The golden lightning continued to pour down on Philip. Because he didn't had a chance to deflect it or react at all, he was struck by the shocking intensity of the lightning.
He bent his knees and back, he lowered his head and lifted his arms and clenched his fists. Philip had his mouth opened and he seems to be in pain while struggling as he seems to clench his whole body. It was a sight that sends chills to the spine.
Erica and the others that are watching in the distance, outside of the influence of the clouds, they had their jaws dropped on the floor as they can hear the majestic acapella voice that the clouds are generating. It's like an army of angels are about to march down the clouds.
Meanwhile, the golden lighting that was branching out on Philip began expanding until it turned like into an orbital strike as a golden beam of light. Philip disappeared inside the beam of light as the intensity golden light continued to rise. The whole area that is covered by the clouds was filled with emanating golden light.
What the others thought that it was over and Philip failed the tribulation, there was a sudden loud sound, louder than the singing acapella of the clouds.
*BOOOOOM-SHIIIINNGGG-FWOOOOM*
If viewed from space, the center of the formation of clouds began to brighten until it was brighter than the surrounding golden clouds. Then, a bluish golden beam came out of the center of the clouds as the beam continues on several kilometers into space.
The clouds and the golden lightning was deflected and the massive amount of cloud disappeared in the sky.
~~~
A few second ago, as Philip was in pain from the tingling sensation of the golden lightning that he almost went numb. Surprisingly, 「 Bullet Time 」 was activated and his world slowed down significantly.
He then rattled his brain to think of a way to deflect this powerful lightning. Even with 「 Overload 」 and the 5th gate opened, the golden lightning was way too powerful.
But he has the variables, particularly the variable of Energy. He can control and manipulate all kinds of energy within the universe with the variable.
He then collected the energy that he could gather in front of his chest. A swirl of ultra condensed energy gathered in front of his chest and turned into a golden sphere of energy. He then released that energy.
"Omega Laser! Shear!"
Because his chest was pointing forward, the Omega Laser: Shear was released horizontally. Due to the magnitude of energy contained in the Omega Laser, the overbearing pressure that was holding down Philip lessened. This was enough for Philip to tilt his body upwards and aim for the clouds.
The Omega Laser then cut a straight line to the clouds, but it was not enough for the Omega Laser to cut through. Philip positioned his chest to aim at the center of the clouds.
The golden lightning and the Omega Laser: Shear battled it out for a few seconds until the lightning couldn't handle the pressure alone. The Omega Laser dissipated the golden lightning and continued its way towards the clouds. A while later, the clouds themselves couldn't handle the Omega Laser and also started to dissipate as the Omega Laser continued through space as it also dissipated as Philip ended his attack.
[Congratulations! You have deflected 「 Heavenly Choir Lightning 」]
"Ehh?"
「 Heavenly Choir Lightning. The lightning caused by divine interventions. The one that acknowledges. 」
[You have received the variable of Power]
「 Power. You can now obtain powers without a high limit. You become immune to overloading yourself with too much power. 」
"Hmm... Does that mean my power and potential are limitless?"
「 Not yet, you only have a very high level of power and potential. 」
"What do you mean, 'not yet'?"
「 That's a secret! Teehee! 」
Philip only sighed as he plopped down on the ground and rested, he looked up only to see the clear night sky with no moon in sight. The 5th gate has been closed and 「 Overload 」 has deactivated. The three shards that were revolving around his head also went back inside his left hand. His attention was caught when he saw Charles still floating in the sky with no expression on his face.
Erica and the others then came towards Philip before the circular platform. Then, Smith asked Philip that made Philip want to curse Smith.
"Is it over?"
"!!!"
The a rumble and crackle of lightning could be heard. The four of them immediately looked up only to see the clear night sky, there was no clouds present, only Charles still floating in the sky
"Damn you Smith and your flag raising!"
"I'm sorry!!"
"But where is the sounds coming from?"
John asked. Philip looked down on the ground and expected for the lightning to come off the grounds like roots, but the rumbling sound didn't come from the ground but the sky.
'This is the 9th lightning, right?'
「 It is. 」
'So I'm right, the tribulation has 10 lightning strikes! The disappearance of the clouds caught me off guard!'
Philip and the other looked around and everywhere trying to find out where would the lightning come from. And then,
*KKSSHAAAAAAA*
Philip sensed the lightning before it came towards him.
"Watch out!!"
Philip pushed the air on his right with his right hand to shove Erica and the others away from him. The force of the wind was enough to push the three of them several meters away.
Philip looked up and braced himself from an invisible lightning strike. This was a bad situation for Philip as his 5th gate was closed and 「 Overload 」 was deactivated.
A few moments later, Philip was struck. Philip closed his eyes and clenched his body as he felt the lightning strike.
"..."
Philip was waiting for something to happen.
"..."
Several seconds has passed by and Philip was still waiting for something to happen.
"..."
And then, he heard something falling in front of him that sounded painful. He opened his eyes and saw Charles body. His body wasn't naked, but clothed with a tank top and loose pants with lightnings adorned around his clothes, his watch, and his cap.
[Congratulations! You have deflected 「 Sentient Tempered Lightning 」]
"What???"
「 Sentient Tempered Lightning. The lightning generated in the Infinite Abyss. It is sentient and has a will. The one that guides. 」
[You have received 『 ????? 』]
"Hey, Emily. What's up with that??"
「 What?? 」
"The lightning! I didn't saw it!"
「 It's because it's colored transparent. 」
"Huuuh??? And what's with these questions marks again?"
「 I also don't know, Philip. 」
"Damn, that was too weird!"
Philip then looked at Charles and up to the night sky.
"It's not over yet, right?"
A few seconds have passed and nothing happened.
