Arin's new atmosphere thickened over the next few days.
Hot volcanic gases rose, cooled, condensed, and then rose again.
Storm clouds swirled violently across his sky — massive, dark, and crackling with energy.
He watched them form with curiosity.
"…So this is what early planetary weather is like?"
The swirling clouds churned faster and faster.
Ash mixed with steam.
Dust fused with molten particles.
Static electricity built until his entire sky felt like a charged wire.
And then—
CRAAACKKK!!
A blinding streak of white-blue lightning ripped across his atmosphere.
Millions of volts discharged instantly, tearing through the sky and slamming into his molten surface.
BOOOOMMMM!!
Arin felt it.
"O-OH— WHAT THE— THAT HURT!!"
More lightning followed, dancing across the sky like enraged serpents.
KRAAAK!!
BOOOOM!!
CRRRRAAAASH!!
Arin screamed internally.
"STOP HITTING ME! WHY AM I GETTING PUNCHED BY THE WEATHER!?"
The system chimed.
And Arin knew it was going to be stupid before it even spoke.
[Notice: Host is attacking himself.]
Arin froze.
"…what?"
[Notice: Host is continuously punching himself with electric-element attacks.]
"I— WHAT!? SYSTEM I'M NOT ATTACKING MYSELF, IT'S LIGHTNING!"
[Recording collected: Host self-harm attempt ×1]
"NO, NO, NO, NO— DELETE THAT!"
[Recording collected: Host electric punching his own body ×999+]
[Recording collected: Host repeatedly shocking himself ×5421]
[Recording collected: Host practicing electric martial arts alone ×211]
"ELECTRIC MARTIAL ARTS!? I'M A PLANET HAVING A STORM!"
But the system was proud:
[Notice: Sufficient self-punching records gathered.]
[Generating skill…]
Arin braced for stupidity.
[Skill generation successful.]
[Skill Generated: Shock Resistance]
{Effect: Host takes 1% less damage from electric-element punches.}
Arin stared blankly at the void.
"…No. I refuse. Not 'shock resistance.' Not 'electric punches.' I'm being hit by LIGHTNING. NORMAL PLANETARY PHENOMENON!"
[Host should stop punching himself.]
"I'M NOT—"
More lightning struck his surface.
CRACK!! → BOOOOOM!!
Arin yelled:
"STOP ELECTRIC-PUNCHING ME, SKY!"
The system beeped again.
[Notice: Host is shouting at himself.]
[Recording saved.]
"…I swear. I SWEAR I'm going to uninstall you."
But even while Arin raged, something else caught his attention.
The lightning… felt good.
Not emotionally.
Not mentally.
Physically.
His molten crust hardened slightly in the shock zones.
Minerals fused.
The first solid rocks began to form.
"…Wait. Is this lightning helping me cool and evolve?"
[Notice: Host is praising himself.]
[Recording saved.]
Arin rolled his metaphorical eyes.
"Fine. Whatever. Let the system think I'm doing martial arts on myself."
He watched lightning continue to dance across his sky.
Every strike helped shape him.
Every flash stabilized his forming crust.
Every boom carved his future landmasses.
"I guess this is the beginning of real weather…"
He looked at his dark swirling clouds.
"…And maybe the beginning of oceans too."
Far above him, thunder rumbled like distant laughter.