["Tch! If you only know half the story, then don't go around talking about it."]
The Scam God Statue immediately refused to be outdone.
["Even though the mastermind behind the scenes is this world's god, every time it creates a disaster to maintain the balance of this world, or this space, it also has to create an opportunity."]
["So don't just focus on the crisis. The truly smart thing to do is find that sliver of opportunity hidden within it."]
"Oh? So your predictions don't require spirit stones anymore?"
Ethan teased.
Buzz!
The Scam God Statue immediately shut itself down.
Charlie, meanwhile, let out a strange crackling laugh.
"Who would've thought even a stone statue could be so competitive?"
"Charlie, then can you predict where the opportunity is this time?", Ethan asked.
As he spoke, he looked uneasily at the massive thundercloud floating overhead.
He hesitated...
'Should I stay and look for this so-called opportunity, or take Bird One and the others and leave this damned place as quickly as possible?'
"My lord, what do we do now?"
Bird One and the others were a little panicked.
After all, they were now the primary targets of the lightning. Flying through the air made them no different from the kite Benjamin Franklin supposedly flew to attract lightning.
They were simply too easy to strike.
Flash!
However, before Bird One could finish speaking, a bolt of lightning shot toward them from the distance.
Ethan was startled and immediately teleported himself and Bird One's group away.
Boom!
The massive bolt missed them and struck the water instead, electrifying a huge stretch of the surface until it glowed with crackling currents.
Only then did Ethan let out a sigh of relief. He pointed toward a spatial rift not far away.
"Head southwest. There's a rift over there that you can pass through."
"This thundercloud is after me. If you stay with me, you'll only get caught up in it."
"My lord, what about you?", Bird One quickly asked.
"Meow!"
Daji also looked worried.
Ethan reached out and rubbed Daji's head, "Don't worry too much about me. As the saying goes, if you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you catch the tiger cubs..."
BOOM!
Another peal of thunder rang out.
Earlier, Ethan had only had a blade and a sword in his hands, without his magic staff.
So he had been forced to use the Lord's Domain to teleport Bird Team away.
But now, he had already turned the Dragon Claw Blade back into the Silver Dragon Necklace.
Then he took out the Instant Cast Staff.
The moment the lightning appeared, Ethan directly cast a Level 3 Spatial Gate in its path.
Bzzz!
The lightning entered the Spatial Gate and vanished instantly.
Only then did Bird One and the others finally understand what their lord had meant when he said they didn't need to worry about him.
So, a little lightning like this couldn't do anything to their lord at all.
"Just go first," Ethan said, staring straight at the center of the enormous thundercloud, "I spotted something good in there. I'd be a fool not to take it!"
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The thundercloud seemed to feel insulted and immediately fired three more bolts of lightning at him.
Ethan simply raised his hand and tapped the air three times.
"Level 3 Spatial Gate!"
Three Spatial Gates appeared.
The lightning accomplished nothing.
"Go!"
Ethan glanced at Bird One's group and pointed toward the spatial rift in the Gray Ore Mine.
After all, the thundercloud might not be able to deal with him, but it could certainly deal with his subordinates.
So until Bird One and the others escaped safely, he had to stay here and cover them, ready to cast Level 3 Spatial Gates at any moment to absorb the lightning.
Otherwise, Bird One and the others would probably turn into roasted birds before they even made it out of this damned place.
Of course, there was another important reason.
Ethan had already seen the opportunity the Scam God Statue mentioned.
Right in the middle of the thundercloud, a gigantic chessboard kept flashing.
Its description read:
[Chessboard: A mysterious object that fell out of the spatial turbulence. The chess pieces upon it have battled each other for thousands of years without stopping. Whenever a white piece collides with a black piece, thunder is produced.]
"So this entire thundercloud was caused by this strange chessboard?"
Ethan's eyes lit up.
He immediately used a Level 3 Spatial Gate and was about to reach through and grab the chessboard.
But then he decided it wasn't safe enough.
So... he took out a Ghost Hand, tied it to the Water Ghost's Hair, and made himself an extendable Ghost Hand.
Just like when he had fished treasure chests out of the hot spring long ago, he used his claw-machine skills.
"Go! Pikachu!"
The bluish-green Ghost Hand, which also gave off the smell of rotten seafood, shot straight into the Spatial Gate.