Agatha opened her mouth to speak–
But Lily transformed before she could form words.
A teenage girl stood where the dragon had been, black hair falling past her shoulders, a single obsidian scale visible beneath each eye.
Lily looked up at the clouds, her expression becoming serious.
"So it really is a Lightning Tribulation..." Her voice came out quiet, almost reverent. "I never thought I would see something like this in real life."
Damian’s attention snapped to her.
"Lightning Tribulation?"
He’d never heard of anything like that before, not in any of his studies, conversations or the memories.
Even Agatha turned toward Lily, her expression showing confusion mixed with concern.
Lily took a breath, her eyes still tracking the clouds as they continued gathering.
"In my inherited bloodline memories, there’s information about what’s happening here."
Her voice took on a storytelling quality, reciting knowledge passed down through generations.
"It’s said that in the most ancient era, before the current system existed, there were no status screens. The path of cultivation was comparatively easier, and there were basically no stat limits at all."
BOOM
Thunder rumbled overhead as she spoke.
"Everyone could reach the full potential of their minds and bodies before their Ascension to higher realms. The universe didn’t restrict growth the way it does now."
Her expression became distant.
"And as the number of beings ascending grew, so did those vying for control of the universal laws. Time passed, and numerous gods and demigods rose to power, ushering in the most golden period the universe has ever seen."
A pause, her voice becoming quieter.
"The God’s Era."
"But then something happened... A massive war erupted across the entire universe, with the center being what’s now called the Beast World."
Her hands clenched slightly.
"All the races were involved, legendary beasts, ancient dragons, phoenixes, beings whose names have been lost to time. And the Gods themselves went to war."
Agatha’s breath caught, her hand tightening on her walking stick.
"Most of them died in that conflict, leaving thousands of worlds completely drained of Aura... Dead zones where no being could cultivate."
Damian listened carefully, his exhaustion temporarily forgotten.
"I don’t know the details of what really happened or why the war started. That knowledge was lost even in the bloodline memories."
Lily’s eyes found Damian’s.
"But after that era ended, the universal rules themselves changed, status screens appeared and limits were imposed on every being."
She took a breath.
"It was as if the universe itself was trying to suppress everyone, to prevent another war of that scale from ever occurring again."
BOOM
Thunder crashed, closer now and more aggressive.
"And alongside those limitations, Lightning Tribulations were born, different from the Ascension Tribulations that were already there."
Her voice became more urgent.
"They descend on those who manage to reach the full potential of either their minds or their bodies despite the universe’s restrictions."
She gestured upward at the churning clouds.
"These tribulations serve as a test from the universe itself, to see if the one undergoing it is truly worthy of the power they’ve claimed."
Her voice became grave.
"If they pass, they receive a blessing from the universe alongside some measure of ’luck.’" She paused. "But if they don’t..."
She didn’t finish the sentence, but her meaning was clear.
Agatha’s voice cut through the explanation, complex emotions showing in her face as she looked at Damian.
"Grandson... you reached the full potential of your mind, didn’t you?"
Damian remained silent for several heartbeats, his crimson eyes tracking between Agatha and Lily.
"I don’t know what this full potential means... I just reached 500 in Will stat." His voice came out flat and tired. "But my perception is only at 410..."
"..."
Silence crashed down like a physical thing around them, broken only by the sound of thundering.
Agatha’s face went through several expressions, shock, pride, worry, all mixing together.
Then she took a deep breath, forcing herself to speak calmly.
"Perception is a special stat, grandson. Many people don’t even awaken it in their entire lives, let alone raise it."
Her voice became firmer.
"But Will is the main stat that defines your mental capabilities. And five hundred..."
She trailed off, the number speaking for itself.
Damian had assumed everyone possessed Perception eventually, since he’d awakened it after merging with Kuro and Luna had it as well.
’It’s rarer than I thought.’
"How did you–"
Before Agatha could finish her question–
BOOM BOOM BOOM
The thunder intensified dramatically, the clouds churning faster, energy crackling between them with visible lightning.
Lily snapped out of her dumbfounded state, her eyes going wide.
"Nephew, the tribulation is about to descend!"
Her voice came out rushed, urgent, fear bleeding through.
"I’ll tell you everything I know from my memories. Listen carefully! I won’t have time to repeat it!"
Damian’s attention locked onto her words completely.
"First, there will be nine lightning attacks in total! Each one attacks both body and soul simultaneously, and each progressive strike is more powerful than the last."
She spoke faster, the clouds above becoming more aggressive.
"After you survive the ninth attack, you’ll receive the universe’s blessing."
BOOM
"Second, you absolutely cannot show any ill intent toward the tribulation itself, or the consequences will be dire!"
Her voice became sharp with warning.
"It represents the universal rules and possesses a consciousness of its own! Treating it as an enemy will make it respond as one!"
CRACK
Lightning arced between clouds overhead, bright enough to hurt to look at.
"Third, the test is for you to survive, nothing more! You shouldn’t try to fight it or attack back!"
Lily’s hands gestured emphatically.
"Fighting can be seen as a challenge, which makes the tribulation intensify even further! Just endure and survive each strike!"
BOOM BOOM
"And lastly–"
The air around them changed as all the Aura in the surrounding area suddenly vanished.
Damian’s breath caught, his body recognizing the absence instantly.
"–you won’t be able to use Aura during the tribulation."
Lily’s final words fell into the silence.
And without waiting, she turned toward Agatha, whose face had gone pale with worry.
"Mother, we need to leave! Now! If we’re too close, his tribulation will become worse to account for potential interference!"
Agatha’s mouth opened, wanting to say something, advice, worry, comfort or something maternal–
But Lily grabbed her arm and pulled, her dragon strength not giving her mother a choice.
"We can’t help him with this! Our presence will only make it harder!"
Whoosh
They moved away quickly, Lily half-dragging Agatha away from the Mountain peak to a safer distance.
"..."
Damian stood alone on the peak, snow falling around him, dark clouds churning overhead.
His face had gone completely pale, sweat running down his temples despite the cold.
’Nine strikes targeting both body and soul. Each one stronger than the last.’
His mind processed the implications of everything Lily had just said.
’I can’t use Aura to defend myself. I can’t reinforce my body or use my skills.’
He looked down at his hands.
’And I can’t fight back or show hostility... I can only endure.’
Then he turned to look up at the tribulation clouds gathering directly above him.
’Why can’t I ever get–’
CRACK
The first lightning attack descended.
A pillar of purple-white energy wider than his body, moving faster than his eyes could track, crashing down from the heavens with the force of divine judgment.
Time seemed to slowdown as Damian’s exhausted mind completed his final thoughts.
’–a fucking break?’
And the lightning struck.
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