It took Alex two days to find the perfect time. Thunder crackled in the air and strong winds and light rain filled the air. Despite the weather many climbers were out and about completing tasks for their guilds or prepping for expeditions and hunts outside of Thornhold’s walls.
In the meantime, Alex found himself in a state of anticipation, patiently waiting for the perfect storm to make its appearance. He utilized this time to delve deeper into the city's intricacies, retracing his steps back to the first floor to conserve his Tower Points. He meticulously scoured the city, his eyes carefully searching for the whereabouts of the Golden Dove, Seekers, Blacksmiths, and two other guilds that held significant sway within the city's confines.
His exploration led him to various corners of the city, from bustling marketplaces to quiet alleyways. He took careful note of the locations where these guild members would often congregate. The taverns they frequented, and the shops they patronized, all were mentally cataloged by Alex. His attention to detail was such that he could almost map out their daily routines. However, despite his thorough search, he found no trace of Rich, Eric, or any other member of his former team.
Alex was cautious in his approach, marking the areas he discovered as off-limits for his personal ventures. He was careful to ensure that the places he frequented were neutral territories, not directly affiliated with any specific guilds. He also made it a point to visit locations that were under the control of smaller guilds. These guilds were less likely to pester him with offers of recruitment, allowing him to maintain his independence. They were also less likely to identify him to others as well.
Because of his careful planning and strategic movements, Alex found himself gravitating more towards the south teleporter and the south gate of the city. This was a conscious decision on his part, as he preferred to use the south teleporter for his return trips to the lower floors. Fewer people used it and were generally occupied by activities on the north side. His visits to the north corner of the city were brief and infrequent, primarily when he needed to return to Thornhold through the fee-less portal.
This arrangement did not bother Alex in the slightest. On the contrary, he was quite content with it. He had no qualms about using the south teleporter, and his brief visits to the north corner of the city were more than enough for his needs. His primary focus was on maintaining his low profile and avoiding unnecessary entanglements with the larger guilds.
Almost every day Alex returned to the wall or near the walls of Thornhold to scout out the current weather patterns. Some days he could some a single small bolt like he had done on the first day on the wall but the electricity in the air faded quickly after that. Alex needed a day full of dark clouds, rain, thunder, and lightning. Finally, that day had come.
Alex sensed it almost immediately after leaving the inn in the morning. The clouds were dark, and he heard thunder rolling in. He reached out his senses in anticipation and hurried to the wall. He needed to test his powers. His XP gain had faltered, and he still sat at 32 percent toward level 16.
Alex had been anticipating this moment for quite some time. His heart pounded with excitement, and a sense of urgency propelled him forward. This was the moment he had been waiting for, and he was eager to seize it.
His strides were swift and determined as he ascended the stairs leading to the top of the towering wall. He was mindful of his footing, careful not to lose his balance on the steep climb. Despite his caution, he nearly stumbled in his haste to reach the summit. The silent guards stationed along the path barely noticed him as he hurried past them. Their indifference allowed him to quicken his pace without attracting undue attention.
Once he reached the top, Alex began to ready a spell, channelling his mana, the source of his magical power. The air above him crackled with energy as lightning streaked across the stormy sky. He adjusted his gaze, scanning the area for a group of undead creatures to target with his spell. He was careful to avoid any climbers who might be in the vicinity. His actions, he knew, were already bordering on the suspicious, and he didn't want to inadvertently harm any innocent bystanders.
It didn't take long for him to spot a cluster of skeletal figures near the wall, unattended by any of the guards. The sight of them brought back memories of his previous encounter in the alley. Despite his fatigue at that time, he vividly remembered the sensation of wielding his magical power. He recalled the feeling of his mana being drained as he summoned the electricity coursing through the power lines.
Now, during this storm, he needed to replicate that feat. He had to harness the electrical energy around him without depleting his mana reserves entirely. The challenge was daunting, but Alex was ready. He needed to do that again in this storm without draining his mana completely.
With the scene set and his target in sight, Alex took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. He could feel the raw power of the storm above him, the electricity in the air prickling his skin. He reached out with his senses, feeling the mana within him respond, a wellspring of energy waiting to be directed.
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He raised his hands towards the stormy sky, palms open and fingers feeling out the energy and acting as a guide for his mind and the lightning to point toward. His eyes were alight with determination and a hint of exhilaration. The spell required focus and his direction. He wasn’t sure of the exact outcome, but Alex was ready.
Alex felt the air change has he channelled the spell. The storm roared above him. Alex shut his eyes, his mage vision blinded by the lightning and energy in the air. The storm started to resonate with the mana within him, setting it into motion. He could feel it flowing through him, a river of power coursing through his veins and out into the world.
