Chapter 32 Mastering Thunder and Lightning

Eric nodded firmly, but with a tinge of hesitation, and said in a low voice, "Although the items have been delivered, it seems that David has been beaten up! And according to David, he didn't have to spend so much money to procure these things, but the black market people took it all away..."

Mike was taken aback, "Black against black? Where is he?"

"More or less."

Eric said, "He just left, saying he'll get us justice."

Mike shook his head, "This person is truly honest. No problem, I'll have the right to freely enter the military base tomorrow, and at worst I'll go with him. Take the items and go back home first, I'll teach you how to use the energy solution."

The young men whispered to each other in front of the stone house for a while.

As night fell, they tucked the items away and returned to their respective rooms.

Mike pushed open the door, and warmth greeted him.

Isabelle was wearing a white nightgown, building a fire in the fireplace, and cooking.

"I'm in a good mood today, we'll eat meat for the next few days."

This time, Mike's supply box had chicken, it was about time to give the little girl some nutrition, otherwise she would be as pale as a ghost getting up at night.

"Oh."

Isabelle responded dully, turning around to defrost the chicken.

This little girl's culinary skills were not great, but she could handle simple dishes, and with the help of seasonings, she could manage to stew a bowl of fragrant chicken soup.

"Eat, eat more."

"Oh."

"Isabelle, why are you only drinking the soup?"

"I don't like to eat meat, brother."

"How can someone not like to eat meat? You must eat!"

"No, I don't want to."

"Are you a nun or something? How can you develop without eating meat?"

"I can just not develop..."

Mike rubbed his forehead and pointed at the chicken leg in her bowl, saying, "Isabelle, look, what is this? Is it chicken meat? No, it's mock meat, you can eat it!"

"What is mock meat?"

Isabelle soaked the rice in the chicken soup in a hurry, only raising her head questioningly when she had a moment.

"..."

Mike was at a loss. He rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a metal box, inside which was a golden memory crystal. When he touched it, there was a tingling sensation, like being electrified.

There was no doubt, this was the memory crystal that recorded the thunderstorm weather.

The power of fate was within reach.

Mike pressed the fate crystal against his forehead, holding his breath and concentrating on the sacred rhythmic frequency. Memories that did not belong to him flooded into his brain, assaulting every nerve. The deafening roar of thunder echoed in the depths of his mind, like the roar of a giant beast.

It was as if he was at the center of the thunderstorm, with scorching lightning flashing in all directions and rumbling thunder exploding in his ears as if he was about to merge with the lightning and thunder.

Crack! The fate crystal shattered.

At that moment, the young man became dazed, his pupils flashing with searing electric light.

His pupils seemed to have been melted by the electric light, leaving only the terrifying white of his eyes.

Hazy with lightning and thunderstorms.

His life energy within also transformed at this moment.

Isabelle was startled, tilting her head to carefully observe the young man.

She saw that blue electric currents were surging all over Mike's body, his disheveled hair standing on end as if he had been electrocuted, shuddering and trembling horrifyingly.

At this time, Isabelle found that her hair was floating up under the influence of the electric current, with a stubborn cowlick on her head swinging left and right, very mischievous.

Then she noticed that the hem of her nightgown had also been lifted.

She quietly pushed the hem back down and sat obediently.

After an unknown period, the lightning and thunder in Mike's mind finally dissipated, and the roaring life energy within him gradually became tamed, the electric current flowing over his body suddenly disappearing.

He was like someone who had just had a nightmare, panting heavily.

"Fuck, so scary."

He looked at the electric arcs that had not yet completely disappeared from his hands and muttered, "Is it really that simple? Was this precious fate crystal used up just like that? Did I master fate?"

If we were to draw a parallel with wuxia (martial arts) novels:

The life force would be the fundamental inner energy (neili).

And one's destiny (ming li) is akin to the martial arts techniques you have mastered.

The process of mastering one's destiny is like a wondrous dream for the person.

And the physical transformations also catch them by surprise.

