"Bahahaha, just as I predicted!"
Brandon's boisterous laughter rang out.
A memory flashed through his mind like a shooting star—piercing, brilliant, unforgettable.
It was Devon Winchester, the man from the Capital City who had etched his name in the annals of Brandon's past world by capturing an ethereal pyramid.
The first to achieve this feat, Devon had turned into an indomitable force, his power beyond reckoning.
Brandon was hell-bent on replicating Devon's triumph.
No, he planned to surpass it.
He had scoured the globe, procuring a water gun that was peerless in its quality and power.
His goal? To bring down the hovering orb swiftly and decisively.
'+100% to all attributes! That's the secret behind Devon's near invincibility!'
The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning, filling his veins with fiery determination.
Absorbed in these victorious thoughts, a grating, electronic voice jolted him back to the present. It was the walkie-talkie, its green glow eerily reflecting off the cold metal table.
"Boss! The 5 squadrons are ready! Baal over and out…"
"Asmo Squad, ready to die! HehHEEhehe"
"Levi Squad, strapped on!"
"Lili Squad, bound and ready to take it master~"
He stood atop a gargantuan metallic fortress, a commanding figure bathed in the silver moonlight.
The fortress sprawled across a massive 10-acre compound, with five towering battlements standing sentinel, casting long, foreboding shadows.
Each battlement was a stronghold for his devoted followers—a hundred in each, their expressions stern, their bodies poised for combat.
Their loyalty was unyielding, their faith unshakeable.
At the core of each fortification, a colossal metal rod reached skywards.
The design of these rods, with their distinct upward arch and thick, coiled bases, often intrigued newcomers.
Whispers of their purpose circulated, some hinting at their connection to the heavens, others dismissing it as pure aesthetics.
The followers were securely harnessed to one another, creating a complex metallic web. Their connection to the metal rods in each battlement gave the structure a spine-chilling appearance.
"Baph Squad, We're ready but uhhh boss, I know you've been right about everything thus far, but this seems a lil… "
Baph's doubt hung in the air, but before he could finish, the sky above transformed into a haunting deep maroon canvas, casting an eerie glow over the eclectically designed metallic fortress.
"T… Timely…" Baph continued, the quiver in his last word echoing the unsettling feeling in his heart.
The air grew heavy with anticipation, as if the very atmosphere held its breath.
"Right on time…"
He walked towards the central metal rod, his every step echoing with resolve.
A chair crafted from cold, gleaming metal awaited him, its intricate restraints a silent promise of the impending ordeal.
Settling into the chair, he felt the cold metallic embrace against his skin.
Despite the palpable tension, he was prepared for the upcoming uncertainty.
Observing the scene with a mix of concern and confusion, Geoffrey hesitated for a moment before mustering the courage to approach Brandon.
His aged hands were shaking uncontrollably as his eyes flickered nervously around the exposed embattlement.
"Y-Young master... I-I'm not certain about this... W-What are you attempting to achieve? It's all so… s-st…strange..."
His words stumbled out, mirroring his emotional turmoil.
Brandon met Geoffrey's gaze, his eyes filled with resolve. Despite the tense atmosphere, he managed a comforting smile.
"Every risk I've taken, every challenge I've faced, it's all been for this moment. Trust in our journey, Geoffrey, not just in me."
Brandon responded, his voice calm and resolute.
As the storm brewed above, a fleeting memory tugged at Brandon's heartstrings.
He remembered a time, amidst the ruins of the post-apocalyptic world, feeling so small, so powerless against the cruel fate that sought to subdue him.
This wasn't just about harnessing power;
It was about reclaiming what was once taken from him—control over his own destiny.
Despite the swirling uncertainty, Geoffrey nodded.
He walked over to Brandon, an alabaster hand reached out, his aged skin stark against the dark control panel.
He clicked the final buckle into place, securing Brandon into the chair.
The metallic clang echoed in the silence that had befallen the fortress.
Then, the sky erupted.
The sky split open as if torn by some colossal beast, the first bolt of lightning roaring through the maroon expanse like an enraged dragon.
It crashed into the fortress, igniting the night with an electric crimson blaze.
The intensity of the light forced Geoffrey to shield his eyes, his heart pounding in his chest.
Then came the others.
They followed in the wake of the first, an army of flaming serpents that seared across the sky, their jagged paths weaving a deadly tapestry.
Each bolt seemed hungrier than the last, voraciously consuming everything in its path.
ZAPPP!! ZZAAAPPP!! ZAAAAPPPP!!!.
The landscape below transformed into a stage of searing chaos and electrifying spectacle.
Thousands of crimson lightning bolts streaked across the sky, their jagged paths illuminating the deep maroon canvas like fiery veins.
*Crackle…* *Crackle…* *Crackle…*
Crackles and rumbles filled the air as the bolts danced and twirled, weaving a symphony of destruction across the land.
Buildings crumbled, their foundations shattered by the relentless force of the crimson lightning.
Trees became engulfed in a tempestuous inferno, their branches consumed by the electrifying flames.
The very earth quaked beneath the relentless assault, trembling in fearful submission.
*Rumble…* *Rumble…* *Rumble…*
His eyes darted from the chaotic spectacle to the metallic rods that encircled them.
His fear coalesced into realization.
Fear and concern welled up within Geoffrey, for he had always dismissed the peculiar design of the rods as his young master's eccentric taste.
But the purpose behind the peculiar design of the rods became evident as the relentless lightning strikes raged on.
Cold sweat trickled down his wrinkled temples as he turned his gaze back to Brandon, his voice quivering with a mixture of fear and awe.
Geoffrey could only stare, his breath stolen by the awesome spectacle. When he finally found his voice, it was a mere whisper lost in the storm.
"Y-Young M..master... These... these metallic rods... they… they're lightning rods, aren't they?!!"
"H…Have you… LL..OST… YOUR M-MIND?!!"
Brandon met Geoffrey's gaze, a sadistic smile dancing on his lips.
Geoffrey's heart raced, torn between admiration for his young master's audacity and an overwhelming urge to protect him from the impending danger.
"Geoffrey, you've been a loyal elder and a father figure to me… I understand your concerns. But greatness is born out of audacity. Believe in me..."
His voice was a calming lull amidst the storm, filled with a hint of wild courage and madness.