Chapter 691 ·Mastering Lightning

As ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍he spoke, he scrapped another longsword. Drawing them one by one was too troublesome, so he simply lifted the other crate and overturned it.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍carriage floor was instantly covered with longswords, each forged of fine steel. In the age of knights, they would have counted as treasured blades; now, they were merely consumables.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍【Burial Ones】 did not waste words. Grabbing the longswords, they carved a long gash through the carriage.

Those ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍ritual rune templates that could not fit through the door were shoved in through the opening, and at last the layout was successfully arranged.

“Mm, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it should be like this. Some details weren’t written in the manual, so I connected them based on the ritual principles.” Yami flipped through the user manual and spoke confidently.

Patriarch ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Ignati nodded and stepped onto one of the modules.

The entire carriage had now been transformed into a simplified Storm Generator. These ritual rune iron plates had originally been intended for experimentation near the White Mist in the Northlands, yet unexpectedly they were being put to use here instead.

It was only that, due to the hasty setup, it might not be entirely stable.

Patriarch Ignati stood in place, unmoving.

Though the ritual had been successfully arranged, the Pollution had not yet been put in position.

The effect of the Storm Generator was astonishing—it could even control storms. The cost, however, was an enormous consumption of Pollution.

This was something that could only be tested in Castel. Backed by the Stellar Furnace, Castel never lacked Pollution, which was why such experiments could be conducted.

Performing the ritual aboard a train risked draining all Pollution reserves. If the Steam Engine lost its fuel and the train came to a halt, it would be rather embarrassing.

In principle, an airship would not carry as much Pollution as a train. Patriarch Ignati did not know where Gaia would find sufficient Pollution. Perhaps this was specifically a transport airship carrying Pollution?

Gaia did not keep him waiting long.

Soon, the shadows inside the carriage solidified once more, and Gaia reappeared.

This time she was visibly exhausted. Yet she had not brought Pollution—instead, she had brought a person.

“.Your Holiness Joanne?”

Patriarch Ignati was always composed, but upon seeing that figure, even he widened his eyes in shock.

He recognized the Pope of the Church of Candlelight.

But how could the Pope of the Church of Candlelight be mixed up with people from Moths Chasing Fire? Had she rebelled?

And putting aside her identity as Pope—what use was it for Gaia to bring her here at this moment? What they lacked was Pollution. Even Her Holiness the Pope could not conjure Pollution out of thin air, could she?

Patriarch Ignati fell into confusion.

Joanne nodded without speaking. Ordinarily, that would have been quite rude—after all, Patriarch Ignati was the leader of the Silent Sanctum.

Yet Beatrice covered her mouth, looking for some reason as though she was holding back something with great difficulty.

“Miss Gaia, when will the Pollution be in position? We don’t have much time.”

Gaia did not respond. She somehow produced a bucket, placed it before Beatrice, then stepped back and gestured to Patriarch Ignati with a “please watch” motion.

The next moment—

“Blrrp!”

Beatrice’s Fountain began working.

The entire carriage fell silent.

This time, whether mortal or Transcendent, regardless of status or experience, everyone wore the expression of someone who had just seen a ghost.

Even Patriarch Ignati of the Silent Sanctum could not maintain his composure. Watching the Pollution gush from Beatrice’s mouth, the expression on his face was enough for Nini to describe in two long passages.

One had to know—Pollution was the bane of Transcendents. The reason the 【Burial Ones】 were so enthusiastic about participating in Storm Generator experiments was partly due to their reckless nature, and partly because it could eliminate the Pollution within their bodies.

And this Pope—she could directly expel Pollution?

As expected of the Church of Candlelight. Its foundations were unfathomably deep; it even possessed such a method of discharging Pollution?

Terrifying indeed!

Yet the longer he watched, the more Patriarch Ignati sensed something was wrong.

How could she expel so much Pollution?

Beatrice continued blrrp blrrp without end. The expressions of the 【Burial Ones】 shifted from shock, to fear, to disbelief, and finally gradually turned numb.

Before long, the large bucket Gaia had handed her was filled. Beatrice’s face was pale. Forcing out a smile, she trembled as she lifted the bucket and extended it toward them.

The 【Burial Ones】 collectively took a step back.

“How about that? This output flow is absolutely no problem. Forget the Storm Generator—even if an entire industrial district grew out of this train, Beatrice could supply it!” Gaia straightened her back proudly and patted Beatrice on the shoulder.

Beatrice revealed a smile more painful than crying.

“Ahem, it’s indeed sufficient… In any case, let’s begin the ritual!” Patriarch Ignati’s cheek twitched. He shot several fierce glares at his subordinates, and only then did the 【Burial Ones】 snap back to their senses. Realizing time was short, they hurried to assist in conducting the ritual.

During this period, they had helped Tata test it many times. They were already proficient in the basic ritual operations. With Yami flipping through the user manual and assisting at the side, the ritual was soon initiated, albeit somewhat clumsily.

The 【Burial Ones】 poured the Pollution into the designated modules. It did not spill onto the ground; instead, it was absorbed by the ritual modules and transmitted along the circuits into the entire ritual field.

Patriarch Ignati slowly began to rotate, and a burst of lightning exploded amidst his white hair.

“Why does it feel a bit different from the experiment in Castel?” one of the 【Burial Ones】 muttered.

Patriarch Ignati also sensed that the feeling was somewhat strange. He surveyed the ritual modules, and his gaze ultimately fell upon Beatrice, who was still continuously expelling.

“Previously in Castel, we used Pollution produced from the Stellar Furnace, originating from the Sea God—so it counted as hydroelectric power. Here we’re using Beatrice’s, so naturally it’s somewhat different,” he explained casually. “But it’s no matter. I can already communicate with the storm outside!”

Upon hearing this, everyone crowded toward the windows and pressed against the glass to look outside.

The tornado chasing the train had not dissipated. Instead, due to the delay, it had drawn even closer and appeared larger than before.

Unlike the tornado they had seen earlier, this one was now completely laced with lightning.

A storm tornado already carried vast amounts of rainwater. Now it crackled as it lit up entirely.

Like a silver dragon twisting and coiling—one end in the heavens, the other on the earth—shattering the dark clouds above.

The tundra had long since turned into an ocean. As the silver dragon touched the ground, the damp water vapor immediately sparked with electricity across the earth, racing along the railway and connecting straight into the train.

Instinctively, everyone pressed their legs together to avoid injury from step voltage during a lightning strike.

Yet not a trace of electrocution struck them. Instead, the rune plates of the Storm Generator blazed with light. Clusters of ball lightning formed, surrounding Patriarch Ignati like a sky full of stars.

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