Chef in the Apocalypse

After handling his business, he placed Lianna down gently and moved his attention to the heavens. He didn’t want to cause any collateral damage to anyone on the battlefield so Jayce made a quick decision and left the vicinity, only stopping after 10km.

He let out a deep breath, preparing himself for the battle that was about to come. Either he survived the baptism by lightning, or he would turn into ashes, returning to the Earth.

The tribulation waited patiently, as if doing a favor to an old friend.

"LET’S GO!" 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Jayce shouted loudly to the heavens as he began to circulate his Qi wildly.

BANG!

The sound of the lightning shuttling through the air sounded as it struck Jayce directly in the forehead, sending a shockwave through his body. Jayce felt his muscles seize for a moment before he could move his body again.

He shook his head, trying to get the tingling feeling out of his brain.

’Okay, I can do this. That wasn’t too bad.’

BANG!

Before he could prepare, another bolt landed in the same place almost sending him flying backwards. He grit his teeth, feeling the metallic taste of blood in the back of his mouth.

Jayce could only speed up the flow of his Qi in an attempt to brace for the next attack.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The next 3 strikes happened in succession, almost sending him to the afterlife in one fell swoop. He spat a mouthful of blood, feeling as if his insides were being fried.

Each lightning strike had been more powerful than the last, attacking his confidence in his ability to withstand the baptism.

Jayce’s face hardened as he tried to think of ways he could survive. He did not have much time before the next strike would hit its mark.

He took a deep breath and summoned the Law of Fire within his meridians, feeling his already fried organs begin to heat up once more. However this time, he circulated the boiling Qi to activate his Divine Body Arts.

Due to the immense pressure his body was under, Jayce decided to sit down into the lotus position as if he was meditating. Whatever happened from now would be up to the Heavens to decide.

BANG!

’Hold on.’

BANG!

’It’s almost over.’

BANG!

’...’

BANG!

Blood began to leak out of his eyes, ears and mouth as Jayce sat upon the ground unmoving like a statue of Buddha. The ground beneath him was scorched, looking like it would not be out of place in the 7th layer of hell.

Jayce had shut off his senses, holding onto the last shred of his sanity as his body was battered with heavenly lightning. If he had been at full strength from the beginning, then it would have been much easier, however luck was not on his side for once.

Despite closing off his senses, he could tell that this next attack would be the last. 9 lightning strikes to signify perfection.

If he could survive this strike, he would be able to return to his friends and continue to live his life. If not, then he would be turned to ash.

Lianna finally opened her eyes after feeling the ground quake. Her mind was a bit fuzzy after being forced into unconsciousness by the Dragon’s roar. However, her heart was filled with anxiety for some reason.

It was like she was forgetting something really important.

The first thing she noticed was the stirring of power in the clouds above her, which sent a shiver down her spine. She had never seen such power before, so much so that she instantly thought that the world was ending.

It was then that a huge red lightning bolt suddenly appeared, speeding towards the ground.

Lianna turned her attention to the landing spot of the attack, only for her eyes to grow wide in shock and horror.

"JAYCE!"

The man sitting cross-legged on the ground suddenly fell back onto the ground, blood spurting from his mouth like a fountain. She ran forward with all of her might, not even noticing that the heavenly tribulation had now receded.

She quickly dropped down to her knees and held her arms out, sending the Law of Nature into him in an attempt to heal her man.

However, the green energy could not seem to penetrate his body, like there was some force preventing it. Lianna cried out in frustration, feeling her heart sink.

"Jayce! Stay with me!"

Jayce’s body was stained with terrible wounds. He looked as if his body had been sliced apart before being roasted over an open flame. However, his eyelids began to move as he heard his womans voice.

His clear blue eyes suddenly opened, looking onto the woman he loved.

He couldn’t help but let out a heartfelt smile, seeing that she was here to see him off. Although his heart was filled with regret, he would at least get to say goodbye.

"I... I love you." He said with all his heart.

Those words seemed to cut deep into her, as if they threatened to pierce her own heart. Whatever words she was about to say was now lost from her mind, forcing her to respond with her real feelings.

"You idiot... I love you too."

With that, she bent down and hugged him tightly, her tears flowing like a waterfall onto his chest.

Suddenly, the energies that was surrounding him began to get absorbed into his body. The aura remaining from the heavenly tribulation burrowed into his flesh, causing him to let out a groan of pain.

However, after the initial pain, he began to feel a bone-deep itch. Jayce’s eyes widened as he felt strength begin to fill his muscles once more.

"It’s healing me!?" Jayce exclaimed, his face turning joyous.

Lianna quickly lifted her head and saw his wounds begin to heal visibly. The power felt similar to the Law of Nature, however it was more sophisticated, as if it had come from the heavens itself.

She was filled with joy, yet tears still continued to stream down her face. This time for a different reason.

A few moments later, his body was brimming with strength. While he hadn’t made a breakthrough, he could tell that there was something different about his body, something extra.

It seemed that the baptism had been beneficial to him in the end.

Just as he was about to speak, he felt a weird sensation in his body. It was as if the world was rejecting his presence, not allowing him to remain.

His eyes widened in shock as his body began to float upwards by itself towards the heavens.

"J-Jayce what are you doing?" Lianna called out with confusion.

"Lianna! Earth is rejecting me, I won’t be able to stay." He said, his face a mixture of emotions.

"What!?" she began to panic. Her emotions were in shambles after the roller coaster she had just experienced.

He began to pick up speed, as if the heavens were tossing him out before they decided to take his life. Jayce quickly reacted before it was too late, taking the spatial ring off his finger and tossing it towards Lianna.

"Take this ring. I will return in 1 year when the real invasion begins. Look after everyone for me, I love you!"

Lianna caught the ring, yet her face was twisted in sorrow.

"You better keep your promise! I’ll be waiting for you, I love you!" She yelled, doing her best not to break down in tears.

Jayce smiled after hearing those words, no longer struggling against the pull of the heavens. He did not know where he was being sent to, but he would do his best to survive and get strong enough to protect his friends before the real invasion began.

-End 2nd volume - Traitors