Chapter 36: Wrath of the Storm — The Raijin Rises
The abandoned subway station hummed.
It wasn't from the broken lights flickering overhead or the faint glow of neon graffiti crawling across the walls.
It was Elliot.
His Neural Boost — now fused with the Raijin Protocol — crackled with raw electricity, arcs of blue lightning snapping off his skin and dancing across the rusted tracks. Loose bolts and metal shards hovered an inch off the ground, caught in the static storm swirling around him.
He was a storm barely contained.
Nova's glowing eyes didn't blink as she kept her distance, her bioluminescent suit still glitching from the residual static crawling off Elliot. The neon lines running down her ribs, hips, and thighs pulsed every time his Boost flared, like they were still tied to him — a broken feedback loop that refused to die.
Kain leaned against a crumbling pillar, his cybernetic fingers twitching with excitement, surgical tools still sparking from Elliot's lingering charge. "This is gonna be fun."
The System buzzed in Elliot's head — louder than ever, its voice a chaotic blend of useful information and pure unhinged nonsense.
---
[New Mission: Master the Storm Before It Masters You]
Objective: Train with Nova and Kain to control the Raijin Protocol.
Bonus: Unlock your next Raijin ability.
Failure: Neural overload, spontaneous combustion… or Nova punching you.
---
Elliot wiped his mouth, static still snapping off his fingers. "I feel like a human lightning rod."
The System chimed.
---
[Pro Tip: Be the bolt, not the battery.]
— Zeus… probably.
---
Nova's jaw clenched. "Your System's getting worse."
Kain chuckled. "Nah — it's just keeping up with his storm."
Elliot's Boost snapped again — a violent pulse of electricity coiling around his arms — and the air howled with static as a bolt of lightning detonated a nearby vending machine.
Sparks exploded. Metal twisted.
A half-burnt neon ad flickered:
"SWEETFIZZ SODA — SHOCKINGLY GOOD!"
Nova didn't even blink. "Did you just fry a soda machine?"
Elliot stared at his still-crackling hand. "It looked at me funny."
The System buzzed.
---
[Achievement Unlocked: Soda Slayer]
Reward: +2 Reflex Boost.
Penalty: Absolutely no free drinks.
---
Nova stepped closer — ignoring the violent snap of static between them that made the glowing lines on her suit flare way too bright again.
Her voice was ice. "We train. Now."
Elliot gulped. "What's the first lesson?"
Nova ignited her blade — a glowing violet arc of light humming dangerously. "Survive."
She charged.
Elliot barely had time to blink before Nova was on him — her energy blade slashing down in a flash of purple light.
His Boost flared — an uncontrolled blast of electricity roaring off his skin — but Nova was faster.
She sidestepped the blast, spun behind him, and kicked him square in the back.
The shockwave sent Elliot flying into a rusted train car.
The impact dented the steel.
Elliot groaned. "What the hell happened to teaching me first?"
Nova twirled her blade. "You think the Chrome Reapers are going to hold your hand?"
The System buzzed.
---
[Pro Tip: Pain is the greatest teacher.]
— Bruce Lee… allegedly.
---
Kain clapped. "She's not wrong."
Elliot staggered to his feet — his Boost still flaring with every breath — the storm inside him growing wilder.
The air crackled again, and another bolt of lightning snapped from his palm — blasting a hole clean through the train car beside him.
Nova didn't move. "Your problem isn't the storm."
Elliot panted. "Then what is it?"
She raised her blade. "You."
Before Elliot could react, Nova lunged again — their battle igniting in a blur of neon sparks and static.
He swung an electric fist at her, a wild arc of blue lightning spiraling from his Boost — but Nova ducked, pivoted, and slashed her blade toward his ribs.
Elliot's Boost exploded — sending a violent shockwave outward, the force so strong it shattered a section of the tunnel wall.
Nova stumbled back, her suit flaring hard as the feedback loop briefly snapped back to life.
Her breath hitched as the neon lines down her back and thighs pulsed violently again — glitching in sync with Elliot's storm.
"ROOKIE—"
Elliot groaned. "I can't stop it!"
The System buzzed.
---
[Libido Meter: Critical Overload]
Warning: Neural Boost syncing with other impulses.
Solution: Consider focusing… or a bucket of ice water.
---
Nova's glare could've melted steel. "If you fry me again—"
"I'M NOT DOING IT ON PURPOSE!"
Kain was howling with laughter. "You two are dynamite together."
Nova spun — slicing through the static with her blade — and slashed toward Elliot's shoulder.
He reacted without thinking.
The Raijin Protocol flared.
A wave of pure lightning erupted from Elliot's hand — a focused bolt this time — on purpose.
The energy collided with Nova's blade — the impact so fierce it sent both of them flying in opposite directions.
Elliot slammed into another train car.
Nova skidded across the platform, her suit flickering wildly.
The System buzzed.
---
[New Ability Unlocked: Raijin's Arc]
Effect: Fires a concentrated bolt of lightning at a target.
Cooldown: 10 seconds… for now.
---
Elliot blinked at his still-smoking hand. "I… aimed it."
Nova groaned, brushing glowing dust off her suit. "You didn't aim — you flinched."
Kain grinned. "He's learning."
The System chimed.
---
[Misquote Mode Activated]
Quote: "You're a wizard, Harry."
— Gandalf… maybe.
---
Elliot's eye twitched. "System — shut up."
Nova pointed her blade at him. "Again."
Elliot blinked. "Again?"
Kain smirked. "Until you control the storm — or the storm controls you."
And as Elliot's Boost crackled louder — and the storm inside him grew —
He realized this wasn't about surviving Nova's training.
It was about becoming the storm.
Or letting it consume him.