Lightning

"Lightning is weak and lightweight, but it has high muzzle velocity, is easy to hit with, and is good for chipping away at the enemy."

- Ken Satori about Lightning.

Lightning (ライトニング) is a Sniper Trigger.

Appearance
Lightning is light in color, except for the barrel and the pistol grip. Overall, it has a futuristic design, with a squared-off forestock extending well past the muzzle and matched by a similar protrusion on top of the barrel, making it vaguely similar to a railgun, Lampyris's in particular. Unlike the other Sniper Triggers, it has a digital scope located on the left side which automatically frames the target in a hexagon, in addition to displaying other information.

Overview
Since Haruaki Azuma was Border's first Sniper, this Trigger could not have existed until four years prior to Yūma's enlistment.

Abilities
Lightning is the fastest Sniper Trigger, boasting excellent muzzle velocity, with average, but good, range, rate of fire and lightness (due to which it can be shot while on the move), but lacking bullet power. Consequently, it is the only sniper rifle that can be stopped with a normal Shield, and in fact its shots have been effortlessly blocked with Shields with a much wider surface than that necessary to deflect Egret. It is primarily used to chip away at the enemy. This is made possible by its relatively high rate of fire, which is the highest among Sniper Triggers, and which allows the user to fire multiple shots in rapid succession, enabling them to injure even on guarding opponents and to provide cover fire, even at the range of a Gunner. Exceptionally skilled Snipers are capable of feats such as hitting multiple Meteor projectiles shot with a grenade launcher before they reached the ground.

According to Reiji Kizaki, Border Sniper Triggers are very well made, so if the wielder has good aim, they will not miss. In particular, Lightning is known to be easy to hit with thanks to its muzzle velocity. When used by someone with high trion levels, its bullet speed is increased even further. Weather conditions that impair Egret's effectiveness, such as low visibility preventing long-range sniping, are not as meaningful when using Lightning. As the lightest and wieldiest sniper rifle, it can be used to shoot while on the move.

Users
See also: Lightning Users

Lightning has 11 users among official agents, excluding those members of branches who do not participate in Rank Wars. Among them Chika Amatori is notable for combining Lightning with Lead Bullet, a tactic only she, thanks to her masive amount of trion, is able to utilize in combat. Akane Hiura also used Lightning while she was a Border agent.

Trivia

 * Excluding Chelidon's arm cannon form, Lightning is the only firearm Trigger in the series not to have a real-life counterpart.