Black Lightning

After a month of work, Li Yan proudly invited Frieren to be the first rider of the machine he had developed.

"Can you really ride this?"

Frieren bit her lower lip and looked to Flamme for help. The thing looked unreliable at first glance, and she really didn't want to be its first test subject.

"Don't be scared. Just get on."

Li Yan patted Frieren on the shoulder reassuringly. Flamme nodded with a serious expression, while Little Fool watched curiously. If the young master hadn't called her out to watch, she would have been cleaning his room right now. Cleaning was a maid's most important duty.

"All right, I'll give it a try."

Frieren looked reluctantly at Li Yan's mechanical creation. Its black seat was somewhat soft, its exquisite tires gleamed black, and its paintwork was rather cool. It looked like a bolt of black lightning.

"I don't know how to ride it, Senior Brother."

Frieren carefully sat on the black seat and gripped the handlebars with both hands. Her face was full of fear and helplessness as she looked pitifully at her senior brother and master.

"You can do it, Junior Sister."

Li Yan gave her instructions with an encouraging look. As long as she kept pedaling, the black war chariot would show off its speed. She could also channel mana into it to push its speed to the limit.

"Ah, I feel like I could fall off at any moment."

Frieren bit her lower lip and gathered her courage to pedal. The next second, she lost her balance and toppled over. The black lightning instantly turned into a black weakling, finished before it had even started.

Smiling faintly, Li Yan used Space Magic to teleport to Frieren's side and steady her.

"That's how bicycles are. You'll get the hang of it with more practice."

Li Yan comforted her warmly. After spending a month on it, he had ultimately chosen to make a bicycle, the easiest thing to build. The black war chariot was too complicated, so the Black Lightning Bicycle was a good choice for building confidence.

"I don't want to try anymore."

Frieren leaned against Li Yan, looking utterly defeated, and stared blankly at the sky. Clearly, she had lost the confidence to get back on.

"Heh heh, looks like I'll have to show you how it's done."

The corners of Li Yan's mouth lifted slightly. He gripped the handlebars with both hands and put his feet on the black pedals. Once he had his balance, he put his strength to work, and in an instant, he sent the Black Lightning Bicycle racing off like a wild stallion.

In its normal state, the Black Lightning Bicycle was already twice as fast as an ordinary person running. When black lightning mode was activated, the boost from mana made it one and a half times as fast as an ordinary warrior.

Frieren's mouth fell slightly open as she watched Li Yan sprint about, ride in circles, use Spatial Movement, and perform tricks. To her, this object was something different, a novelty she had never seen before.

"Amazing."

"It really is a good means of transportation."

Drawing on her many years of experience, Flamme judged that this two-wheeled creation would not only make transportation much more convenient, but could also be used in human military and civilian affairs. It was a great advance for the era.

"Godmother, come try it. I'll hold it steady for you."

Li Yan stopped beside Flamme and gave her the seat and the handlebars used for steering.

"All right, I'll try."

Flamme took a small breath and gripped the handlebars as Li Yan had instructed. She sat on the black seat and put both feet on the pedals. Just as she was about to start riding, the black lightning crashed over.

"Godmother!"

Li Yan reacted quickly, catching Flamme before she could fall to the ground. With her soft, lovely body in his arms, he had to do his utmost.

"It really is somewhat difficult to handle. It's completely different from a carriage, though a little like riding a horse."

Lying in Li Yan's arms, Flamme analyzed it calmly.

"Godmother, you just need more practice. Practice makes perfect. It isn't very difficult."

Li Yan spoke gently, patting Flamme's back, worried that the fall had frightened her.

"I'm fine. I just didn't expect it to be so difficult to keep this thing balanced."

Flamme looked with some amusement at Li Yan's slightly tense face. She leaned close to his ear and said gently, "I don't think this is what you originally wanted to make, is it? I remember it had four wheels, like a carriage."

"Godmother, you still remember?"

Li Yan looked down at Flamme in surprise.

"Heh heh, everything about A Yan leaves a deep impression on me."

Flamme spoke proudly, like a little girl hoping for praise.

Looking like a listless salted fish, Frieren poked the Black Lightning Bicycle, which had fallen to the ground and been ignored. Flamme's failure had restored her confidence. She was sure she could ride for a few seconds longer next time.