From Trash to Lord of Thunder: The Rise of the Cursed Extra-Chapter 90: Marathon in 2 days

The rain poured relentlessly, hammering the lake’s shore with a steady drumbeat—patter-patter.

Drops splashed against rocks and wet soil, forming tiny puddles that mirrored the gray sky.

Charles and Kaira stood frozen on the bank, eyes locked on Saria, sprawled face-down after the lightning strike.

The white flash still seemed qbsurned into their retinas, and the air smelled of ozone and damp earth. d

as’A lightning bolt really hit her...’ Charles thought, stunned.

Thdosaugh he was annoyed she’d knocked Kaira down, he hadn’t wished this on her.

Saria ledtsa out a weak groan, her body trembling as she tried to move. Her blue hair, soaked, clung to hedrsa face, and her tunic grew filthier with mud.

Kaira turned to dCsaharles, her red eyes gleaming with shock.

It was clear she suspdeascted he’d caused it.

Charles, catching her loodkas, shook his head fast and muttered, "I didn’t do that, I swear."

Kaira let out a low giggle, convdsadinced Rian had done it for her.

Struggling, she leaned closer to whisadsper, "No need to lie, Rian. I know it was your power."

Charles frowned, realizing Kaira was miasdsreading everything.

"I’m not lying!" he hissed, keeping his voicsae low so Saria wouldn’t hear. "That bolt came from the sky, not me!" dsa

Kaira sighed, crosdasing her arms as rain continued to drench her.

"Sure, let’s say that sdhappened," she said, her tone dripping with disbelief.

’Seriously... this girl...’ asdCharles thought, but he dropped it, doubting she’d blab to anyone.

For now, he chose to beliasdeve Kaira wasn’t the gossiping type.

Kaira’s eyes slid to Saria, stillsa on the ground, and a mischievous grin spread across her face.

"Did you kill her?" she asked, hdasalf-joking.

’What kind of joke is that?’ Charlesdsad thought, glancing at Saria.

Her chest rose and fell slowly, a clear sign she was alive.

"Well... looks like she survived," he said, relieved. He knew killing a clan member outside an official duel would bring a heap of trouble.

Kaira burst into a louder laugh, pointing at Saria.

"Look at you, pathetic! The great Saria, flattened by a lightning bolt. What happened to all that water control, huh?"

On the ground, Saria clenched her fists, nails digging into the wet dirt.

’Damn Kaira,’ she thought, her mind clouded with pain and fury.

It clicked now.

Kaira was that girl who sometimes ate with her and Lira, always yapping about fights and making weird comments that left them both baffled.

To Saria, Kaira wasn’t just annoying—she was a weirdo! Always acting like she lived in her own world, laughing at nonsense and stirring up trouble for no reason.

Saria lifted her head with effort, cursing under her breath.

"If it wasn’t for that damn lightning..." she growled, her voice shaky.

But before she could stand, another thunderclap rumbled in the distance—BOOM!—the deep sound vibrating the ground.

Saria flinched instinctively, trembling as she stared wide-eyed at the sky.

"No, not again... I was kidding," she muttered, barely audible.

Another strike now would do more than just bruise her.

She tried to stand, hands pressing into the mud, but her arms gave out.

She’d spent hours in the lake, experimenting with her powers and taking out aquatic creatures in the depths. Her body was spent, and the lightning didn’t help.

Panting, Saria looked up at Charles, still standing on the shore.

"Hey, kid..." she said quietly, her tone exhausted. "Help me."

Charles raised an eyebrow, playing dumb.

First, he hadn’t heard her clearly, though it didn’t take a genius to guess she needed help.

Second, her glare reminded him of the snobs who looked down on him.

"What? Didn’t catch that," he said, leaning toward her with a mocking grin.

Saria gritted her teeth, embarrassment burning her face.

"Help! Help me, you idiot!" she shouted, despite the pain. "Don’t make me say it again!"

Charles chuckled, crossing his arms.

It was hilarious seeing a girl who’d been so intimidating minutes ago beg so desperately.

"That an order or what?" he asked, clearly enjoying himself.

Saria glared daggers, managing to sit up.

"I’m a Master rank, you know," she said, p2ointing a shaky finger at her chest. "You should be gratef3lul someone of my rank’s asking f2or help. Most wouldn’t even glance at you twice." 32ñ

Kaira, who’d been watching with an amñl2saus3ed grin, turned serious.

"Rian, leave her there," she said, gesa2l32d312turing dismissively at Saria. "Let her rot. Another bolt hits her? Even better. No one’ll2lñ3 midsss 312her."

Saria paled, her eyes widening.dsa3ñ123

’Aren’t they supposed to be friends!?’ she thou3131223ñlda32sght.

"Kaira, don’t say stupid crap!" Saria snapped1212sal32d, her voice cracking with fear. "We’re in the same clan! We’re supposed to help eachlñas 3o21332ther, not try to kill each other!"

Kaira tilted her head, her smile sharpas3d312enñi2ng.

"Oh, but this could just be a freak adc212cid2l3ent," she said, shrugging. "Lightning strikes, a Master dies... stuff happens, rigdasht?" 3lñ313

Saria whipped her head towaasrd Ch12ar3lñ2312les, her expression openly terrified.

For a moment, she’d undeadrestim3a32ñte12d Kaira’s crazy streak.

"You’re not listening to dsthat n312ut21123ñlcase, are you?" she asked, almost pleading. "Tell me you’ve got some sense!" asdas123ñl123

Charles sighed, scratching the back of his neck lasad1212323 rain pelted him.

Truth was, he’d help her—leaving her to die wlñods12331uld likely land them in hot water.

Plus, Saria was Lira’s friend, even if he didn’t lñsali132213ke her much.

Still, he couldn’t resist messing with her asañd 1212323bit more.

"Well... you were itching to fight me aasd ñls312331econd ago, weren’t you?" he said. "And I’m just an Aspirant. Not sure it’s smart for mle 312td3231o get mixed up in this."

Saria froze, her mouth half-open.das12l23211ñ

Despite her survival being on the lia212133sneñ, her brain couldn’t process what she’d heard, and she blurted her thoughts aloud:sad3ñl3123

"You’re an Aspirant?" she repeated, glancdñlin31213122g from Charles to Kaira and back. "You’re saying Kaira’s hanging out with somedasñlo21ne12 th213at low...?"

Her voice dripped with disbelief, as asif1l23 3123the idea was utterly absurd.

"Have you actually lost it, Kaira?" sd213ñ3213

"I’m not hanging out with anyone!" Kaira lshouted1212,3da clearly pissed. "And if I was, it’s none of your business. Worry about gettilng off the g312rdods23aund before another bolt fries you!"

Saria, realizing she’d spoken her thoughts al131as2saoud, tried to respond, but another thunderclap roared—RUMBLE!—making sa3deveryone31asd2 look up.

Saria flinched again, her hands shakinsgdsad221 as she clung to the dirt.

’I don’t wanna die!’ she thought. asda123