Chapter 136 - Alex's Tribulation

He made the Lightning Rod Array first. This array was easy for him now. He only needs a few minutes before he finished. Then he placed Rank 9 Lightning Materials as the core. He felt pained when using this own material. His master said that actually, the array's fuel is Spirit Stones, and that is the common currency in the Upper World. But because this world didn't have any spirit stones, he can only let his pocket burned as he put the material. Well, since these materials won't have much value later in the upper world. He didn't really mind about that.

After he finished the array, he tried to activate it to check if it functional. The array started glowing as soon as he put his mana, so he succeeded in making this array. He then continues drawing Qi-Gathering Array. It used for concentrating the Qi/Mana in the air to one spot. It is beneficial for him to pass his Lightning Tribulation, where a dense of Qi/Mana concentrated. Usually, this array used when Cultivating, but because this world Qi/Mana is not very satisfying. He thought using Qi-Gathering Array to make the Qi/Mana more dense at this place. Usually, this array was for boosting the absorption speed of Spiritual Energy from the Spirit Stones. But because of the difference in Qi and Spiritual Energy., its original name is Gathering Array.

After he made those two arrays, he makes a copy of them not far besides them. These arrays are for Firia when she ascends later. After practicing for another four months, Alex techniques in Alchemy and Array should make him qualified as Rank 2 Array Master. This kind of thing is easy for him. Well, after he was taught about Array from Maxwell, he didn't have any time to practice those, since many things were going on.

After he finished all his preparation, he went inside the array. He sat on lotus position and gathering the Qi/Mana in the air. He also activated the Qi-Gathering Array. The Qi/Mana started gathering in the air. It becomes denser and denser as time goes. Before finally, the dark cloud appeared in the sky above Alex's position. Even the surrounding sky is starting to get dark.

All the cities in the surrounding can see this dark and scary cloud. Especially the Capital City. Just from seeing this cloud make them shiver.

An older man in the office looked at the dark sky in his chair. "So, you are going to start. This scene really unexpected even if you already told me. I need to inform the other. I'm sure all the other rank 8 in the kingdom will gather and see what is happening."

He disappeared from the chair.

There was a confusion in the kingdom. All the other rank 8 immediately gathered on the city gate.

"What is happening right now?"

"Is this a monster attack?"

"Is there really a monster that scary?"

"This is the Disaster that might sweep the Capital City."

"Sound out the Alarm"

"No need to do that"

7 Older men gathered on top of the city gate in panic. Before suddenly another old man appeared with a calm face like nothing happened at the moment.

"Marco, why is your face can be so calm at this moment?" Bryan asked hurriedly

The others also looked at him in confusion. Marco only smiled at them. "Don't worry about it. Just say that my Student is going to ascend at any moment."

"What?" All of them were shocked, including Bryan. Even though he already Alex will ascend sooner or later. He didn't expect this would come so soon.

"Don't bother with it for a moment. It will become normal soon." Marco said. All of them looked at each other. They really didn't know what is happening. Since Marco seems to understand what is happening at the moment, they decided to trust him and continue observing from the city gate.

…

Alex opened his eyes. He looked at the dark sky. "Teacher said in Lightning Tribulation, there are ten lightning waves. Each wave will come stronger than the previous one. And the Lightning Rod Array can't be used to block the last wave. Then, I will use it to block the ninth wave."

Alex took a long breath before looking at the dark sky. His expression becomes serious. "Come!"

The lightning sound was deafening, The people in the Capital City can clearly hear it, and the world seems to vibrate because of this sound. Suddenly, A lightning strike coming toward the ground. From others' perspective, the yellow lightning appears to hit the ground on Night Forest. But in Alex's perspective, it is straight coming toward him.

Alex looked at the lightning strike as He took out his sword and spear. He raised it and swung it toward the lightning. He easily destroyed the lightning strike.

The second wave appeared, it strikes down more ferociously from the previous one. But for Alex, it still the same, he brushed it off with a swing. He looked at the third wave that is coming afterward. He frowned.

He swung his sword toward the lightning. But this time, he can't destroy it like the previous two. Alex immediately reacted.

"Immovable Step"

With the immovable step, he boosts his power and finally cut down the lightning strike. But, this is still an easy strike for him. He looked at the next wave, the fourth strike. This time, it was different from the previous three, from the color alone, he can see. The lightning that will strike down will be a blue-colored lightning.

He clenches his spear. He pointed his spear toward the blue lightning. His spear tip is glowing a blue light before he makes a thrusting motion. "Luminous Spear Technique. Pierce!"

From others' respective, it was like a blue-colored light appeared from the ground and shoot toward the blue lightning. When it reached the lightning, they clashed for a few seconds, before the blue light penetrates the lightning.

"Fuu…" He can feel, there is a qualitative leap in the lightning power. It seems that every time the lightning changes color, there will be a qualitative leap in the lightning power. His teacher said there would be three colors in Tribulation, the first three are in yellow, the next three are in blue, and the rest would be in purple.

