CHAPTER 160: LIGHTNING STORM

Ning found the second Critical Spot almost immediately when the boss raised its wings. It was at the base of its wings, hidden when it wasn’t unfolded.

The Tempest Roc launched itself into the sky again, just like it had done the first time.

"Not again!" Jax said with a sigh as he saw the bird begin to glow with blue energy.

They all watched as the boss circled above them for a few seconds before coming down in a dive. The location was once again near Jax.

The bird crashed down with meteoric force, creating another crater. Lightning bolts erupted from the impact point, spreading outward like a tidal wave of electrical energy.

Jax reacted to the wave of lightning bolts, having prepared for it. He drove his black sword into the ground and wrapped Earth threads around the blade, gripping them tightly. The electrical charge hit him, but instead of coursing through his body, most of the current flowed down through the sword and into the earth below.

The shock was still strong, but highly manageable. The tingling sensation that it left behind was nothing more than a simple feeling that vanished way faster than last time.

"Ha!" Jax laughed, genuinely pleased with his improvisation. "That actually worked! Earth threads are best against it. "

He quickly created more Earth threads, handing them out to his teammates. "Keep these with you. Use them like lightning rods when it dives again."

The battle resumed with renewed vigor. The party had adapted to the bird’s attack patterns, and their coordination was improving. The octopus went over to the bird again, taking on its attacks, before covering it fully.

The others attacked as well, which served as a perfect distraction for Ning.

He waited for the right moment when the bird would send out its Storm sprites. That was the moment when it lifted its wings to first deliver a strong gust. That was the moment he needed.

The moment it did, Ning dashed to his target, striking the second Critical Spot.

The Tempest Roc’s reaction was immediate and terrifying. It threw back its head and released a howl that shook the entire arena.

Ning and the rest moved back, away from the beast as they realized what was about to happen.

The sound the bird let out was deafening, forcing everyone to cover their ears and step back. The bird’s body began to change, its feathers darkening and crackling with more intense electrical energy.

"It’s changing phases!" Melayne shouted over the noise.

Above them, storm clouds were gathering with unnatural speed. The sky darkened, and lightning began to flicker within the growing tempest.

"Ning! Look out!" Roman warned suddenly, causing everyone to turn toward him. Ning looked around and then down. That was when he noticed what he was being warned for.

The ground around him had suddenly begun to glow. And as the glow became stronger, he understood what was happening.

He immediately dove to the side just as a massive lightning bolt struck the spot where he’d been standing. The attack left a smoking crater in the arena floor.

Another patch of light appeared around Melayne, and she rolled away as the lightning bolt struck the ground behind her. Another glow began to appear in another spot, this time around Roman.

It appeared the storm in the sky was going to keep striking at them for a while now.

The Tempest Roc’s transformation completed, its feathers now a deep, electric blue. It flew into the air, causing everyone to prepare for the dive again. However, the dive never came.

Instead of diving again, it took to the air in a completely different pattern.

The bird began flying in sharp zigzag movements across the sky, leaving trails of crackling energy in its wake. Each trail lasted several seconds before lightning bolts began striking down from them, creating a deadly grid of electrical attacks.

"Shit!" Jax shouted as he stared at the sky. "Make sure to not stay underneath the trail."

"Jax, look out."

Jax had nearly missed the ground around him glowing a bright white. He couldn’t forget the storm for the bird. Both were striking down with lightning bolts.

The arena had become a maze of electrical death. Lightning from the storm clouds above and bolts from the bird’s flight trails completely changed the tide of the battle. The party was left doing nothing but dodging.

Lucille nocked another arrow and shot it, but the wind barrier around the Tempest Roc deflected it easily. She tried again with the same result.

"Still has defense against projectiles," Lucille said to the others as she kept an eye on the ground to make sure she wasn’t the next one struck. She lacked the right spells in this situation, so she was helpless.

Jax dodged around constantly, asking the same questions over and over, hoping someone could answer him. "What do we do?"

"How are we supposed to fight something we can’t even touch?" Melayne asked, dodging another lightning strike from above.

Roman didn’t even have the chance to talk. Unlike the others, he was very weak, and without strong armor. If he was struck, he would certainly be sent to death’s door. He couldn’t lose focus at all.

Lucille kept dodging for a while, hoping that the bird would come down. When it didn’t, she realized that something had to be done.

"Jax! How high will you need to be to tie its wings?" she asked.

"Within 30 feet," Jax said. "But it’s so far high, I can’t reach it."

"Let go of your armor and we’ll give," Lucille said. "Melayne, Ning. Gather! We’re going to throw Jax into the sky."

"Into the sky?" Jax asked. "Without my armor?"

"I’m afraid so," Lucille said. "That is the only way they can send you up there. Don’t worry, Roman will be ready to heal you should you be too hurt."

Jax frowned upon hearing her plan, but he could see no recourse. They had no way to bring the bird down. And without the bird coming down, they would likely have no way of winning.