Chapter 109: The Static Peak and the World's Luckiest Lightning Rod
The "Sky-Peaks of Zephyrus" were not for the faint of heart, or for anyone with metal fillings in their teeth. As Von (Volt) and his weary troupe climbed higher, the air became so saturated with electricity that everyone's hair was standing perfectly on end.
"I look like a dandelion!" Aki shrieked, batting at his own hair which had poofed out into a golden sphere of static. "Von, look at me! I'm a majestic golden cloud! If a lightning bolt hits me now, I'm not just dead—I'm a permanent light bulb!"
Von (Volt) ignored him, his eyes fixed on the swirling violet thunderclouds above. His armor, now infused with the energy of five fragments, was humming in harmony with the storm. Every few seconds, a stray spark would jump from the clouds and dissipate against his shoulder plates.
"The Sixth Fragment is at the very summit," Von stated, his voice barely audible over the constant rumble of thunder. "It's being used as a battery for the 'Zephyr-Cannon'—the Judge's ultimate weapon for wiping out rebellious cities from the sky."
Rena was struggling to keep her feet on the ground. The wind was so strong it was literally lifting her off the path. "Von, if we take that fragment, the cannon will overload! The resulting explosion could level the entire mountain range!"
"Then we'd better run fast after we grab it," Sai grunted, his heavy shield acting like a sail in the wind. "Aki, stop trying to catch the sparks! You're going to blow us all up!"
The Lightning Golem and Aki's 'Bright' Idea
As they reached the final plateau before the summit, the path was blocked by a creature made of pure, blue-white electricity. It had no solid form, just a shifting mass of lightning in the shape of a knight.
[BOSS ENCOUNTER: The Storm-Sentinel. Level: 75. Ability: 'Chain Lightning'. Warning: Physical attacks will only recharge its health. Suggestion: Don't be a conductor.]
"Great," Aki groaned, huddling behind 'Bonesy' the skeleton. "A monster that heals when you hit it. It's like a gym membership but with more murder. Bonesy, go out there and... I don't know, distract it with your ribcage!"
The skeleton took one step forward, and a small spark jumped from its rusted helmet to the Sentinel. BZZZT. Bonesy's skull lit up like a neon sign for three seconds before it collapsed into a pile of smoking calcium.
"BONESY! NO!" Aki screamed, falling to his knees. "You owed me five silver for that poker game! You can't die yet!"
Von stepped forward, his scythe glowing with a dark, hungry light. "Sai, Rena, keep the Paladins off our back. I'll deal with the spark-plug."
The battle was blinding. Every time Von swung his scythe, it left a trail of black void that sucked in the lightning. But the Sentinel was fast—moving at the speed of light, appearing behind Von and unleashing a 'Chain Lightning' blast that sent Von skidding across the ice.
Aki, seeing his friend in trouble (and wanting his five silver back), had a sudden, terrible idea. He reached into his bag and pulled out a large, copper-plated tray he'd stolen from the Palace kitchen.
"Hey, Sparky!" Aki yelled, standing on a rock. "Over here! I've got a better target for you! Your mother was a static-cling and your father was a damp matchstick!"
The Storm-Sentinel turned, its eyeless face pulsing with rage. It gathered all its energy into one massive bolt and fired it directly at Aki.
Aki didn't run. He held up the copper tray like a shield. But just before the bolt hit, he slammed the tray onto the ground and dove into a snowbank.
The lightning hit the copper, followed the path into the wet snow, and—thanks to the mountain's unique mineral composition—trapped the Sentinel in a 'Feedback Loop.' The creature began to vibrate, its own energy circling back into itself until it let out a high-pitched POP and vanished.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Achievement Unlocked: 'Grounding the Gods'. Aki has defeated a Level 75 boss with kitchenware. Reward: +5,000 XP and the title 'The Copper Conductor'.]
The Sixth Fragment and the Judge's Rage
With the Sentinel gone, Von reached the summit. There, encased in a glass chamber at the heart of a massive golden cannon, was the sixth fragment—a shard that looked like a trapped lightning bolt.
Von smashed the glass with a single punch. As he grabbed the shard, the sky didn't just turn dark—it turned black. The 'Zephyr-Cannon' began to groan, sparks flying from its gears.
"Volt!" a voice boomed from the clouds. It was the Judge of Storms, but he wasn't descending. He was the storm itself. "You have taken the heart of my weapon. Now, you shall be the target!"
Von slammed the sixth fragment into his armor. The power surge was so great that his wings—now made of black fire and violet lightning—erupted from his back, spanning thirty feet.
[QUEST UPDATE: 6/7 Fragments Unified. Title Evolution: 'The Storm-Bringer King'. New Skill: 'Heavenly Discharge'. Word Count Milestone: 28K Word Status Approaching.]
"Aki! Rena! Sai! Grab onto me!" Von roared.
Aki grabbed Von's leg, Rena grabbed Von's arm, and Sai grabbed... whatever he could reach. With a massive flap of his new wings, Von launched them off the mountain just as the Zephyr-Cannon exploded, turning the entire summit into a pillar of fire.
As they soared through the clouds, Aki looked down at the exploding mountain and then up at Von's terrifying new wings. "So... does this mean we're skipping the bus ride to the last fragment?"
Von didn't answer. He was looking toward the 'Floating Islands of Celestia.' The final fragment was there. And so was the High King of the Judges.