The sky responded to his call. The clouds above him roiled and churned, the lightning within them growing more intense. Bolts of electricity danced across the sky, a wild and untamed display of nature's power. And then, with a final act of his spell, Alex reached out with his mana and grasped at that power.
The sensation was indescribable. It was as if he had become a conduit, a bridge between the heavens and the earth. The lightning responded to his call. The lightning meant to fall elsewhere, a bolt of pure energy streaking down from the sky. It was a sight to behold, a brilliant flash of light that illuminated the night. With a swift motion, Alex redirected the bolt, guiding it towards the group of undead below. The lightning struck with devastating precision; a blinding flash followed by a deafening boom. The skeletons were instantly engulfed in a storm of electricity, their forms disintegrating under the raw power of the spell.
Alex watched as the undead were reduced to ashes, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. He had done it. He had harnessed the power of the storm. With the deaths of the skeleton’s caused by his actions experience and power followed. He was singularly responsible for a dozen of the creature’s deaths and the Tower acknowledged that fact. In a single moment Alex doubled his point total and his XP rose by double digits. He felt a little worn but ready to go again in a minute.
The sensation of successfully duplicating the spell within the confines of the Tower was nothing short of exhilarating for Alex. The task was considerably less challenging to accomplish on Earth, albeit at the cost of a more substantial mana expenditure. As he waited for his mana to replenish, Alex traversed the wall, his eyes scanning the horizon for his next potential adversaries.
He paused momentarily to assess his status. The 32 percent mana he had initially had now increased to 53 percent. If he could locate adversaries of a higher level and replicate his previous success a few more times, he was confident that he could level up before the day's end.
Gradually, Alex allowed his other senses to recede into the background, honing his focus solely on his vision. He scrutinized the various undead enemies that lurked in the shadow of the wall, attempting to gauge their strength. His eyes darted from one undead creature to another, assessing their movements, their behaviours, their numbers. He was not just looking for strong enemies; he was also on the lookout for larger groups. Even if the undead were only at level 15 or 16, a sufficiently large group could provide him with the surge of experience he so desperately sought. Each undead creature, regardless of its level, represented a potential source of experience. And in a large group, the collective experience could be substantial.
Alex finally picked out a group of undead to attack next. They were a mix of skeletons and zombies. He picked this group because among the zombies was a variant zombie that had a higher level and seemed to be in control of the others. He planned on letting his next lightning strike hit the variant zombie dead on and let the effects propagate.
With his decision made, Alex inhaled deeply, tapping into the same wellspring of energy that had just moments ago summoned a bolt of lightning from the heavens. His skin tingled in anticipation, as if the storm still echoed within him. As he prepared himself for his next feat, the storm overhead seemed to dance with renewed vigour, crackling with deadly power.
Drawing on the storm above, Alex drew deep into his pool of mana. With his hands outstretched towards the storm, he felt a deep hum of power start to build within him, matching the rhythm of the raging storm. As he completed his spell, he felt the raw force of the storm ready to heed his command. It was easier this time. Simpler to enact what he imagined.
When he unleashed his magic, the scene was breath-taking. The electrified clouds above seemed to know his intention, their swirling form condensing, bristling with potential. A bolt of lightning, bright and deadly, shot down from the roiling sky above. It was a terrifying sight, a perfect, searing line of pure power and energy. It struck the variant zombie square on its chest, causing it to explode in a burst of light and sound.
The subsequent shockwave radiated outwards, engulfing the rest of the undead in a maelstrom of electricity. The bolt's destructive force shattered skeletons and obliterated zombies. The area was suddenly filled with the acrid smell of burning flesh and bone, evidence of the immense damage inflicted by Alex's magic.
The fallout was immediate. The undead group, once formidable, was reduced to a mass of twitching remains and ashes. The ground was scorched and smouldering, and the stormy sky above seemed to quieten, as if in awe of the destruction caused. The quiet aftermath was punctuated only by the distant crackle of dissipating electricity, a testament to the sheer power Alex had summoned and controlled. His latest victory against the undead had increased his experience and power, bringing him closer to his goal of levelling up. The percentage jumped up again to 78 percent. He wanted to use the storm’s lightning again and again, and Alex did so.
The rain poured around him as the storm went on through the rest of the day. Each time Alex felt his mana was ready he attacked once more. The undead were reduced to ashes or barely moving masses. His one regret was that any possible loot was left out in the battlefield. If there was anything of interest after blasting the ground with lightning other adventurers could collect, it because he could not run down there himself. Alex promised himself as he left the wall that he would do this again soon and out beyond the walls of Thornhold.