Chapter 61. What do you think?

“What do you think? Come on I need you to answer me to show that you’re still here.” Boss calmly stated.

“I-I don’t know, what?” Gran only managed to say those few words. There was just too much to process, he couldn’t even think rationally right now to answer Boss question.

“It’s good that you’re still here, it’s a simple answer. This world will try to eliminate your son or daughter and I’m going to need your help to stop it.” Boss calmly remarked and looked up ahead. He can sense the anger of the world directly above him ready to strike the moment the baby is born.

“Mmm you’re pretty angry, aren’t you? Well I wasn’t expecting this either, but I won’t let you have this baby, so good luck trying to stop me.” Boss muttered. Gran was unsure why the boy was muttering to himself, however he was completely focused on what Boss had to say next.

“Alright, I’ve seen this a few times before and for the most part in a battle between a person and the planet, the planet wins almost all the time. The reason why the planet won most of the time back at home was because it happened suddenly, and people were unprepared for it. We call ours an Earthly Tribulation, you can call yours a… Tierrian Tribulation.” Boss stated calmly as dark clouds continued to converge overhead of the home.

Gran was growing even more confused as Boss continued to ramble on not paying attention to Roselyn and the servants who was entirely focused on delivering the baby on the bed completely unbeknownst to the happenings outside of the bubble.

“You look like you’re confused…? Well, to sum it up for you, I know how to save your baby.” Boss words instantly delighted Gran who could start to sense the growing energy directly above them. However, Boss’ next words didn’t really make him feel so sure. Boss continued “But at the moment I’m not in the best condition, I used up a lot of energy earlier filling that tub for what the baby is going to need, so I can’t completely stop the full brunt of the planet’s attack. However, I think I can weaken it enough for you to stop remaining energy.”

“So, this is what we’re going to do, the planet will continue to build up energy until the baby is born, once the baby is born it’ll unleash just one extremely powerful attack. We just have to stop that one attack. I will shield the majority of the strike while you just block the rest of the lightning from hitting everyone here.”

Gran managed to calm down once Boss got straight to the point. The roaring of thunder and howling of wind can be heard screaming outside the house. The ground continued to shake as if the very own planet was both angry and nervous about the birth of this baby. “H-how do I block it?”

“I think your body is pretty sturdy, not as sturdy as mine of course. But the moment it seems like my barrier can’t hold on, just jump in front of the lightning bolt and hope that you’ll live.” Boss remarked. His words were said so casually that Gran couldn’t help but just wanted to kill the kid before him. It was this little brat that caused all of this problem, and he’s the one that needs to go and take a hit from lightning that could potentially take his life…? Gran had other ideas in his mind. His eyes gleamed with sharpness as he nodded to Boss’ remark.

“Great!” Boss smiled happily to Gran’s serious determination and looked above the roof as the sky continued to darken.

…

“Wh-what’s happening?” Arthur asked. What he was currently seeing was beyond his wildest imagination. The animals all around him were completely frightened as they shivered beside them. Wild animals all around the forest and mountains of Rouge and Boulderville continued to release piercing roars and screech as if it was the end of the world.

“I don’t know…” Pebble responded and continued to stare at the skies. He didn’t know why Shelly wanted to leave the house the moment they felt a slight earthquake. However, after witnessing the events above his house Pebble couldn’t help but gulp at what he was witnessing.

Those outside had a clearer picture as to what was happening as they huddled together and looked up. The once clear skies were completely blanketed by dark clouds coming from every direction as it converging to a central mass directly above the house. The ground continued to quake and tremble as winds were reaching speeds strong enough to throw an adult off their feet. All the while the roaring of thunder continued to build up overhead as if waiting to unleash a massive lightning strike.

Shelly was standing beside Arthur with animals surrounding them as she looked up at the skies. She tried to maintain a calm façade as she stayed quiet while holding the shivering kitten in her arms. However, inwardly she was the most frightened out of everyone around her.

This was the first time in her life she felt such a powerful killing intent that shocked her to the core. Her heightened senses and her even more heightened ability to perceive danger was the only reason she’s survived 10 years. The moment she felt that extreme intent to kill; her first thought was to get everyone out of the house.

