As he thought this, he lifted his numb head to look up. He wanted to see what was going on above him. He hoped to find some clues or answers.
The moment he did so, a blue bolt of lightning struck his face, seeping through every hole of his face. It felt like a thousand needles stabbing his skin.
Deep black burns appeared on his body as he convulsed. He screamed in agony, but no one could hear him. He was alone in this hellish nightmare, and he had no one to help him or save him. He felt his life fading away from him, and he wished he could end his suffering.
The whole place was engulfed with bright light, very different from the first lightning that hit him. It was more intense and powerful, like a laser beam. It seemed to target him specifically, as if it had a mind of its own. It wanted to annihilate him completely, and leave nothing behind.
The virus in his body reacted differently, as if trying to keep him alive and not letting him die. It fought against the electric shock, trying to preserve his body intact. It sensed a danger from the lightning, and it activated its defense mechanism.
Veins writhed on his body like worms under his skin. They glowed with a red color, clashing with the blue lightning.
They pumped blood and energy throughout his body, trying to keep him alive. They also mutated and evolved, adapting to the new situation.
A deep crater had formed, wiping out everything within a mile radius, including the pole he was tied to. The ground was charred and cracked, and nothing else remained.
He floated in the air as the lightning continued to pierce him. It sometimes pulsed as if injecting more energy, as if making sure to kill Blaze or maybe it knew that he was still alive. It seemed to have a mind of its own, and it wanted to destroy him completely. It was relentless and merciless, and it showed no signs of stopping.
After a while, the light vanished with a pulse, and a soft thud echoed. The lightning finally stopped, and Blaze fell to the ground. He landed on the scorched soil, and dust rose from the impact.
The clouds had a wide hole showing the blue sky, as if mirroring the crater. They were torn apart by the force of the lightning, and slowly drifted away.
The lightning tribulation was over, and the sun shone through the gap. It was a stark contrast to the dark and gloomy atmosphere that prevailed before.
Blaze lay on the ground motionless, naked, his hair in disarray and lightning still crackling on his skin.
His chest rose and fell, indicating he was still alive and survived the ordeal. He was unconscious and unaware of his surroundings. He looked like a corpse, but he was still alive. He had a faint pulse and a weak breath, and his body was still functioning.
He had some flesh missing from his body, but they somehow moved like closing the wound or regenerating. His skin was healing itself, repairing the damage done by the explosion and the lightning. His virus was working overtime, trying to save him from death.
Meanwhile, in the Sarion Settlement. Eros was chatting with his circle of friends. They were all smug and proud of what they had done to Blaze. They had abducted him from his home. They had left him to die, hoping that he would be devoured by zombies or struck by lightning.
"Tell me, did you make sure that everyone saw you when you paraded him?" asked Eros.
He was the leader of the group, and he despised Blaze more than anyone else. He was envious of his popularity and skills, and he wanted him dead before the state of governance changed.
"Ah, yes, Protector. No one even suspected he was unconscious as we made him wear sunglasses. Everyone believed that he was out to go for some experiment." one replied.
He was one of Eros's loyal followers, and he had helped him execute his plan. He had relished seeing Blaze suffer, and he had mocked his pain.
The people had been deceived by a clever lie. They believed that Blaze was leaving for a noble cause, not for a cruel fate.
"He's on a special journey that will take him years to return," one of them said, showing them the announcement he had posted on every bulletin board. It was a masterful piece of propaganda, full of praise and admiration for Blaze's courage and dedication.
They had made sure that everyone in the settlement saw the announcement, and no one questioned its validity. They had created a false impression of honesty and openness, and silenced any doubts or suspicions.
"Look at this," another one said, holding a document with a list of names. He smirked and said, "These are the ones who escorted him out, who tied him up. The funny thing is, they all owe him their lives. They have no idea they just sent him to his death."
He cackled, relishing the irony of their treachery. He pointed at each name on the list, and told them how Blaze had saved them from danger or injustice in the past. He told them how they had twisted their minds into thinking that they were honoring Blaze's wishes, and how they had fooled them into binding him to a stake.
They had turned Blaze's friends and supporters against him, and made them unwittingly take part in his murder. They had abused their loyalty and gratitude, and made them into traitors.
"Excellent, excellent. That means no one will suspect us when he doesn't come back," Eros said, smiling wickedly.
He was sure that his scheme had succeeded, and that he had eliminated Blaze once and for all. He felt a surge of pride and joy, and he anticipated his rise to power as the new King.
He laughed and everyone else joined him, echoing his laughter. They were all proud of themselves, and felt superior to Blaze and his followers. They felt that they had done a great service to the settlement, and that they deserved to be praised.
That day no one knew that one of the protectors was almost killed, or else there would have been a great uproar, for he was the most revered protector among the seven.
He was the hero of the people, the savior of many, and the leader of the resistance. His name was Blaze, and he had no clue that he was.