"For those with innate talent as an Evolved, it's that simple. But this is only the first step - more destiny chips are needed afterward to further stimulate and strengthen one's destiny."

Isabelle blinked her nearly pure white eyes earnestly and said, "Destiny from the astral system is often like this - the attributes are not just rare, but also quite difficult to wield. Even during the condensation and metamorphosis of destiny, one can experience excruciating pain."

She hesitated a bit before continuing, "If an Evolved has exceptional talent, their destiny can also exert a certain influence over their personality."

No wonder, Mike thought. He was already tingling and aching all over just from completing the initial resonance between his latent destiny and lightning storms - ordinary people really wouldn't be able to withstand it.

If destiny can influence personality, no wonder Lisa has such a volatile temper.

Wait a minute!

Mike himself doesn't seem to be doing too well either.

"Isabelle, with my inherent Divine Frenzy and now also the astral lightning destiny, is there any hope for me when I get into fights?" Mike asked with a glimmer of hope.

Isabelle fell silent.

"Brother, do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"

"The truth."

"There is hope."

"But your eyes clearly say, 'There's no hope, just await your doom!'"

"I'm sorry."

Mike is worried about his future, and there's a high chance that whenever he gets into fights from now on, he'll be in a state of utter madness. He hopes he won't cause any major trouble.

There's a saying that goes, if you can't fight it, embrace it.

At least the astral system is powerful.

Mike could feel a subtle surge of lightning power flowing within his life force. It's a part of his very being, and he doesn't need anyone to teach him how to control it - it's as natural as flexing his muscles.

Fascinating.

This is the power of destiny.

The extraordinary abilities that Ron and Luther used to wield are now in his grasp as well.

While the electrical current he can release is still weak, he's not in a hurry.

He has many opportunities to gradually strengthen his destiny.

Suddenly, he shuddered, and arcs of electricity burst forth from his body.

In this state, he feels his strength and speed have explosively increased.

The azure electricity crackles and snaps.

Isabelle's hair and dress start to float.

Mike is having a blast, feeling like he's become the Flash.

He shudders again, and the electric arcs abruptly vanish.

Isabelle's hair and dress fall back down.

He shudders once more, and the arcs reappear.

Isabelle's hair and dress float up again.

"Brother."

"Hmm?"

"Nothing, I'm just glad you're enjoying it..."

The next morning, Mike dragged his weary body out of bed. He had played video games all night long and nearly drained the life energy from his body. He had even forgotten about the cancer flare-up and ended up forcefully cultivating until dawn despite his weakened state.

Although his physical condition was still relatively good, his spirit and energy were fatigued.

"Eric! Eric!"

Mike returned from the restroom, washed up, and knocked on the door of the neighboring room.

No one responded, only the deafening sound of snoring coming from inside.

It was about as loud as the thunderstorm he had heard the night before.

Poor Anne.

"I'm going out for a bit today, can you please look after Isabelle for me!"

Mike shouted, then turned and left the campsite.

However, after Mike had departed, a thud was heard from the stone house.

Eric leaned against the door and helplessly slid to the ground, wiping away tears.

"Why didn't I tell him?"

Anne crouched beside him, wiping away his tears.

Eric was silent for a long time before softly speaking, "That's all purchased with Mike's life. I know what he's been doing recently. But he didn't tell me, and he didn't let me participate. He's probably thinking he doesn't have long to live, so he wants to do more before he dies."

He said dejectedly, "But I don't want him to know I'm a waste."

Anne turned and looked at the energy solution on the table. After Eric had added his blood yesterday, the solution did not react at all. It meant his innate qualities had no attributes.

"How long can you keep this hidden?"

Anne asked softly.

"It doesn't need to be hidden for long, I'll find a way to prove myself. I don't want to be a waste either, I'll help Mike in my way, no matter the cost."

Eric's voice grew softer, but his gaze became increasingly determined.

He opened the stone house, and the sound of the camp horn rang out again. Today was the day the four major military legions of Avalon City were assembling. There were many tents and canopies in the camp, and some unfamiliar soldiers were busy. Helicopters were circling overhead, and mechanical engineers were fortifying the metal ramparts, but the weapons they were installing were truly shocking - massive cannon-like weapons, ominous like dragon heads.

