Chapter 3

—— The next day.

“Alright, let’s head out.”

I leave my house, fully geared up. Though “fully geared” just means a mithril dagger with high magical conductivity and earrings that reduce all magic damage.

After checking my equipment, I channel magic into my legs. Incidentally, if you walk through this forest normally, you’ll die, so enveloping your legs with magic serves to protect them while also increasing your movement speed.

I lightly kick off the ground, jumping onto a tree branch, and leap from tree to tree.

In my previous life, I always wanted to try something like this at least once… I never imagined it would come true in a place like this.

Life sure is full of surprises.

As I muse over such thoughts like an old man, I spot a few Troll Generals (around level 110) up ahead. They haven’t noticed me yet, so… I’ll rush past them!

In an instant, I channel lightning into my legs, and with lightning speed, I zoom past the trolls, leaving them far behind until they vanish from sight. Back in the day, it would take me a few seconds to cast this, but now I can enchant my body with just a thought.

“Phew… this forest is as dangerous as ever…”

Even though I’m proceeding with the utmost caution, the mental fatigue is immense. Part of the reason is that I rarely venture far from home.

“Oh, that’s right. Maybe this will finally get his attention.”

Suddenly, I remember something about Zeus, the thunder god who resides in this forest.

Apparently, Zeus controls all lightning in this world. I think I read that in an official fanbook once.

Though my memory is vague, there’s no harm in trying.

I leap onto the top of a particularly tall tree and begin chanting.

“—Unleash the wrath of the heavens—《Heavenly Thunder》.”

Suddenly, storm clouds gather in the sky, and thunder rumbles. I aim for the center of the forest, where Zeus resides.

Then, with a blinding flash of light, the surroundings explode with sound and vibration, shaking the trees. The shockwave reaches me even though I’m over several dozen kilometers away.

Now… did Zeus react…?

I slowly open my eyes—only to see the same dark, ominous forest as before. It seems my gamble paid off.

‘’—Why have you come here…?’’

Zeus appears, cloaked in lightning. He holds a lightning staff and wears thunderous robes, looking down at me from the sky.

His overwhelming presence reaches me, the static in the air prickling my skin. Sweat drips from my forehead.

However—I deliberately let a fierce smile cross my face.

“I’ve come to claim your power.”

‘’—Then try and defeat me.’’

Our lightning clashed in the sky.

‘Is that all you’ve got?’

“…Not even close!”

I form spears of lightning in both hands and hurl them at lightning speed. But—Zeus raises a single hand, and the spears slow down, eventually vanishing.

Damn it… Lightning doesn’t work on him during battle…!

Clicking my tongue, I fire off a quick burst of lightning to distract him, then hide myself in the forest.

‘Oh? Changing tactics, are we?’

Zeus sounds amused.

It seems he’s lived so long that he can see right through my plans. But I don’t have any other choice.

I dispel the lightning and sprint through the forest, relying only on my physical abilities. Zeus must be sensing the lightning coming from me to track my location. If I deactivate it, he shouldn’t be able to find me.

‘’You seem to be using your head a bit. But don’t think for a second that you can evade me with such tactics.’’

“What!?”

Suddenly, Zeus appears in front of me, grinning. My body freezes for a moment in shock, but I quickly leap away and dash back into the forest.

“How…? How did he find me?”

My hypothesis must have been wrong. But if not lightning, then what is he sensing?

It’s not magic detection; I’ve suppressed my magic. So how…?

‘—It’s static electricity.’

“Damn it… So that’s it…!!”

Indeed, moving creates a small but definite amount of static electricity. Zeus must have been detecting that.

Realizing that running away is futile, I decide to confront him and cloak my entire body in brilliant blue lightning. My body transforms into lightning, just like Zeus’.

‘’Oh… I didn’t expect you to be able to transform into lightning like me… Impressive.’’

“You’re acting pretty confident for someone about to lose…!”

I kick off the ground, moving faster than a blink, and thrust my fist toward Zeus. Since most of the lightning surrounding me is under my control, it’s unlikely to be neutralized.

‘’You’re certainly getting the hang of it.’’

Zeus blocks my fist with his staff, nodding in approval while stroking his beard with his free hand. While Zeus seems calm and relaxed, I’m giving it everything I’ve got—and yet, none of my attacks are landing.

This is ridiculous… I’m moving at lightning speed…?

Even the strongest heroine said my physical abilities were unmatched.

I mix up my attacks with feints, alternating between fists, kicks, elbows, knees, and headbutts, but… I can’t seem to hit him at all.

‘’Hahaha… You’re strong, boy. My apologies for calling you a child.’’

“Doesn’t seem like you’re sorry at all…”

‘’Indeed, if it were any other divine spirit, you might have had a better chance. Perhaps the Water Spirit might be a closer match for you?’’

Zeus speaks as if he’s the strongest of all divine spirits. And as much as I hate to admit it, I’m struggling so much that he might not be wrong.

“Phew…”

‘’Hmm? What are you—!?’’

As Zeus talks, I close my eyes and cancel my magic. My sudden and unexpected action surprises even Zeus, who stops mid-sentence, taking a sharp breath.

‘’Have you given up on defeating me…?’’

“No.”

‘’Then do you think you can win like that—what is that!?’’

For the first time today, Zeus raises his voice.

But I can’t blame him.

“I haven’t given up yet…!”

A massive amount of lightning gathers in my right hand, growing fiercer and stronger, repelling itself with a violent force. The sheer energy pulls in storm clouds, creating thunder and chaos in the sky.

I clench my fist, pouring all my magic into this one strike.

“—O divine dragon, dwell in my hand. With your majesty and power, reveal your might to the world—”

The ground around me collapses from the sheer pressure, causing an earthquake. The forest trembles, and the monsters flee in terror from the overwhelming magic.

“—《Thunder Dragon God》!!” The world is engulfed in a massive lightning storm