"Oh, you needn't worry."Zico smiled. "I've heard that there's been issues with Turnbulls and Lionhearts' arranged engagement, and it all revolved around Frank Lawrence."Emilio realized with a start. "Are you saying…" "Yes." Zico snorted. "We'll stay behind the scenes and let the Turnbulls and the Lionhearts deal with him. Ideally, his identity stays hidden and all of them get hurt in their conflict. That's when we come in…"Laughing coldly, Zico sighed. "The Five-Peat Archaeus is a discipline said to lead one to Transcendent rank, a path to immortality. What are the opinions of mortals in comparison?""I understand now… Thank you for your guidance, Father." "D-Dad? Save me… It hurts so much… Everything hurts…" Willy held out a hand to Emilio even as he rolled around.However, Emilio was already fantasizing about obtaining the Five-Peat Archaeus and did not have any attention to spare.Eventually, he shot the boy with a calm look and said coolly, "If you want it to stop hurt
As Matis put down the fruit basket he brought and frowned, Nash remained silent."It's…"Eventually, he sighed without mentioning a name. "Just forget it. We can't afford to mess with them.""Now, now. You're underestimating Matis, Nash!" a shrill voice spoke outside the door.Soon, a middle-aged woman dressed in yellow who sported permed hair and excessive makeup strode in, clicking her tongue.She was Mel Gunnar, Nash's sister-in-law."How terrible… What did you do to deserve this, Nash?" she exclaimed before turning to flash a proud smile at Matis. "But don't worry—with my son around, he'll find justice for you, whoever it was!""Exactly." Matis nodded. "Just tell us who it is. I'll definitely help you!""You really don't have to." Nash shook his head, not inclined to involve them and finding Mel's voice too shrill for his liking."Just tell us, Dad! Who did this to you? Was it my fault?" Kat pressed, clearly blaming himself for her father's injury since she believed Soren
"You just have to tell us if you need money… Now, see? Your father was attacked and can't even say who it was or demand an apology. You have to suffer because of your pride, messing with the unseemly sort."Although Mel's words were sympathetic, her expression did not show it—if anything, there was a hint of contempt.Frank could see that Nash and Kat's relatives were treating them strangely. Pausing for a moment, he turned back to Matis and said quietly, "Listen to me. The man who attacked Nash is not someone you can mess with.""Really?" Matis snorted in turn, releasing Frank and walking to his mother, snorting in contempt, "Did you hear that, Mom? He said I can't mess with the man who attacked Uncle Nash."Kat walked up to Frank just then, watching him anxiously as she asked, "Who did it, Master Lawrence? You could at least tell me, right?"Frank shook his head. "Ignorance is bliss, and it's none of your business. I can handle it myself.""Shut up!" Mel strode up, sneering a
"What?! Willy Sorano?!" Matis and Mel were both stunned.However, after an awkward silence, Mel cleared her throat and yelled, "At least use some logic if you want to lie! Why would Willy Sorano want to hurt Nash? He's a kind man—he'd never offend Mr. Sorano!""Exactly!" Matis agreed. "I've seen Mr. Sorano myself. It was a distant peek, but he's kind and humble. He'd never hurt anyone! You're just lying!""Oh, that's my son for you! He's so amazing, actually meeting Willy Sorano in the flesh!" Mel' eyes lit up as she exclaimed in praise before turning toward Frank. "Nothing to say now, huh? Lying about a person my son met… How embarrassing! I'd be hiding if I were you! Why don't you look at yourself in your mirror? Who do you think you are, messing with one of the Four Families of Morhen?" Matis smirked, shaking his head. "There's always those who would fantasize and think too highly of themselves."However, while Mel and Matis were busy mocking Frank, Kat finally turned toward
Seeing the look on her son's face, Mel promptly leapt to his defense. "Why are you snapping at us, Kat? We're not the ones who hurt your dad," she reasoned, not forgetting to deflect. "Shouldn't you be asking who did this to your father?""Exactly," Matis quickly chimed in. "We're doing this out of the goodness of our hearts for your father's sake. We're concerned.""We don't need your help or concern!" Kat retorted bluntly."Don't worry," Frank assured her quietly, having no choice just then. "I went to Sorano Estate myself yesterday. Willy will come to apologize personally today—he'd be dead if he doesn't.""What?!"Matis gaped but soon clapped Frank on the shoulder as he laughed."Oh, come on… you really should know when to give up!" He sneered while leering at Kat sympathetically. "See, Kat? Your guest can really make shit up… going to Sorano Estate and threatening Willy Sorano to apologize? He'd die if he didn't? Pfft…"He was laughing too hard to continue, while Mel was
Sighing lengthily and forcing a smile, Kat said, "Master Lawrence, I know you're amazing… Don't worry. I won't hold my father's injury against you, and there's only so much that anyone can do. At least he's alive and recovering.""I'm not lying," Frank said dryly with a frown, but he had no idea how to make her believe him."Oh, I believe you, bro." Matis chuckled, coming over to throw an arm around Frank's shoulder. "Don't worry—I'll call Mr. Sorano himself and ask him to come over soon, and then I'll get you a nice, cozy cell in a mental asylum. Maybe some shock therapy will bring you back to reality.""I can't do anything if you don't believe me." Frank sighed and shrugged.He expects the Soranos to arrive and apologize soon, or at least send someone over. That was why Frank did not want anyone else here—if the Sorano decided to go full scorched earth and sent their forces to attack them, Kat and the others would be a burden.But he had now seen through Nash's relatives. They
Nash's sudden bluntness was certainly a new side to him for Frank and Kat."Dad, what…?" Kat murmured."I know. I shouldn't have kept it from you," Nash said, lovingly patting Kat's head and sighing. "Your mom was once a martial elite. She was almost dead after being blindsided by some vile people, but I chanced upon her and saved her."After that, she chose to bury her past, and we had you… but somehow, her old enemies found her. She entrusted you to me before leaving, and they killed her. That's why I've tried my best to keep my head down—it's all for your sake."Sighing, he waved at Mel for her to leave. "You can go now. It's not like I won't give you Io's last heirloom—I just can't. I won't let you have it even if you tried to steal it… No, even if you killed me."Mel's eyes widened and she wheezed, pacing around his bed and glaring at her as she snapped, "Just look at yourself, Nash! You're a loser without money, slaving yourself for others! You can't even stand up for yourse
It was natural for martial elites like Io to accumulate considerable wealth. As such, her sister Mel had been lusting after it, demanding Nash to give her everything.Nash would comply, giving up his wife's fortune willingly. Even though Mel and her son Matis were living like kings, Nash was not bothered—all he cared about was Kat. However, his compromising eventually got Mel so greedy that she demanded every last bit."Get out, or I'm counting down from three," Frank growled, holding up three fingers as he moved to stand beside Kat."What, you think you can stop us?!" Matis bellowed. "Go on! Break his legs!"His bodyguards lunged at Frank even before he counted down, just as Kat sprang her feet as well."Master Lawrence! I can deal with these two. You take care of those three!" she cried, determined even as she wiped away her tears. "I've been giving my dad too much trouble, so I'm going to protect him with my own hands today!"And with a battlecry, she leapt toward the two to
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