She wanted to run away as fast as she could because it was so powerful that if she stayed in there any longer, she’d suffocate from just the pressure alone. What was even more surprising was that such a targeted killing intent wasn’t even directed towards her, she knew whatever it was it was aiming squarely for someone within Roselyn’s room.

She already had her answer; Boss must’ve had done something that would anger even the gods and devils alike for such a strong killing intent to form. But, would she walk inside that room and ask him? Hell no! Run! Escape! That was how you survive.

The only reason she didn’t keep running as far away as possible was because the moment she exited the house, that killing intent was completely gone. Anything that was going to happen will only happen within that house.

“Boulder, Are you alright?” Cobble noticed something weird when he looked down at Boulder whose eyes were completely vacant. The eyes of Boulder looked up at Cobble and then up at the skies. Cobble couldn’t help but shudder the moment he made eye contact with Boulder; instinctively he felt that this this wasn’t the brother he knew.

“Boulder?” Everyone’s turned their head towards Boulder who was vacantly staring up at the skies. The boy no older than 12 didn’t even hear his name as he continued to look up. He then turned his attention towards the house.

“Boulder?” Arthur waved his hands before Boulder’s eyes trying to get his attention. However, there was no response. Boulder’s vacant eyes continued to stare straight at the house.

Boulder’s vacant face started to squint to a frown and then a scowl as it looked at the dark clouds above. It finally recognized what was going on and did not like it at all. A powerful energy started to well up within the body of the boy as it looked at the skies above.

Shelly immediately sensed the weird energy coming from him and recognized it immediately. It was the same dangerous presence she felt before completely knocking out. “You are…”

…

Ruuuuumble ruuumble!

“It’s coming! Get ready!” Boss immediately sensed the change in atmosphere and shouted. His eyes darted over to Roselyn who was both exhausted and relief after giving birth.

The newborn baby was in the hands of an old maid as she gave it a good smack. “Waaaah!” the new infant cried; however, the maid didn’t stop there, she has been around for every single birth of Roselyn’s child, she knew what she had to do next. Her eyes quickly darted over to the tub of pure energy and quickly placed the baby inside, leaving only the head above it so it could breathe.

BOOM!

A massive lightning strike extremely blue in color descended from the dark clouds above crashing onto the roof of house incinerating it in an instant before crashing onto an invisible barrier directly underneath.

Bzz! Krssh!

Lightning crawled down the dome of the protective sphere melting and destroying everything around it that wasn’t protected. The once enormous house was completely in pieces by the force of the strike.

However, it did not stop there, the lightning continued its relentless pressure drilling into the invisible sphere being held by boss, but the shockwave from its collision with the barrier blew everyone back at the front entrance of the gate causing them to fall flatly on the ground. Even Cobble and Pebble who were as strong as Teachers of Institutions couldn’t handle the shockwave and were shoved all the way back to the gate that could barely hold itself up.

Only one person remained standing outside of the house. Boulder continued to stare at dense lightning strike that seemed unceasing in its attack as it only grew heavier and heavier with its collision with the barrier. A shield was wrapped completely around his body stopping anything from even ruffling the hair on his head. The energy within his body was glowing brighter and brighter as he fixated his eyes on the enormous bolt of lightning melting everything around the home.

“God damn it! What kind of strike is this! Stop it already!” Boss was under immense pressure and shouted at the skies. The damn lightning continued to pound away at his barrier as cracks started to form on the barrier. “Damn, it’s much stronger than I thought! I don’t know if you can block this Chief but take one for the team!” Boss shouted.

Gran was completely focused and ready. He nodded his head and his entire body was poised to hop directly into the midst of the lightning strike.

The spider web like cracks around the barrier continued to break into more and more pieces. “I can’t hold on!” Boss shouted. “Go Chief!”

CRACK!

The lightning finally broke through the barrier, heading straight for the baby that was placed in the tub. Gran knew exactly what to do.

