smiling as he said, "Please, sir—I'd never lie to you. Mr. Lawrence prescribed these pills to Mr. Zeller. You can check with Mr. Zeller if you don't believe me."Sadly for Nash, some people were simply abusive, having no regard for good manners as they would bully anyone who seemed soft."Are you deaf?!" the bodyguard snapped, leaping to his feet. "I just told you that some mook like me doesn't get to contact Mr. Zeller—it's on my head if you're just here to cause trouble! You can contact Mr. Zeller yourself if what you said is true, and then he'd tell us to let you in. Now get out of here already!"He pushed Nash to the floor again."Hey…!"Nash was really frustrated but soon realized that whatever he said was pointless.
"Wait, Gus Zeller's medicine… from a Mr. Lawrence?" Willy mused to himself, and soon a certain Lawrence's face came to mind.As Willy's expression turned cold, Nash saw the expensive car driving into Sorano Estate and Willy who sat at the back.Noticing the bodyguard fawning all over Willy, Nash could see that Willy was a big deal, and someone like him would most likely help him out.He walked up to Willy's car, bowing nervously and asking gingerly, "Mr. Sorano? I'm here to deliver medicine to Mr. Zeller, but I wasn't allowed in and couldn't contact Mr. Zeller. Could you please—""Shut up!" the bodyguard bellowed at him right then. "Did you just ask Mr. Sorano to run an errand for you?! Who do you think you are?!""No! That's not what I mean!" Nash threw his hands up in panic. "This is medicine, and I'm sure Mr. Zeller needs it urgently to be free of pain soon. That's why I'm asking a favor… Could you please pass this to Mr. Zeller, or just call him? I'm really sorry for taking up
"What?!" Nash froze at Willy's outburst.Did that mean Willy and Frank were… enemies?Willy continued to laugh savagely. "You see… the name Frank Lawrence means a lot to me. I dream of killing him every night, and I could skin him where he stands! And you! You're making me run an errand for that prick?! What's wrong with you?!"Nah was dumbstruck, and he leveled a pained stare at the pills Willy crushed under his foot."Please, Mr. Sorano…" He reasoned, "You could just say no if you didn't want to help! How could you ruin the pills Mr. Lawrence made? It's for a member of your family!""Hahaha… Just shut up already!" Willy laughed, pointing at Nash as he bellowed, "I've finally caught on now… so this is why Gus was vouching for Frank Lawrence, even though that means humiliating me! He's in league with Frank!" Pointing at the pills on the floor, Willy kept laughing coolly. "Well, here's the proof. Let's see what Gus has to say for himself!""What are you talking about, Mr. Sora
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