Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint-Chapter 376: It’s a Thief

Humans have believed since ancient times that lightning flashes first, followed by the sound of thunder. But that’s merely a misunderstanding caused by the difference in the speed of light and sound. In truth, thunder and lightning, the offspring of storms, are twins. People only assumed lightning was born first because its light travels faster than the sound of thunder.

But now, having witnessed thunder and lightning up close, I couldn’t help but directly experience their twin nature.

A flash of lightning filled one side of my vision. A brilliant yellow light painted my retinas in a single hue. For a brief moment, nothing but the Thunder God’s judgment filled my sight.

At the same time, a thunderclap that seemed to tear the world apart crashed against my eardrums. The overwhelming sound became pain itself, shaking my head violently.

If I didn’t have mind-reading powers—if I didn’t possess the ability to steal someone else’s thoughts—I would have been incapacitated on the spot.

“Of all times—now?!”

The children were trembling in fear as they looked up toward the top of the cloud waterfall. Barely recovering my vision, I staggered and threw my gaze in the same direction.

And I saw the Thunder God.

A massive shadow rippled at the top of the cloud waterfall. A giant, seemingly formed of concentrated lightning and storms, loomed above, looking down from the top of the falls. Its upper body emerged from the clouds, its eyes crackling with lightning, and its lips appeared to be thunderclouds compressed even further.

Rain and wind raged. The peaceful cascade of the cloud waterfall turned violent as if welcoming the Thunder God. Raindrops struck my face, and fierce winds battered our bodies.

The Golden Mirror, and now the Thunder God? Am I cursed? Why does disaster strike everywhere I go?

Even Tir, who was always calm, sensed the unusual force and spoke.

“Is that the Thunder God?”

“I’m not sure since this is my first time seeing it, but doesn’t it look like one? What else could it be if that’s not the Thunder God?”

“I’ve crossed this cloud waterfall several times, yet I’ve never seen anything like that....”

“When was the last time you crossed it?”

“I can’t quite remember... perhaps three hundred years ago?”

“That’s ages ago! Maybe the Thunder God shows up after thirty cycles of change!”

Wait. Even Tir has never seen it before? Tir, who passed through the cloud village ages ago and founded the principality?

Gods do exist. The great principles of nature persist, untouched by human influence, waiting silently until they are discovered.

But... is that really the Thunder God?

While I was lost in thought, the child who had called herself the Thunder Guardian shouted in a sharp voice.

“Everyone, bow your heads!”

Sensing danger, I instinctively ducked.

[---!]

When the Thunder God opened its mouth, no voice came out—only thunder. Even its roar from the height of the clouds seemed to shake the world. The Thunder God raised its arm, aiming at the Thunderwheel. In its glowing hand was a spear of lightning, seemingly drawn straight from the heavens. I didn’t need to see what it intended to do with it.

[---!!!]

Thunder cracked, and lightning struck once more.

“Hiyah!”

But just before it landed, the girl moved first. Placing her hand at the center of the lightning rods extending from the Lightning Tower, she activated alchemy. The rods, which had spread like an umbrella, converged into a single point. The tower’s sharp tip now resembled a spear aimed at the Thunder God.

Flash!

The lightning struck the tip of the rod.

Fortunately, the Thunder God defense weapon crafted by the cloud village proved effective. The overwhelming torrent of power was absorbed into the Lightning Tower, channeling it into the earth instead of burning us alive. The tower vibrated violently from absorbing the force.

“Ahhh!”

But even so, the aftermath of the lightning was terrifying. The girl controlling the tower, who had taken the impact at close range, was flung backward, tumbling across the ground.

“Woof!”

Azi dashed forward and caught her rolling body.

Her clothes and skin were singed, but surprisingly, she was fine. It seemed the title of Thunder Apprentice wasn’t just for show. As she clung to Azi and stood up, she muttered.

“N-no! The Lightning Tower...!”

Boom. Crack.

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The Thunderwheel spun even faster after absorbing the lightning. Whether it was because the girl had been forced to retreat or the first strike had weakened the tower, one of its rods was slightly bent. A second strike might disable the tower completely.

[***---!!!]

As if aware of this—or simply continuing its assault—the Thunder God roared again and reached into the clouds, drawing out another bolt of lightning.

“How are we supposed to hunt something that high up? Is there any way to climb the clouds?”

“No! Clouds aren’t something you can climb! Even a martial arts master could only step on water droplets for a few steps!”

“But didn’t Shea say he’d kill the Thunder God?”

“That man is insane!”

The Thunder Overseer claims she’ll drive it away by force, and the Regressor says he can kill it? Just how do they plan to pull that off? Is everyone around me some kind of monster?!

“Help! If we don’t straighten the rod...!”

At that moment, the girl reached out toward the Lightning Tower, shouting. Damn it. Since she had been blown back earlier, I was the closest one here. Guess I have no choice.

“Let’s go, Azi!”

“Woof!”

Azi bolted forward, climbed the Lightning Tower, and clamped its teeth around the bent rod. The massive rod groaned and straightened.

I activated alchemy. The reactive metal transformed instantly under my touch.

I quickly stepped back—my body wouldn’t survive a lightning strike.

[---!!!]

Was I too late? No helping it.

I pulled out a card. The Ten of Spades—the idol of the Earth Mother.

But my efforts were unnecessary.

With a crash, the Thunder Overseer descended onto the Lightning Tower. Enveloped in lightning, she strode forward, gazing at the Thunder God.

Then—

A portion of the surging lightning turned toward Tianying instead of the sky.

The Regressor stole part of the lightning that was meant to be returned to the Thunder God and stored it between the two relics.

The world fell into stunned silence at the sheer audacity of the theft.

I pointed at the Regressor and shouted.

“Lightning thief! No, a robber!”