"Quick, everyone run! Noah's Organization is coming to capture people again, I don't want to be blown up!"

"Oh no, Archbishop Lionel is here, the camp is going to explode soon!"

Eric wanted to find out what was going on, but the soldiers were all running away, ignoring him.

He wandered through the camp, only hearing the mechanical voice echoing overhead:

"Fourth-generation Demolition Cannon, Apocalypse Qilin, beginning testing!"

Eric frowned, "What kind of chuuni name is that?"

After the so-called Demolition Cannon was hoisted onto the city wall, the engineers didn't stay to continue testing or calibrating, but instead turned and fled in a panic, just like lighting firecrackers on New Year's and running away.

"Not enough test personnel, not enough test personnel!"

An old man on a hovering helicopter was yelling through a loudspeaker, "Where did all the test personnel go? Quickly bring them back! No one is allowed to run! I, Lionel, swear on my reputation that this weapon won't explode this time! Without my weapons, what are you cannon fodder going to use to fight the Anomalies? If you don't get into position right now, I'll go report you all to your superiors!"

Seeing this, Eric suddenly had a bold idea.

At the main gate of the West City military base, Mike looked at the guards standing like statues on both sides of the road, finally understanding what these "free access passes" were. Ah, it was just his face. Not only that, the guards were all saluting him. After all, he was now a Second-Class Soldier. Most of these guards were intermediate types who had been promoted. The difference in status was quite large. Just like what the old priest had said in the Temple - on the frontlines, you're nothing special, but back in the city, you're the big boss.

This was a strange experience. After being cooped up in the camp for so long, he finally had a chance to go out. It felt like being the one student who got to leave school early while everyone else was still in the classroom doing homework. A sense of freedom, of the sky being the limit.

Rose was waiting at the base gate on a motorcycle, wearing a black helmet and leather jacket that accentuated her alluring figure.

"Second-Class Soldier," she said gruffly, "Get on."

Mike walked over to her and asked, "Can you be a bit nicer?"

Rose rolled her eyes, "I was supposed to have the day off today to go shopping and get coffee with a friend, but the higher-ups insisted I come to pick you up, afraid you might get into trouble on the way."

Mike was taken aback. The city life seemed no different than 500 years ago.

"Get on, hold me tight."

"Okay."

This was Mike's first time being picked up by a beautiful woman. He sat on the back of the motorcycle and put his hands on the woman's waist, feeling an astounding softness.

"If you dare to touch around, you're dead."

Rose revved the engine and suddenly accelerated, speeding down the street.

Whoa!

The wind blew Mike's hair all over.

This was freaking crazy driving.

"Hey, are you a cocoon breaker?"

He shouted against the wind.

"Yeah."

Rose also shouted.

"Then you must have been a biker gang member 500 years ago."

"Haha, thank you for the compliment."

"I had a friend before who rode a motorcycle just as fast as you."

"Then what?"

"Before I went into hibernation, the grass on his grave was already half a meter high."

"..."

The motorcycle weaved through the streets and alleys, passing by quiet side streets, bustling markets, and deserted intersections, from low-rise residential buildings to towering commercial skyscrapers. When passing by parks and plazas, they could see elderly people playing with children.

Aside from the religious elements within the city, everything seemed unchanged from 500 years ago.

As the motorcycle drove through the busy commercial street, they could see a huge circular mall, movie theaters, and karaoke lounges, with a familiar gym nearby and people bustling around.

For a moment, Mike felt lost.

Until the motorcycle stopped in front of the Heresy Tribunal.

Mike was blown away, his face covered in dirt.

"How was it, exciting?"

Rose smiled and handed him a bag.

"What's this?"

"Change of clothes, you stand out too much in that military uniform."

"Oh."

At the entrance of the Heresy Tribunal, Williams sat in a wheelchair, waiting for a long time. Damon was standing behind the wheelchair.

"Good morning, corporal."