I Died and Became a Noble's Heir

Chapter 323: Red lightning

Jack forced himself upright, Seraphina’s lap pillow having restored enough strength for him to move. His muscles still ached, but the trembling had stopped.

The red lightning beneath his skin hummed, as if it were waiting to be unleashed.

”Thank you, Seraphina,” Jack said, meeting her eyes directly. ”Really. I appreciate it.”

She opened her mouth to respond, but Jack didn’t give her the chance. He pressed one finger to her lips before disappearing.

He activated Abyssal Steps and left her by the shrine.

Soon, he was standing in his bedroom at the Kaiser manor.

Jack collapsed onto his bed face-first. His body sank into the mattress with a groan of relief. Every muscle screamed at him from the ten minutes of pain he just endured.

But his mind refused to rest. Jack rolled over.

’System,’ Jack thought, staring at the ceiling. ’Show me the Prince of Thunder class details again.’

The notification materialized, floating in his vision with the same infuriating question marks:

[Prince of Thunder - MYTHICAL CLASS]

[Description: ?]

[Primary Attribute: Lightning]

[Damage Multiplier: 1.6×]

[Available Skills: 3 empty slots]

[Locked Skills: 9 slots]

Jack’s eyes narrowed, focusing on the skill section. ’Three empty slots. Nine locked. What does that mean?’

[Mythical-tier classes do not provide pre-made abilities. Skills must be created by the user based on their understanding of the class’s fundamental nature.

’You’re telling me I have to make my own skills?’

[Correct. Prince of Thunder is a canvas, not a painting. You provide the art.]

Jack processed this information, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. ’So I can create anything? Any ability I want?’

[Within the constraints of the class theme and your current power level. Skills must align with lightning manipulation, thunder aspects, and electrical phenomena. Creation requires conceptual understanding, magical theory, and practical experimentation.]

’And the locked slots?’

[Unlock conditions vary. Increased mastery, stat thresholds, hidden achievements, or specific actions may reveal additional skill slots.]

Jack stared at the notification, his mind racing through implications. Complete customization. No predetermined path. Just raw potential waiting to be shaped according to his vision.

’That’s...’ Jack paused, considering. ’Actually perfect.’

He’d always chafed against limitations. Against being told what he could or couldn’t do. The System had given him power, yes, but even that came with structure. Classes with fixed abilities, skills with predetermined functions.

This was freedom.

Jack raised his right hand, holding it above his face. He focused, and red lightning sparked between his fingers.

The arcs danced from thumb to index finger, jumped to middle finger, and traced patterns across his palm.

’What could I create?’ Jack wondered, watching the lightning play across his skin. ’What would actually be useful?’

’Maybe something with area control,’ Jack mused. The red lightning intensified slightly, responding to his thoughts.

’Lightning that covers an entire battlefield.’

That had potential. Creating zones where he dictated the rules of engagement. Where enemies had to fight on his terms or not at all.

’Or defensive applications,’ Jack continued, his mind exploring angles. ’Lightning that intercepts projectiles. Electrical barriers that fry anything trying to reach me. Automatic counter-attacks that trigger when enemies get too close.’

The lightning jumped between his fingers faster now, as if excited by the possibilities being considered.

’Utility options too,’ Jack thought. ’Movement abilities. Teleportation through electrical currents. Turning into lightning itself to avoid attacks. Enhanced perception by reading electrical signals in the air.’

Each concept opened doors to dozens of variations. Lightning wasn’t just destruction; it was speed, it was information, it was energy in its purest form.

The applications were limited only by imagination and understanding.

Jack clenched his fist, the red lightning vanishing as his fingers closed. ’But which ones matter? Which abilities actually make me stronger rather than just looking impressive?’

That was the real question. Creating skills was one thing.

Creating the right skills, abilities that synergized with his existing capabilities, that covered weaknesses, that transformed him into something greater than the sum of his parts, that required thought.

’I need offense that Arc Mage doesn’t provide,’ Jack decided, his strategic mind engaging despite his exhaustion. ’Something that scales differently. Maybe abilities that get stronger based on conditions I create rather than just raw damage output.’

The red lightning sparked again, crackling across his knuckles as he unclenched his fist.

’Defense matters too. I can kill things effectively, but surviving long enough to do that killing requires not getting hit. Or at least not getting hit as hard.’

Jack rolled onto his side, staring at his hand as electricity danced between fingers that no longer trembled with exhaustion.

’And utility can’t be ignored. Mobility wins fights. Information wins wars. If I can move faster, see more, react quicker... that’s worth more than raw damage in the long run.’

But he couldn’t create everything at once. Three slots. Three skills to start with. Each one needed to count.

’The locked slots will open eventually,’ Jack reasoned. ’So I don’t need to cover every base immediately. Just fill the gaps in my current capabilities. Build a foundation that future skills can expand on.’

The red lightning intensified in response to his focus. Jack created a miniature dragon in his hands from lightning.

’What would Draven create?’ Jack wondered briefly. Then dismissed the thought. ’Doesn’t matter. This isn’t his class. It’s mine. And I’m not building based on what gods think is powerful. I’m building based on what I need to survive and dominate.’

His confidence had grown since entering Tartarus Spire. He wasn’t the uncertain teenager who’d first discovered the System anymore.

He was something that made kingdoms nervous and drew the attention of the gods.

’And with this class,’ Jack thought, watching the little red lightning dragon flap its wings across his palm, ’I’m going to become an anomaly.’

’But, I think Malakai’s castle will help me with my plans. If I can find something on how he fused materials into monsters... This will be a game changer.’

The lightning pulsed with his heartbeat, synchronized to his will, waiting for direction that would shape it into weapons unlike anything the world had seen.

But not tonight. Tonight, his body needed rest more than his ambition needed satisfaction.

Jack dismissed the notification, letting the red lightning fade. His eyes grew heavy, exhaustion finally claiming what adrenaline and determination had held at bay.

Sleep took him before he could think further, his body finally demanding payment for the transformation it had endured.

-------

Four Days Later - Tartarus Spire, Floor 25

Jack stepped through a portal to Floor 25.

He’d spent the past four days recovering, training, and familiarizing himself with the Prince of Thunder class.

Jack adjusted his gloves, the black leather fitting snugly against his palms. His fingers flexed, red sparks dancing between them before fading.

The power felt natural now, integrated so completely he could barely remember what channeling purple lightning had felt like before the transformation.

Jack walked toward the castle as monsters bowed in response to Jack’s appearance.

He reached into his system storage, withdrawing a key that gleamed with dark metal and intricate engravings.

Access to something hidden within his castle. Jack had a thought as he reached the front gate.

’Time to see what secrets you left behind,’ Jack thought, staring at the key.