Boss who was extremely tired out felt a sudden tug on his collar and his eyes went completely wide as he turned his head over to Gran. “You!—”

“Biiiiiiiiiitch!” Boss’ entire body was flung straight into the center of the lightning taking the full brunt of the damage.

Gran immediately ran over to the clean baby, grabbing both it and the maid beside it in the process and rolled off to the side completely shielding the both from the dust and debris flying towards him.

BOOM!

The lightning barreled into the second floor’s room, destroying everything before slamming straight into the dirt creating a massive hole as far down as the eyes could see.

“Wahhh!” Boulder who was standing outside the house and the baby in Gran’s arm released a cry in unison as the growing energy within Boulder’s body climaxed and exploded out heading straight for the lightning.

The energy coming from Boulder completely tore a hole through the lightning completely severing it into two. However, it didn’t stop there it blasted all the way up to the massive center of the clouds blowing an enormous hole within it.

A moment a silence followed as the lightnings from the clouds started to sizzle before weakening and then completely disappearing completely. Bright sunlight illuminated through the hole formed from the clouds as they started to recede and become lighter in color. Howling winds capable of knocking adults over died down instantly returning to a gentle breeze. Tremors within the ground was no longer felt as animals and birds started to recover.

“Father!” Pebble ran straight to the house the moment the lightning died down.

“Is everyone alright?” Cobble asked. He was the first one to get up from the blast and quickly helped everyone else back up. Everyone was patting away the dust and dirt on their body from the shockwave from the lightning. There seemed to be some minor injuries not even worser than what was received from daily meditation training.

He then walked over to Boulder who was standing motionless after releasing that cry.

“Don’t touch him!” Shelly shouted the moment Boulder got closer.

“What’s wrong Shelly?” Julie was the first to ask.

“He’s dangerous!”

“Huh?” Everyone turned to look at Shelly with confusion in their face.

“The energy coming from Boulder is similar to the one that caused everyone to faint a month ago!" Shelly exclaimed.

Cobble retrieved his hands away from almost touching Boulder. The motionless Boulder remained standing there as the energy around him slowly died down dispersing completely from his body. His once vacant look in his eyes slowly started to recover as he turned his head around to look at his older brother beside him.

“Brother, I’m sleepy.” Boulder said only one word and fell asleep standing completely straight up.

Shelly squinted her eyes and walked up to Boulder. She held out her hand and poked him softly on the shoulder. “The energy is gone…”

Cobble nodded his head and picked Boulder up. His attention finally returned to the now completely ruined house of theirs ahead. “Let’s go!”

Everyone immediately ran towards the wreckage of the house. Pebble was helping the servants back up as Gran was standing off to the side with a baby in his arm. He looked at the mess of the house ahead and sighed.

“Are you kids okay?” Gran turned around and asked with the baby in his arm.

“Are you okay?” Cobble questioned.

Gran nodded his head. “Your mother is over there.” The group turned their head towards Roselyn who was asleep on a bed on the ground being checked on by Dr. Galil who had recovered. The sphere Boss had placed around her that Gran wasn’t allowed to enter completely protected those within it completely.

“Where’s Boss?” Arthur asked.

Gran turned his attention to the enormous hole on the ground and shook his head. “I’m afraid—”

Boom! An explosion coming from the hole blasted rubble from the house apart as a black haired and black-eyed boy no older than 10 in appearance crawled out and made his way over.

Cough cough

The little black-haired kid coughed and walked over to the group waving his hands at them. He was covered in dust and dirt and the attack from the lightning completely destroyed everything he was currently wearing. Gran was completely frozen stiff; he couldn’t believe his eyes at the sight of the person who he just threw into the lightning.

The kid had a smile on his face and stood before Gran. He tapped on Gran indicating he wanted to whisper in his ears. Gran couldn’t resist the demand and felt his entire body lurching down before the kid.

“I’m gonna…”

“Get you back...” Boss whispered flatly before pushing Gran away. He then reached out for the baby in Gran’s arm. “Lemme see what’s so special about you.”

Boss and the baby made eye contact for the first time.

“…”

“…”

“Holy moly you are special."

“… Now, close your eyes and don’t you ever open it until I say so, okay?”

"Good..."