"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 coincidentally happened to be at the same hospital.Noticing the bloody mess that was Nash, he barged into the operating room to save Nash, chasing out all the other doctors. There was no telling what punishment Nash would have been subjected to if not for Frank, but he was still a bloody mess—all his nails were torn off, and every bone was broken.Frank could not help feeling regret and rage—Nash looked a decade older now!If only he did not send Nash to Sorano Estate!"Willy Sorano!" Once Frank had the name of the culprit after Nash told him everything, he called Loggins Apothecary to transfer Nash over for better care.Then, he strode out of the operating room, standing off against Ghent Loeb and the many Sorano bodyguards he brought.Already furious, Frank was not polite at all, though he remained calm. "Get the fuck out of here, and I'll let you live. Refuse, and you will die.""Bastard…" Ghent actually felt a small pang of panic from the death aura spilling from
Ghent snorted coldly. "How dare you, Frank Lawrence! That's a man of the Sorano family you just killed!"He leapt into the air, running along the wall as he charged down the hallway at Frank like an eagle.His fingers were outstretched, with red pure vigor swirling around them like claws, tearing shrilly and audibly through the air. The Sorano bodyguards had to clasp their hands over their ears!It was not surprising that Ghent was confident of himself, as he was Ascendant rank.However, he was just only in the early phase—it really was not enough against Frank!"Hmph. You're asking for it…"Frank did not turn—he already knew Ghent was streaking toward him.He steadied himself, inhaling deeply before turning.Then, he launched a punch swirling in golden pure vigor that met Ghent's claw attack.Fist and finger collided, the terrible shockwave that ensued, quickly knocking everyone off balance.Blood splattered across the hallway walls, leaving a sight of gore.When everyone
Even before the two bodyguards at the front could react, Frank had leapt up. Then, seizing them by their throats, he crushed them with an audible crunch!"Go! Kill him!"Seeing that Frank was attacking, the bodyguards certainly knew it was the end for them.Since they were not getting away anyway, they pulled out their machetes and clubs as they charged toward Frank."Hmph!"Frank handily threw the two dead bodyguards at them, running along the wall as they charged down the hallway and instantly leaping behind them."Trying to run? No chance," Frank told the bodyguard who was ready to flee. It was the last thing the bodyguard ever heard.That same bodyguard had bellowed at the others to charge at Frank, intent on using them as a diversion while he ran away.Thud!Frank punched him in the throat, breaking it and watched as he collapsed on the floor in terror, no longer breathing.Seeing that Frank had cut off their escape, the Sorano bodyguards could not stay calm at all and
Jim had the right idea—Frank had gone to Sorano Estate for payback.Every time he remembered the torture Nash had been put through only further fueled his rage, murderous intent, and profound guilt.Not only did the man allow him to stay in his house, but he also got hurt because of him.If Kat found out, even she would surely not react well to him."You're going to die, Willy Sorano!" Frank growled, clenching his fist as his eyes flashed with fury.He would make everyone pay for what they did to Nash, be it Willy or anyone else who was involved in torturing Nash!He would not hold back, even if it meant war against the Soranos!He strode out of the hospital, getting into a taxi that took him straight to Sorano Estate, since Helen had left in his car.He just so happened to run into the same bodyguard Nash spoke of."What are you doing here, kid?" the bodyguard asked loftily.Just as Nash had said, he was no more than a glorified doorman, but he was utterly despicably haughty
Frank certainly had nothing to say to that scumbag and crushed his throat with an audible crunch.He dropped the bodyguard in a pool of his own blood, his eyes wide open even as he died, still having no idea how that happened.How could someone really cause trouble at Sorano Estate?"Phew…"With that done, Frank strode up to the front gates of Sorano Estate, inhaling deeply before kicking it.The towering steel gates collapsed along with a portion of the wall attached to it."What? What was that?""Earthquake?"The Sorano bodyguards all quickly assembled at the gates and were left staring in shock at the young man who strode out from the dust, his expression impassive.They then froze when they saw their colleague lying dead nearby in a pool of blood."W-What the hell?""A-Are we under attack?""No way, for real?"Even as the bodyguards traded glances from how ridiculous the whole thing was, the young man spoke. "Bring Willy Sorano to me."His words were calm, but there w
The kid was being serious!The Sorano bodyguards all panicked even as they stared at Frank's calm demeanor. He just killed the bodyguard captain with a single strike, and he recently became a vigor wielder…He was as formidable as the Sorano retainers, and he was not someone they could hope to win!"Go… get the retainers!"One of the bodyguards quickly turned to flee, and Frank simply watched him go without a word.That was when someone shouted at him, "Don't get so full of yourself, you prick! You're a dead man the moment you came!" It was one of the bodyguards, who could not stop his outburst as he watched the bodyguard captain drop lifelessly to the ground."Hmm…?"Frank turned toward the bodyguard, locking eyes with him and asking just half a meter away, "You just called me a dead man?"The bodyguard gulped, regretting standing out just then.He glanced at the hundred over Sorano bodyguards behind him, but none of them were attacking Frank.It was simply laughable."
Frank remained impassive as he stared at the trembling Sorano bodyguard. "Your five minutes is over. Since you're not bringing Willy Sorano over, you can take me to him."He picked that bodyguard merely because he was the obvious coward—the more afraid they were to die, the easier they were to control.Gutsy ones would only waste more of his time."What? Mr. Sorano?" The cowardly Sorano bodyguard turned toward the other bodyguards hesitantly.However, they were clearly afraid that Frank would just kill their cowardly colleague and then turn his sights on them.They just worked here, and they certainly did not want to die!And while Frank's only opinion of the man was 'coward', the man could not be blamed.The Soranos were not a dynasty of martial artists like the Lionhearts, and their only real muscle were their retainers.And while the Sorano bodyguards' job title was bodyguard, they were really just your glorified security officers. They only took the job because it paid well
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