You create a bolt of black lightning that arcs toward a target of your choice that you can see within range. Four bolts then leap from that target to as many as four other targets, each of which must be within 30 feet of the first target. A target can be a creature or an object and can be targeted by only one of the bolts.

A target must make a Dexterity saving throw. The target takes 14d8 lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The target's hit point maximum is reduced by the damage it took. The reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0.