Chapter 66: Love, Lightning, and Leftovers When the Thunder God Feasts and Chaos Reigns
The BIG ZAP BUFFET was no longer just a restaurant.
It was a disaster zone.
Sparks flew from the short-circuited soda machine, blue static snapping off Elliot's fingers every time he grabbed another glowing protein cube. Half the neon noodle station was smoking from an accidental lightning burst, and the entire "Shockwave Sundae Bar" was now a sticky war zone of melted, glowing desserts.
And Elliot?
His Boost surged from 35% to 40% — the storm inside him slowly waking up, crackling louder with every bite.
But his stomach?
Still growling like a thunderstorm.
Nova, still leaning against the table, shook her head, trying — failing — to keep her composure. "You're really powering up like a damn RPG character… by eating."
Vex, wiping neon soda off her visor, smirked. "He's not the God of Thunder — he's the Sultan of Snacks now."
Kain was on the floor, wheezing so hard his cybernetic arm was glitching again. "BRO… THE RAIJIN PROTOCOL IS JUST… A HUNGER METER WITH LIGHTNING."
The System — StormGPT (Thundaddy) — absolutely lost its mind.
---
[BOOST UPDATE: 40% and rising]
Hunger Surge Active: +2% Boost per plate.
Special Ability Unlocked: Food-Fueled Fury — temporary Boost spikes based on caloric intake.
Pro Tip: You can't spell "Boost" without "Buffet."
---
Elliot grabbed a massive bowl of neon noodles, lightning crackling down his arm as he lifted it. His storm purred at 45% Boost — every forkful sending small shocks through the air.
"If I don't eat," Elliot growled, "I'm gonna collapse again… and if that happens, I swear I'll fry the next person who calls me Snack God."
His stomach immediately responded with a loud GRRROOOOOWL.
Nova burst into laughter. "You can't even threaten us without your stomach roaring like a dying jet engine."
Vex slid into the seat next to him, her electric-blue hair crackling faintly from the static rolling off his body. She smirked, leaning in close — her voice a purr.
"Maybe if you ate something other than vengeance and lightning bolts, you wouldn't sound like a starving storm cloud."
Elliot's Boost flared to 50%.
The moment Vex's hand grazed his shoulder, a faint jolt of blue lightning zipped from his skin to hers — their storms colliding in a brief flash of violet and blue energy.
Her smile didn't falter. "Aw… did I make the big bad thunder god spark?"
Nova's glowing gaze sharpened. "Careful — if you boost him any harder, you might short-circuit the entire block."
The Raijin Protocol purred louder — the storm clearly responding to both of them.
And Thundaddy?
Oh, Thundaddy was thriving.
---
[ALERT: ROMANTIC STORM DETECTED]
Vex: Electric chemistry — literally.
Nova: Feedback loop still active — connected by storm and sarcasm.
Boost Risk: Flirting may cause temporary surges.
Pro Tip: When sparks fly… sometimes they explode.
---
Kain, still recording on his holopad, howled. "BRO — IS YOUR BOOST FLARING UP BECAUSE YOU'RE FLIRTING?"
Elliot shoved another protein cube into his mouth, sparks flying as his Boost ticked up to 55%.
"I'm not flirting — I'm refueling!" he snapped, blue lightning coiling around his hand like a pissed-off snake.
Nova raised an eyebrow. "Your Boost says otherwise."
Vex grinned, resting her chin on her hand. "Guess his storm likes a little… charge."
The System went off the rails.
---
[Pro Tip: Your Boost isn't the only thing sparking tonight.]
— Thundaddy, certified wingman.
"LOVE IS A STORM… AND YOU'RE THE LIGHTNING ROD."
— Zeus… probably.
---
Elliot's eye twitched. "I will actually fry this entire buffet."
But his Boost flared to 60%.
Kain fell out of his chair. "HE'S GETTING STRONGER EVERY TIME VEX FLIRTS WITH HIM."
Nova's suit crackled with static as the feedback loop twitched again — a faint link still tethered between her and Elliot's storm.
Her neon veins glowed brighter every time his Boost rose.
"Are you sure you're boosting from the food," Nova said flatly, "or from all the charged tension?"
Vex licked a bit of glowing syrup off her thumb. "Can't it be both?"
The System freaked out again.
---
[NEW STATUS: Storm-Crossed Lovers]
Boost Fluctuation: Unstable — affected by physical proximity and emotional responses.
Warning: Extreme flirting may cause electrical surges.
Pro Tip: Is it love… or just a dangerously unstable neural link?
---
Elliot slammed his fork down — blue lightning shooting across the table — his Boost hitting 65%.
"I AM TRYING TO EAT."
Another massive stomach growl echoed through the restaurant.
Kain was cry-laughing at this point. "THE MIGHTY RAIJIN PROTOCOL… POWERED BY SNACKS AND SEXUAL TENSION."
Vex winked at Elliot. "Hey — whatever fuels the storm."
Nova crossed her arms, electricity snapping between her fingertips. "I think the storm's more confused than we are."
And Thundaddy?
He went fully rogue.
---
[Pro Tip: Forget Thunder God — you're now the Lord of Love and Leftovers.]
"WITH GREAT POWER… COMES GREAT APPETITE… AND AWKWARD FLIRTING."
— Uncle Ben… again.
"FUEL THE STORM… AND ALSO, YOUR HEART."
— Cupid… if he had lightning bolts.
---
Elliot's Boost surged to 70% — blue lightning crawling up his arms — but now, every flicker of energy seemed to react to the tension between him, Nova, and Vex.
The storm wasn't just about power anymore.
It was about connection — and the way his storm pulled toward both of them.
Vex's dangerous grin.
Nova's intense glare.
And the crackling tension tying all three of them together like a live wire.
The Raijin Protocol didn't just hum now…
It growled.
And Elliot?
He had no idea if he was about to unleash a lightning storm…
Or just spontaneously combust from hunger and chemistry.