The second lightning strike was not just a surge of power—it was a call, a whisper, and a test of every system within him. And the soul listened.
---
He jolted upright before the healing was complete. His Bio-Flow read only 71%. The air was thick with dry static, and streaks of mist shimmered with residual energy. The system's clock pulsed:
> Storm Spike-2 ETA: 2h 53m
Worse yet, the Soul-Kernel—now pulsing erratically—seemed to react to the oncoming storm as if drawing breath.
---
The system demanded recalibration of his energy channels to avoid catastrophic overload. Beacon-0's quiet pulse whispered instead:
> "The silver thread needs a second fire."
Caught between bodily integrity and spiritual evolution, he made a risky compromise: integrate both—healing and soul development—through synchronized resonance.
---
He extracted the lightning shard (80 QP) and tapped it with a hollow bone rod. A small arc jumped to his core, channeled instantly through his Blood Pulse.
He imposed a steady 112 Hz rhythm across the Soul-Kernel. A gentle, white-hot flare filled his essence. Status updates followed:
> Bio-Flow Integrity: 89%
Soul Ripple Seed Integrity: 28%
Shield Prototype: Active (Durability 32s @ 6,000 QP pulse)
---
For a heartbeat, the 112 Hz pulse widened a crack in his awareness.
He saw: a dying crystalline city, its people transmuted into spectral bands, becoming Echo-Wraiths. They clung to lightning memories to preserve identity—a civilization trapped in nostalgic hunger.
They weren't predators—they were starving archivists.
---
He embedded a memory into the kernel: the memory of a clear sky after the storm. A day of peace.
> Soul Ripple Kernel: 40%
Network Effect: Silver threads appeared, lacing through his blood channels.
Temporary Boost: +15% Energy Conductivity
Warning: Flickering expected after 45s of high load.
---
He sculpted a small crystal tablet, etched with the memory of saving the steam salamander. With 15 QP, he charged it emotionally.
It became a beacon-lure for the Echo-Wraiths—an offering in place of battle.
> Estimated Interference Reduction: 70%
---
The sky churned, blue static dancing in reverse spirals. Each minute, minor discharges licked the mast and painted his mist-flesh with silver light. Warmth radiated inward.
He stood calm in the middle of a tempest's breath.
> ETA: 0h 21m
---
From above, a violet leech-like creature dropped, its body glistening like a living lightning rod. Data blinked:
> Thunder-Leech (Juvenile)
Drain Rate: 1,000–1,500 QP
Threat Level: Severe
Monster Core Opportunity: Grade-β (Electric)
If left unchecked, it would devour half the storm. If killed prematurely, it might collapse the conduit.
Only one solution: bond with it during the strike.
---
The timer blared. The leech coiled around the crystal mast, sparking green arcs. From the clouds—a lightning bolt four times larger than the first descended.
> LIVE STRIKE-2 ▸ 0s
Options: A) Divert Leech to Cocoon Filter B) Overload Shield & Harvest Core
The Soul-Pulse Shield screamed into activation. Arms wide, he chose—
—before the current swallowed everything.
To be continued...