Crackle─!
It felt like thousands of birds were all chirping in his head at the same time. It wasn’t easy to lift even a single finger.
A split mind, an electrocuted body.
Struggling, Lukas let out a silent scream.
A torrent of pain, which made what he had just received from Pale feel like a joke, grasped horribly at his mind. If he were to let down his guard for even a moment, it felt like he would get caught up in the torrent and his consciousness would disappear without a trace.
However, there was something that was even greater than the pain he was desperately feeling. It was a tremendous power that he had never experienced before.
A taste of extreme power, what the Lightning God had said, was not a lie.
If this much power was only a taste, then how much power did the Lightning God originally have?
...If.
If he were to submit to the Lightning God, he would be able to use-.
[Only this much]
Right before he was swept away by that power, a voice that was reminiscent of thunder brought him back to his senses.
[Did you really think you could handle the power of the Lightning God at that level? After all, you’re just another being that isn’t one of ‘us’.]
‘...I.’
[Maintain your consciousness. Be conscious of who you are. Lukas Trowman, what did you do when you couldn’t control yourself.]
‘...’
Moments when he couldn’t control himself.
At that time, he.
First, he always took a deep breath.
“Hu-, up...”
Lukas took the most unsteady breath he ever had.
Air rushed violently into his trembling airways. His head, which felt like an electric current was jumping around frantically inside, felt refreshed.
And conscious of the Lightning God.
Did this guy... just help him?
[Don’t relax, look straight ahead.]
Firstly, he didn’t think too deeply and took the Lightning God’s words as a signpost. It tensed his mind just enough so that he wasn’t swept away by the torrent. It felt like a waterfall was flowing endlessly inside his head, and if his goal was just to hold on, then all he had to do was not let go of the branch he was clinging to, but that was meaningless.
One day, the branch would break, and Lukas would be swept away by the large waterfall.
‘I have to overcome it.’
Or dominate it.
This meant that climbing the waterfall was his only option.
He could do it.
With a unified spirit and void, it was not impossible. Even if it was impossible, he would just make it possible. Just like he used to.
Struggling mentally, Lukas looked straight ahead.
And came to his senses in a different sense.
[Hahaha, ahahaha─!]
He saw Pale rushing in with a mad laugh. There was no longer even a single trace of sanity on her.
[It seems that she noticed my presence even after completely losing her mind.]
‘That... is possible?’
[Naturally. The presence of the Lightning God is not something trivial that you can ignore just because you lost your mind.]
Grinning, the Lightning God continued.
[Kuku. How is it? It seems that the anger the Blue Knight feels towards you is beyond imagination. Did you not foresee this situation? That if you accept my power, the situation would only become worse.]
‘...of course I did.’
He’d calmed down a bit now.
Trying to keep his wild spirit as calm as possible, Lukas spoke to the Lightning God.
‘With this, I should have become Pale’s number one target.’
[So she will no longer ignore you and chase someone else? Kukuku. How self sacrificing. It’s a shame that I’m the only spectator that can witness this tragedy. Would you like a round of applause?]
‘Shut up. I don’t need you anymore, so stay put for a while.’
[Kuhaha... This is why I like you]
The Lightning God burst into laughter as if it had been something pleasant.
Lukas looked down at his hands and clenched them tightly.
‘...this is [Thunder].’
The power that made the Lightning God the Lightning God.
The power that made him one of the strongest beings that ruled over the Three Thousand Worlds.
One of the greatest powers in the entire multiverse.
It certainly deserved to be expressed like that.
Lukas felt a ridiculous sense of omnipotence just from obtaining a small portion of Thunder.
However, when he became aware of the being called Pale, that sense of omnipotence and superiority disappeared.
‘The opponent is also a monster.’
The chill down his spine was the perfect stimulant.
[Should I teach you how to handle that power?]
‘If I listen to you, it’ll only get more twisted.’
[That’s right. It’s simply swinging the sword without form.]
‘...however, it is more chaotic than any swordsmanship I’ve ever experienced.’
[Kukuku. When you have that much power, it becomes annoying to use swordsmanship.]
Lukas dodged Pale’s attack with his naked eyes.
The attacks that he couldn’t respond to were blocked with Thunder, but there were attacks that he couldn’t block.
Shuk-
Every time that happened, a scar appeared on his body. The cuts would be so deep that his bones were visible or one of his limbs would fall off. Such damage caused the physical condition of his body to quickly deteriorate.
He wouldn’t be able to last under Pale’s attacks unless he was in perfect condition, so he had no choice but to use Void to continuously regenerate his body.
The form of the fight was established. This was surprising considering the fact that the opponent was one of the Four Knights.
However.
[Thunder is not infinite.]
‘...I know.’
It was not infinite and neither was Void.
The core energies supporting Lukas were quickly running out.
Once again, the fight was established. However, what was the difference?
Pale’s anger wouldn’t subside even if he dragged time out before dying. After tearing apart Lukas’ corpse, she would still kill Iris, and she might even destroy this entire universe.
‘I need time.’
[Hmm?]
‘I need to reflect on your Thunder.’
[You can do it now.]
‘Dammit. No matter how extraordinary my brain is, I can’t completely immerse myself in this state!’
[Aha. I see. You mean you need some training time in order to interpret Thunder in your own way.]
Understanding Lukas’ intentions, the Lightning God smiled.
[To say something like that in this situation. You madman.]
Of course, Lukas was aware. Of just how crazy what he was saying was.
[How much?]
‘...at least 10 minutes.’
[Kuhahaha.......]
The mockery came once again.
The Lightning God spoke laughingly.
[You know how ridiculous what you’re saying is, don’t you? Do you think there is anyone who could last against one of the Four Knights for 10 minutes?]
‘...’
He had nothing to say in response.
But the Lightning God continued.
[Actually, there is.]
‘What?’
[Until when are you going to watch? Come out already.]
At that moment he realised.
The Lightning God’s voice was not directed at Lukas.
Then the sky turned dark.
[...what other tricks do you have...?]
Pale’s words were cut off.
The darkened sky brightened up. She saw a crack in the sky. It was a bolt of lightning with ten thousand branches.
Boom!
Following a thunderclap, a bolt of lightning pierced Pale’s body. Pale’s prized blue armour was scorched.
Taht.
The being that appeared with the thunder gently knelt on one knee as soon as they landed.
It was the perfect posture of obedience, without flaws.
Lukas was surprised at the sight of the man’s face.
It was a middle aged man wearing a biker jacket and jeans. His messy golden hair fell to his shoulders.
A being he knew. How could he forget?
“You called, one true being.”
[─10 minutes.]
Instead of returning the greeting, the Lightning God asked.
[I need 10 minutes. Can you do it?]
“Hmm.”
The right hand of the Thunderous Lightning God.
The Lord, Retip, straightened his bent knee and looked at Pale.
“Honestly, it won’t be easy.”
There was a smile in the eyes covered by sunglasses.
“But who can refuse your orders?”