The Fifth Strike comes down toward him once again. He still uses his spear. But this time, he throws it toward the lightning.

"Spear Throwing Art. Spin Throwing!"

The spear flew toward the lightning. Just like the previous one, The SR rank Spear pierced the lightning easily. The spear obliterated the lightning. After it loses its momentum, The spear started falling to the ground. But the Tribulation Cloud seems to have an intelligence. When the spear was falling, it also sends another lightning strike behind the spear. Alex frowned. He grabbed the spear before it touched the ground. He then swung his sword to destroy the lightning.

"Sword Intent"

The tyrannical Sword Intent covered his sword and clashed with the lightning. He was sure that he could win this clash, but it takes a long time before his sword manages to cut it down. So he adds another power boost.

"Immovable Step"

Because of the power boost come from Immovable Step. Alex suddenly pushed back the lightning and finally cut it down. Seeing the last blue lightning was cut down. The flash in the cloud suddenly becomes purple. And true, not long after that, a Purple colored lightning strikes to the ground. And its power was far higher than the blue ones.

For this lightning, it seems that he needs to use his fire. He opened the Fire Phoenix Seed in his body. Pure Fire started revolving around his body. Alex raised his finger and swung it horizontally.

"First Stage of Fire Phoenix Art. Phoenix Summon"

A phoenix flew from his finger toward the purple lightning. The moment the Phoenix clashed with the lightning, it immediately exploded and the remnant fire started burning down the rest of the lightning.

…

On the city gate. All the old men that are observing this phenomenon were dumbfounded. Bryan can't help but ask Marco, "Marco if you are the one who met that lightning, can you destroy it?"

"I can, but it might leave me seriously injured. I won't be able to fight for a long time."

Bryan frowned. He had the same answer as him. But, seeing the Fire Phoenix can 'Burn' a bolt of lightning with that power. He was too shocked at the moment. The same applies to the others. They felt dread when they saw another purple lightning strike again.

…

He looked at the eight waves, the second Purple lightning. He looked at it and used the same move.

"First Stage of Fire Phoenix Art. Phoenix Summon"

The phoenix flew once again to the sky. It burns the lightning. But Alex was surprised when he saw there is still a leftover that still wasn't consumed by his fire. The remain strike down toward him. He swung his sword.

"Sword Intent"

Fortunately, the leftover seems to not that powerful, and he can easily cut it down with his sword intent.

The ninth wave finally come. He still has the Lightning Rod Array. The Purple Lightning strike toward him. Alex only smiled as he activated the Lightning Rod Array. The Array started glowing. When the lightning comes, there is an invisible layer that appeared a few meters above his head. The invisible layer blocked the lightning strike completely. But when Alex observed it carefully, he can see that the lightning move downward after the Invisible Barrier blocked it. It moved toward the ground. The Lightning Rod Array channeled the lightning toward the ground and dispersed it. And just like that, the ninth wave was easily repelled.

…

But, it was only for him who can take it easy. For those old men, especially his Teacher. When they saw the Eight wave that coming toward him didn't get entirely burned by Alex's fire. He is worried, He wanted to fly toward him immediately, and when he saw the Ninth Lightning strike completely stroke the ground with the opposition

"Dean Marco, is that…"

Dean Marco was already flying toward Alex. The others also followed him. He didn't know about Lightning Rod Array. That's why, when the Lightning stroke the ground, he immediately thought that something happened to Alex. He is flying toward him before he was stopped when another lightning strike appeared. Not only him, but the other old men were also stopped by this sight too. The sudden appearance of golden lightning shocked them. They dread this golden lightning in front of them.

If the Seventh Wave can make them severely injured, the Eight Wave can obliterate them, while the ninth wave, they need all of them to combine the strength to stop that strike. But, in front of this lightning. They finally know how small they are, compared to nature. Sadly, they didn't know about the whole 'Lightning Tribulation' thing. So, they can only classify this scene as a nature.

…

Alex who looked the flash on the cloud, turned to gold color. He frowned. According to his teacher, the last wave is purple color. But, he can't not believe the thing that happened before his eyes. The golden lightning made its way toward Alex. Its strength was far far stronger than the previous purple ones, no, it can be said that this power can't be compared even if he summing up all the previous strikes. He didn't know that even in the Upper World, such thing as this is an anomaly that even they might not know.

Alex's expression becomes solemn, He didn't panic. Instead, he is very calm at the moment. He raised his sword and coated it with sword intent. He swung it down toward the Golden Lightning. This is the technique that has the biggest advancement from all of his techniques.

"Sanguin Sword Art. Elemental Eleventh Slash!"

Because of his understanding of Sword Intent and he already can apply it to his Sword Art. It is like a door that has been opened for him so he can tread the path easily. Because of that, in a span of four months, he can reach the Eleventh Slash.

This is Alex's last trump card. The power combined with his Pure Fire. The Tyrannical and powerful sword wave shoots out to the sky. The clash between the Tyrannical Sword Wave with the Almighty Golden Lightning created a powerful shockwave and vibrated the entire Capital City.