There was a main path that would lead them to the zenith in the shortest amount of time, but that did not mean it would be easy. The Nagan Mountain was five thousand meters high, and they would have to face all sorts of terrain and natural forces enhanced by the magic energy flooding the world.
As they ascended the first five hundred meters, the journey was relatively smooth. Due to their strength and stamina, the rugged terrain and jagged rocks posed no significant challenge for Vlad or the vikings. However, as they ventured beyond this point, the atmosphere grew tense. Thunder rumbled ominously, punctuated by sporadic bursts of lightning that seared the ground.
The ferocity of the lightning strikes was not to be underestimated. Their speed was near-instantaneous, making evasion futile.
The vikings had come prepared. With a calm and steady hand, Grey Hawk summoned a metallic sphere that deflected any lightning strike that dared to approach, showcasing their resilience and preparedness.
Freya glanced at the lightning arcs falling around her with caution, and her eyes couldn’t help but turn toward Vlad and Jormungandr, wondering how the duo was dealing with the situation. Immediately, the young woman’s eyes widened as she witnessed a shocking scene.
The young man and the small cat on his shoulders walked calmly forward as lightning strikes continually struck their bodies. Vlad noticed Freya’s gaze and smiled at her as another lightning bolt clashed against them.
Jormungandr was the one drawing the lightning, utilizing his Demonic Lightning Prowler Set, specifically the Rune of Demonic Battery inscribed on his tail. The duo had decided to use the lightning to temper their bodies and improve their energy pools.
Anyone else attempting this would suffer severe internal damage, as the type of calculation and energy control required was beyond what the minds of Mortal Tier life forms could achieve, even those with significant soul force. However, this was where their cheat-like tool, the A.I. Chips, came into play.
Jormungandr allowed the lightning to course through his Runic Set, using part to strengthen his body and enhance his energy pool. When the A.I. Chip detected that the lightning charge would be too much, it channeled the excess into Vlad beneath the little yellow cat’s claws.
When the lightning made contact with him, Vlad allowed a much higher percentage to course through his body, thanks to his Thunder Lord Bloodline, which granted him a constitution much more resilient to lightning. The A.I. Chip also directed part of the lightning to the Soul Dimension, not the energy pool, as Force Water was not as malleable as Magic Water. Instead, the lightning tempered the Bloodline Core in the ceiling of the dimension, further enhancing his lightning resistance.
Once the electric charge in Vlad reached a dangerous level, the A.I. Chip transported the excess to the ground and dispersed it, leaving minimal damage to the young man’s body.
The process had to be repeated every time a lightning arc fell on them, and the duo couldn’t help but be thankful for the majestic tool that was the A.I. Chip embedded in their souls.
Vlad and Jormungandr kept advancing, smiles appearing as they felt their bodies and energy pools growing stronger. However, as they neared an area of the mountain covered by forests and rocky outcrops, a sharp and solemn light appeared on the faces of the young man and cat as they stopped their advance.
Freya and Grey Hawk had also frozen. Gazing at the forest constantly blasted by lightning arcs with a sharp and serious attitude, their energy and tattoos were ready to burst with power.
The group could feel the air thick with the stench of decay, and as they focused their gaze on the forest’s ground, they realized it was littered with bones and broken remains of beasts.
Vlad knew that the rise of special life forms would not be unusual in a place full of energy and natural phenomena. Still, the stench of decay and the demonic aura flooding the terrain made him feel something was wrong with this place.
"Jormungandr." With that single word, the small cat knew what he needed to do and generated a small sphere of energy that began to draw lightning strikes.
Whatever lay ahead would be dangerous, and they needed all their power, including the A.I. Chip, to face it.
Vlad and Freya glanced at each other and nodded as they took out their weapons and began to march into the forest first, with the two spellcasters behind them, ready to strike at anything that might arise.
The group had barely entered a few meters into the forest when Vlad’s eyes narrowed as he glanced to the right due to the warning of the A.I. Chip.
[Beep! Danger one hundred meters to the right! Pack of powerful life forms is approaching!]
It did not take long for the threat to present itself as dozens of beasts began to appear in the line of sight of the group. They were a pack of corrupted and mutated wolves.
The wolves were larger than normal, even the smallest being nearly two meters high and three meters long, all of them with a menacing appearance. They had glowing red eyes that shone with a sinister light, and a dark substance flowed from their fangs that looked sharp and deadly. Their fur was dark and matted, with exposed, burned, and putrefied skin patches.
’Analyze the enemy and search for weak spots!’ Immediately, Vlad commanded the A.I. Chip to analyze the wolves.
[Beep! Analyzing targets.
Packs of monster wolves mutated by demonic blood. Fangs drip with venom that could prove deadly for Mortal Tier and severely harmful for Champion Tier.
Note: Bodies are riddled with mutations and tumors, severely reducing life span but ensuring the body’s resilience. The only true vital point is the brain.]
Vlad’s eyes widened as he saw the part about mutations due to demonic blood, but that could wait. Individually, the wolves were not a threat, but there were dozens, and they seemed crazy with killing intent.