Philip sighed and signalled Erica and the others to come.
Erica and the others carefully came closer to Philip, they did not dare to talk as they are scared that something might happen.
Philip noticed this and assured them.
"Don't worry, it's over."
The three of them let out a deep breath and they became relaxed as they went towards Charles. John however, went to Philip.
"You really are something, huh?"
"Yes I am aware."
John looked closer at Philip, especially on his golden right iris and greenish left iris, in other words, his eyes.
"Well, okay then."
John then walked towards the sidelines as he is aware that he is only a tertiary character. He even don't know who this lightning boy is.
Meanwhile, Smith and Erica talked to each other while tending to Charles. Philip was looking towards the relative north has he is saw their next destination. He was also speaking in his mind to someone.
"Do you think he'll wake up after all of that?"
"What are you talking about? Of course he'll wake up."
"It's just that... 10 years ago, when he released the black lightning towards the giant meteor, I sensed that his life energy had diminished and died."
"Is that so..."
Erica and Smith became quiet for a second. But then, there were movements from Charles.
"Hrrmm..."
Erica's eyes perked up. She was glad that Charles woke up. Smith supported Charles to sit up as he woke.
"What happened?"
"Lightning Tribulation."
Erica only answered those two words from his question.
"Huh? Whose??"
Erica pointed at the man that had his back facing them. White spikes and horns could be seen from his limbs and head, as well as the glowing halo above his head.
Charles squinted his eyes as he tried to decipher at who that man is.
"Ah! Philip??"
"Yes."
Erica answered.
Erica and Charles has a very understanding conversation, even though their sentences are short. This was because, during their time in the red superplanet, Erica was quiet and Charles seemed to understand her. She also like novels, manga, and anime. She was reminded by his little sister who also likes those stuff, and because of that, Charles became close to her. Athough, Charles only sees Erica as a younger sister.
"You died 10 years ago."
Erica revealed at what happened to Charles.
"Why??"
"Black lightning."
"I see..."
Smith looked at both of them interchangeably. He was confused as how both of them can understand each other with only a few words.
"Then?"
Erica looked at Smith before answering.
"Contained, before now."
Charles frowned upon hearing that, but became happy again as his friends are here.
"Smith."
"Charles."
"What about the others?"
Smith could only smile wryly as he was asked by Charles in a long sentence.
"They are also contained in the place that you were contained before."
"What? So let's save them now."
"Not yet."
Erica said before Smith could reply.
"Why?"
Erica then pointed at the giant Runestone that is in the relative north.
"Power source of containment."
"I see..."
Erica and Charles' conversation couldn't be fixed anymore after those billions of years of living in the red superplanet. But when they talk to others, their sentences are complete and they could hold a proper conversation.
"Really, I don't understand how both of you can understand each other easily."
Smith rebuked. Erica and Charles looked at each other and giggled.
However, a pinkish blue shard hovered in front the two of them and rotated and spun in circles as if its blocking the both of them.
John looked at the shard that was circling in front of Erica and theone called Charles. He remembered that he saw this shard when it hovered above Erica's head when she was sleeping in the arms of Philip while flying to central Russia.
He concluded that this shard was trying to heal Charles as Philip said that this shard was a healing shard.
Erica then noticed John and introduced him to Charles and also to Smith once more.
Then, several minutes later, Philip finally spoke.
"Alright then, everyone, prepare yourselves and we'll go towards north!"
Everyone of them excet Charles nodded. Charles stood up and walked towards Philip until they are face to face but Philip looked down as he was a head taller than Charles.
They stared at each other for several seconds until Charles spoke first.
"It's nice to see you, 「 Sword Concept 」."
"You too, 「 Lightning Concept 」."
Both of them smiled and shook their hands. Erica and the others were confused by their interaction but shrugged it off afterwards.
The reason why Philip was having a hard time deflecting the lightnings, especially the golden one, was because Charles was apparently the source of it. No, duh. But the lightning was special and it was infused by 「 Lightning Concept 」, it was the same with his 「 Sword Concept 」 that lets him infuse a sword and deal massive amounts of damage unto anything. He only found this recently and confirmed it after they stared and measured each other.
Philip then looked at the others and asked,
"Let's go?"
They all nodded and they flew towards the giant Runestone in relative north. Philip was first, followed by Charles as he was the fastest among the others with his speed, followed by Erica, then John and Smith.
John and Smith decided to fly behind their backs because they wanted to protect Erica if ever there was sudden danger from behind.
~~~
Central Russia - Russian Runestone Rubble
Meanwhile, Ysabelle and company had arrived from where the massive energy surge came from that woke them up.
"What happened here?"
Sean asked as he also the huge ridge that still had a hot surface on it.
Eduardo then examined the odd looking terrain in the area.
"This is not soil, these are rubble that came from the giant meteor 10 years ago."
"You're right, I can feel that my power is being restricted when I touch these, although its only miniscule compared from before."
Then, Ysabelle looked around as she was the only one who doesn't have any memory during the time when UOMS controlled and contained her. She then saw the giant roc in the horizon to the west.
"Look! I think that's a piece of the giant meteor." (Y)
"It is! But where is the person that woke us up?" (S)
"I don't know, I can't sense him around." (E)
But then, they sensed the same powerful surge of energy from west southwest of their location, but this time, it was stronger than before. They immediately flew in that direction while Eduardo carried Sean.
The reason they can't sense the energy of the one that they were looking for, is because they only sensed the powerful energy, but they didn't sensed the energy signature of that individual and they can't find him if he's in his normal state.
They flew very fast in order to not miss the one that they were looking for with Ysabelle at the front, followed by William who is clad in his miasma, and Eduardo who us in his super saiyan form to catch up while carrying Sean.