Chapter 186: The Fifth Contract Creature

"This lightning intensity is much stronger than that Blackbone Grove apprentice from before———"

Previously in the Marsh Secret Realm, the Second Tier Apprentice Reiman, who fought Janna, was known as the lightning apprentice among the "Second Tier Apprentices."

Yet even during the entire battle against Janna, he had never managed to break through her 【Floral Guard】.

However, this Lightning Cloud in its apparent juvenile form showed signs of breaking through 【Floral Guard】 with just a single strike.

If such an attack were to directly hit others, aside from 【Bloodline-Side】 or 【Guardian-Type】 apprentices, very few could withstand it.

"Crack-krrzzzt—"

With the second strike of lightning, Janna, who summoned the Hundred-Eyed Specter almost without thinking, instantly teleported to the side.

"Master, the laws of this world are repelling me—I can’t hold on (panicking)—"

Seeing the twisted characters written by the Hundred-Eyed Specter on the mirror surface, Janna could clearly feel that the local magical energy was highly unstable and immediately withdrew the power of the contract.

Crackle-krrzzzt—

"Looks like I’ll have to tank it!"

As the third strike of lightning descended, the barrier of 【Floral Guard】 on Janna’s body shattered in response. However, with her highly keen perception, she quickly noticed something different inside.

"It actually weakened—"

The fourth, fifth, and sixth strikes were just as Janna had predicted. Since the lightning energy inside the Lightning Cloud was stored, generally only the first few strikes were the strongest.

As more of its lightning energy was consumed, its attack strength gradually diminished to the level of Reiman’s.

"Crack-krrzzzt——"

After figuring out the attack pattern of the Lightning Cloud, Janna once again condensed 【Floral Guard】 and began to kite and gradually wear down her opponent’s energy.

After all, lightning-type magic had always been known for its high attack power and large mana consumption. If it came down to endurance, although Janna's consumption wasn’t small either, she could still handle it with ease.

"Crack—" Whip formed in hand, Janna summoned the Hundred-Eyed Specter again and instantly teleported to the Lightning Cloud’s front, casting 【Soul Lash】, lashing fiercely at the opponent and almost dispersing the Lightning Cloud completely.

"High attack power, low defense—even if it can ignore physical attacks, it’s almost helpless against mental ones—"

Looking at the Lightning Cloud that was nearly dispersed, Janna forcefully suppressed the urge to use 【Soul Scream】 and, while the opponent had not yet recovered, cast 【Soul Chain】 once more.

"Crack-krrzzzt——"

The chains wrapped tightly. This time, Janna didn’t hesitate. No matter how much the Lightning Cloud struggled, it only had a breath of life left and was securely bound by her chains, unable to escape.

"By my will, I command you, obey my contract, submit to me—"

As the chant was spoken, a complex Contract Array swiftly formed between the two.

"Crack-krrzzzt—"

Just as the contract was about to be finalized, a surge of lightning once again erupted from the Lightning Cloud, fiercely resisting the intrusion of Janna’s contract power.

"Still resisting even now?"

Seeing the Lightning Cloud still refusing to yield, Janna’s brows furrowed.

"If you’re willing to obey me, I can give you this Elemental Essence of Water."

Since coercion didn’t work, she switched to temptation.

After all, elemental creatures generally had low intelligence; as long as one offered high-energy items that attracted them, they would usually comply.

"Crack-krrzzzt—"

Faced with Janna’s temptation, the Lightning Cloud still remained stubborn. Although the surrounding lightning dimmed slightly, it still had a look of "unyielding to both hard and soft approaches."

"Refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit."

Crack— Having gradually lost her patience, Janna no longer coddled the creature.

Whip condensed, leaving multiple afterimages. Facing a hard-headed creature like the Lightning Cloud, Janna could no longer be bothered to persuade it and instead continued using 【Soul Lash】, mercilessly striking it.

"If you refuse to obey, then I’ll just beat you into submission."

Due to the overwhelming thunder around her, Janna couldn’t cast 【Siren Chanting】 at all.

On top of that, the vast range of lightning around the Lightning Cloud prevented her from using 【Mental Charm】, which required close proximity to take effect.

Thus, Janna’s ultimate method—was to whip it.

Whip it hard!

Crack—

Seeing the Lightning Cloud already reduced to an unshapely mass, Janna halted her 【Soul Lash】 and chanted the contract incantation once more.

"Buzz——"

Light flickered. The Lightning Cloud, now barely alive, didn’t resist this time. As the complex array quickly formed around them, Janna’s Wizard Tree gained a new contract medium, blue and purple intertwined.

"Lightning Cloud—Thor—this contract name sure collides with that thunder god from the previous life."

After the forced contract was completed, the Lightning Cloud, having established an arcane connection with Janna, no longer resisted her as before.

However, its attitude toward her hadn’t changed much. Even though it obeyed, it was only out of fear.

"You don’t need to be afraid. As long as you behave, I won’t hit you without reason."

Having previously tamed the Flame Guardian, Janna naturally understood the principle of "give a stick, then a sweet date."

To treat the Lightning Cloud’s injuries—which were rather "brutal"—Janna lightly flipped her right hand, revealing the Elemental Essence of Water, now mostly depleted, and handed it to the spirit-form Lightning Cloud.

"Eat it. Consider it a welcome gift from me."

The Lightning Cloud, still somewhat "rebellious," instinctively reacted at the sight of the Elemental Essence of Water thrown by Janna. The swirling mist instantly swallowed it.

"Crack-krrzzzt——"

Lightning danced. The Lightning Cloud, which had just been feeble, swiftly recovered after absorbing the vast energy inside the Elemental Essence of Water.

Its originally tiny body rapidly expanded in an instant and only stopped after growing a significant size larger.

"Indeed, as long as they’re given enough matching energy, elemental creatures can grow quickly———

Not just the Lightning Cloud, but also the Thornflower Sprite and the Flame Guardian—they all grew faster the more they were fed.

However, the increase in energy within them was also limited by the soul strength of Janna, their contractor.

"Looks like I need to hurry up and break through too. Otherwise, I’ll become the one holding them back..."

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