Alex remained suspended within the golden bolt, every fiber of his being caught in that divine torrent. Time seemed to stretch—no more than five seconds had passed, but each one felt like an eternity of shattering pain and rebirth. His muscles tore and reknit around crackling veins of lightning; bones splintered only to fuse anew under the storm's relentless hammer. A Legend-rank feat, yet here he stood, a Grandmaster defying every expectation.
He clenched his teeth, silent against the agony. Each breath was a battle; each heartbeat a drum of defiance. He willed the lightning to bend to him, to obey his fractured flesh and focused mind. But the bolt's fury was overwhelming: he had absorbed sixty-five percent of its raw power, and already his form trembled on the brink of collapse. If he did nothing, unconsciousness would claim him.
Then, with the last reserve of his shattered will, Alex unleashed his Domain.
Domain: Paragon of Lightning
