CHAPTER 1144: DISRUPTION

Billy looked up again, his expression thoughtful. He was planning something. None of the candidates could fly, so if they wanted to attack the man in the sky, they had to bring him down first.

Earlier, Billy’s plan had been straightforward. He and the five will be charging together and overwhelm the enemy with sheer numbers until he falls to the ground. And then they will pound him from all sides relentlessly.

Planning for subtlety was never his strength.

But now, after hearing about the others’ abilities, he knew one of them could disrupt the flow of Magic energy. That changed everything.

A grin crept across his face. That was far better than a reckless assault.

"You, come with me," Billy said as he floated closer to the youngest man—the one who could interfere with Magic energy—and gripped his shoulder firmly.

The man looked startled, still trembling slightly, but then he nodded. Determination flickered back into his eyes.

For the first time, he felt like he could truly use his power in a real battle. He only hoped he wouldn’t get too badly hurt.

"Yes, sir!" the man said.

"Good," Billy replied. "I’ll be carrying you piggyback. Once we’re up there, you disrupt that creature’s Magic energy and make it fall. Then you four—" he looked at the others—"hit it with everything you’ve got once it’s grounded. Understand?"

"Yes, sir!" the other four answered in unison.

Billy nodded and crouched slightly, letting the young man climb onto his back. He never imagined he’d be flying into battle with a full-grown man clinging to him, but there was no time to think about pride.

A moment later, he shot upward, cutting through the wind.

The other four watched them soar higher and higher.

"When do you think we’ll get the ability to fly?" asked the woman with the speed ability.

"That’s a useless thought," grumbled the broad-shouldered man who could harden his body like metal.

"I was just asking! Flying looks fun," she snapped, glaring at him.

He snorted. "We’ll get it when we’re ready."

"You’re too damn serious," she muttered.

"Isn’t this a serious situation?" the woman who could manipulate living matter interjected.

"Exactly," said the broad man. "Let’s focus on the fight."

The speed woman sighed. "You guys are way too serious. I just wanted to lighten the mood a bit because this is terrifying."

"So you are scared," said the last man, the one who could fire shockwaves.

"Hell yes! That’s why I’m joking a little," she retorted.

Their bickering faded into the roaring wind as Billy and his passenger reached the raging battle above.

Adrien and the lightning-clad man were locked in a deadly clash of power, every impact lighting up the sky like a storm gone mad.

"Can you aim at him from here, Cody?" Billy asked. He had learned the young man’s name while flying.

"I’ve never tried it before, Sergeant," Cody admitted, his voice tight. "But I’ll try."

Billy nodded. "Make sure you hit the right target the first time. We don’t want to zap the Captain and send him plummeting down to the ground, do we? No pressure."

Cody grimaced. "I’ll do my best."

He stretched out his trembling hand, focusing on the lightning-wrapped figure in the distance. His heart pounded.

"What if I hit captain Adrien instead?"

That would be a disaster. But he steadied his breath, gathered his courage and his power.

—

Adrien felt as though his entire body was burning and trembling at once. Every nerve screamed from the clash of power coursing through him.

He had been reinforcing his body with Magic continuously, wrapping himself in layer upon layer of energy while meeting the lightning man head-on with his machete. Its blade also pulsing with the same glow of Magic energy that surrounded him.

Each strike sent shockwaves through the storm, but deep down, he knew the truth. He couldn’t win this fight. Not by his strength alone.

The being’s power was overwhelming. He was just like a living tempest made of hatred and lightning. But still, Adrien refused to give up. Even as pain clawed at him and the heat under his skin seared like molten iron, he kept fighting, his will burning brighter than his exhaustion.

"If this thing focuses on me, then at least the city below will be safe,"

he thought. "That’s good enough."

A flash caught his eye. Through the storm’s chaos, amid the clash of thunder and swirling clouds, he saw Billy.

The man was rising fast, with another figure clinging to his back. The second man’s arm was outstretched and glowing as if gathering energy.

Adrien’s eyes narrowed. "So that’s one of the candidates that Billy’s bringing him here to help."

Without hesitation, Adrien summoned the last of his strength. Fire surged from his hands and his weapon, roaring in defiance of the rain that hissed against it.

He swung in a wide arc, sending a torrent of blazing fire crashing toward the lightning being.

The flames instantly turned to vapor in the storm but the force behind them was enough to drive the creature backward far away from him and made him staggering for a heartbeat.

The being snarled, electricity crackling in rage. But before it could retaliate, something unseen struck him hard.

A ripple of distortion spread through the air. The lightning around the being flickered violently and its bright arcs sputtering as though cut from their source.

His roar turned into a strangled sound of half-pain and half-shock, as its entire body convulsed. The glow that had once made it untouchable dimmed, sparks falling away from him.

Adrien grinned through gritted teeth, chest heaving. "Nice shot, kid."

Then, with a deafening crash, the lightning being plummeted. It tore through the dark clouds, leaving a streak of dying light before slamming into the ground below.

The explosion of energy that followed lit up the ground a blinding flash followed by a rolling wave of thunder that shook the air and scattered the rain and ground.

Adrien hovered in the storm’s heart, drenched and trembling, watching as arcs of stray lightning faded one by one.

The burning across his body hadn’t stopped, but now it felt bearable after he wasn’t being constantly hammered by it.

He exhaled, the taste of ozone thick on his tongue.

Below, he could see Billy circling with the other candidates. They launched an attack together at the being.

—