The group had just lost the great proof they had achieved, which was enough to attract the interest of the great powers of the Spiritual World. As such, they felt terrible about losing the essence and the body armor.
They were also worried about how the enemy's defense system had changed, making it more difficult for them to leave the North Sea. However, nothing could worry them more than that black lightning, the way that the parts of that metal object had been erased.
That was one of the Lightning Tribulations, a special phenomenon that only Gods could resist!
There were six known Lightning Tribulations: Black Lightning, Golden Lightning, Red Lightning, Blue Lightning, White Lightning, and Green Lightning.
After reaching the peak of level 99 and attempting to advance to level 100, one would have to attain divinity by overcoming the Lightning Tribulation, which could send up to six types of lightning to test the one attempting to reach the 11th stage.
Little was known about the special thunderbolts of the Lightning Tribulation.
Even the strongest organizations worldwide didn't know much about what was behind each lightning bolt. Still, through the observations of the oldest and most powerful tribes in the world, everyone knew something critical about Black Lightning.
When Black Lightning appeared in an attempt to reach divinity, level 100, failure and death were a certainty!
100% of the times that Black Lightning had appeared, those who tried to reach level 100 had failed and died in their attempt!
It was possible to withstand the other five divine lightning bolts. According to the ancient history of the Spiritual World, there was once an elf who had reached level 100 after facing five thunderbolts in his tribulation.
But when the Black Lightning appeared, everyone died, and many considered it the symbol of death.
As the most powerful divine bolt of lightning, it was enough to scare all those talented individuals to death.
"Black Lightning... Can they control Lightning Tribulation?" One of the two Phoenixes in the group asked, not knowing what to do.
If the enemies could control the Lightning Tribulation, then they had no chance of surviving. That would be a mission with a 100% chance of them dying!
Even the level 99 Demigods of this world couldn't stand up to these extraterrestrial beings, which practically guaranteed the end of the world as they knew it!
"Impossible," Minos said, drawing the eyes of everyone in his group to him. "We must consider that our enemies did not activate that divine lightning. It could be something of the Spiritual World."
"What?"
"What are you talking about? That lightning clearly acted to erase evidence..."
Several crew members said similar things, unsure about the whole thing.
Minos was afraid, too, for a bolt of black lightning would be frightening even for a God. But he tried to stay calm and rational.
"Think about it. If foreigners can control the Lightning Tribulation, why are we still alive? Why haven't they taken over the entire world? With that power, they could do it in a matter of days!" Minos said, bringing all the people back to reality.
"Indeed. The Lightning Tribulation could easily wipe out 99% of the world's population. If someone were to master it, there would be no chance for the living beings of our world. Even level 99 Sky Whales would die from a single attack." The Arctic Whale commented.
Minos looked at him and nodded positively. "Exactly. If our enemies were behind this attack, there would be no point in destroying the body of that armor. It would be better for them to act against us and kill us all. Only then would they be able to guarantee the leak of information!
But the Black Lightning acted against the enemies' creature, not against us. Meanwhile." Minos pointed to the sky. "They are already moving to prevent our escape. What does that mean?"
"That they are afraid of our escape?" Ruth asked.
"Exactly! The enemies can't be behind such a high-level thing as they act so fearfully!" Minos finally managed to convince most people there to think more calmly about what had just happened to them.
'Indeed... That makes much more sense.' The dragon thought to himself, but he still felt the terrible sensation of witnessing the lightning.
"So what could be behind what just happened?" Dunyxa asked.
"That..." Minos thought for a moment. "I can't say for sure. But the Lightning Tribulation is a way to protect the world and its rules."
"According to the legend, Gods are people who break the rules of the Spiritual World, so it is practically impossible to reach level 100, and the world itself tries to prevent beings from reaching that level." The level 92 woman from the Sea Folk commented.
Minos continued. "Perhaps... Maybe our world doesn't recognize these invaders."
"Oh? But it was fine before." Someone pointed out the obvious.
"It was when we exposed its essence that everything happened..." Grant looked into Minos' eyes, causing the people there to look at him and agree on that point.
Minos said. "Perhaps these invaders have a way of circumventing our rules. But if we expose them for what they are, without using their methods, the world itself will recognize them as invaders and destroy them."
"That seems to be the case..."
"But if that's the case, it doesn't help us at all. We can't use their essence to our advantage, and the Lightning Tribulation would only work against them after they've fallen." Titus commented in a despondent, extremely tired tone.
"Hmmm." Minos couldn't disagree.
He looked at his people in silence and then said. "We have two options before us, my friends.
Either we ignore what lies ahead of us and try to return home to warn the world about the enemies, or we go on to find out more about the enemies.
Going home now will be difficult, and we won't have any evidence or knowledge of how to deal with the enemies more effectively.
As for going into the depths of the North Sea, well, we'll face dangers equal to or greater than that armor. However, by following this path, we will be able to discover the enemy's numbers, their secrets, how they reached our world, and most importantly, how we can fight them and use their essence without attracting Lightning Tribulations.
What would you prefer?"
He asked as he seriously looked at the strongest ones there, smiling in a mysterious way, frightened but also excited to challenge the greatest enemies they could find in the world!
