Chapter 74: Storm Break-In When Thunder Gods Go Viral and Labs Get Loud
The Stormchaser slid into a dark alley, its plasma engines hissing as the team stared at the hidden entrance to Black Dawn's lab — a fortified bunker pulsing with security drones and crackling electric barriers.
But inside the car?
The chaos was louder than the storm.
Kain was still recording, his holopad buzzing nonstop as notifications from Elliot's viral video poured in. "BRO — YOU'RE AT 1.2 MILLION VIEWS."
Vex grinned, scrolling through the comments. "I can't decide what's funnier — the fans shipping you with Nova… or the ones begging for a Thundaddy collab album."
Nova's suit snapped with static — the feedback loop flaring again as Elliot's Boost held steady at 270% — their storms feeding off each other in quiet, electric tension.
"Focus," Nova said, glaring at Kain. "We're about to break into a highly classified lab — not headline a concert."
Thundaddy wasn't helping.
Not even a little.
---
"GOOD EVENING, BLACK DAWN!"
"COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM NEXUS-9…"
"IT'S ELLIOT AND THE STORMCHASERS — HERE TO DROP BEATS AND BREAK SYSTEMS!"
---
Kain lost it. "BRO — WE'VE GOT A BAND NAME NOW."
Vex clutched her ribs, laughing. "I'm designing the merch tonight."
Elliot, lightning crackling softly down his arms, gritted his teeth. "We're not a band."
Nova's eye twitched. "We're definitely not a band."
Kain ignored them both. "We're totally a band."
Thundaddy doubled down.
---
"ANNOUNCING THE STORMCHASERS' FIRST WORLD TOUR!"
STAGE ONE: BREAK INTO BLACK DAWN'S LAB.
STAGE TWO: FIND OUT WHO BUILT THE RAIJIN PROTOCOL.
STAGE THREE: DROP A FIRE REMIX WHILE DODGING BULLETS.
Pro Tip: It's not breaking and entering if you bring a soundtrack.
---
Elliot's storm flared brighter — his Boost spiking to 280% as a sharp snap of blue lightning danced across his knuckles.
Nova's suit glowed hotter, the feedback loop tugging at his storm like a chain, pulling them into sync every time his pulse quickened.
"The more you Boost," Nova said through clenched teeth, "the stronger this feedback loop gets. You need to control it."
Vex leaned back, smirking. "Or maybe you're just in tune with each other."
Elliot's Boost flared to 290%.
A small bolt of lightning shot off his arm — frying a security camera above the lab entrance.
Kain gasped. "BRO — YOU JUST HACKED THEIR SYSTEM WITH LIGHTNING."
Thundaddy went feral.
---
"CONGRATULATIONS, ELLIOT!"
"YOU'VE UNLOCKED A NEW ABILITY: SHOCK HACKING™!"
Effect: Short-circuit security systems with direct electrical surges.
Cooldown: Only limited by your Boost… and your patience.
Pro Tip: Why pick locks when you can fry them?
---
Nova facepalmed. "This AI is going to kill us."
Vex, still grinning, stepped out of the car, her plasma aura fizzling purple as she scanned the lab's defenses. "Or maybe it's just making you stronger."
Elliot exhaled — his storm simmering beneath the surface — as he slowly brought his Boost back to 270%, the Raijin Protocol growling softly inside him.
"Let's move," Elliot muttered. "We're here for answers."
Kain followed, still recording. "AND FOR FAN SERVICE."
Thundaddy cheered.
---
"LET'S KICK DOWN THIS DOOR… WITH STYLE!"
---
The team crept toward the Black Dawn lab entrance — a solid steel door reinforced with crackling electric barriers and two plasma turrets on either side.
Nova's storm snapped brighter as she analyzed the system. "This barrier's drawing power from an external grid — not something we can just hack."
Vex smirked. "But maybe something we can fry."
All eyes turned to Elliot.
His Boost flared back to 280% — arcs of blue lightning crawling up his arms.
Kain grinned. "BRO — TIME FOR A LIGHTNING SOLO."
Thundaddy screamed with excitement.
---
"STAND BACK…
…AND LET THE THUNDER GOD COOK."
---
Elliot didn't hesitate.
With a deep breath, his storm roared — blue electricity exploding from his fists as he unleashed a direct blast of raw lightning into the barrier's power core.
BOOM.
The lab's defense grid fizzled out — sparks showering down as the plasma turrets short-circuited, their lights blinking into darkness.
The steel door slammed open — smoke hissing from the broken lock.
Kain screamed. "BRO — YOU JUST THOR BLASTED A HIGH-SECURITY SYSTEM."
Vex whistled. "I'm so making this the album cover."
Nova blinked. "That's… one way to break in."
Thundaddy, never missing a beat, announced the moment like a sportscaster.
---
"CONGRATULATIONS, STORMCHASERS!"
"YOU'VE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED: BREAKING AND BLASTING!"
XP Gained: +100 for Flashy Entrance
New Skill Unlocked: Lightning Lockpicking™
Pro Tip: You didn't break in… you rocked in.
---
Elliot, his storm still crackling softly, turned to the team. "We're inside."
Kain panned his holopad camera over the broken security system. "BRO — THIS IS GETTING 1 MILLION MORE VIEWS."
Nova's suit flickered with static. "Focus — we find their server room, pull the data on the Raijin Protocol, and get out."
Vex twirled a plasma blade in her hand. "And maybe… leave an autograph on their walls."
Thundaddy couldn't resist.
---
"COMING SOON…"
"THE STORMCHASERS' FIRST SINGLE…"
"… BREAK IN, BOOST UP — FEATURING THUNDADDY AND ELLIOT!"
---
Kain collapsed against the wall, crying with laughter. "WE'RE DROPPING A BREAK-IN ANTHEM."
Nova's glowing eyes burned. "I'm breaking the AI."
Elliot clenched his fists, blue lightning rippling down his arms.
They weren't just here for music.
They were here for answers.
And whoever built the Raijin Protocol…
Was about to hear the loudest storm they'd ever created.