Lightning Is the Only Way

After around an hour, the liquid vanished. Gravis quickly cleaned off the remaining moisture from his body and the room with his lightning. "Well, seems like this trial is done too. I guess it's time for waiting again," he said while cracking his neck.

The stele in the middle of the room vanished, but the door didn't open. "Waiting it is then," Gravis said. "The beginning of the Heaven's Trial was rather exciting, but everything since then was just a bother or boring. I would have expected more out of you, Heaven."

No answer came.

After that, Gravis summoned the body tempering pills that he had gotten from Manuel earlier and started consuming them. After eating all of them, his body reached 33% of the Self Stage's requirements. After that, it was back to training. Just like with the last trial, Gravis spent his time trying to control the output of lightning with the will-sphere, dodging lightning bolts from the Growth, and fine-tuning his control over his strength.

Like this, eight months passed.

CRRRR!

The door opened, and Gravis opened his eyes. "Finally," Gravis said in exasperation. "Honestly, are you trying to bore me to death, Heaven?" Gravis asked. "I already spent over a full fucking year in this Heaven's Trial, and what happened during that time? I fought a guy. That's all."

Gravis stepped through the door, which quickly closed behind him. 'I'm about 93% of the way to the Tree Stage. In total, reaching the Tree Stage would have taken around 15 months. Reaching the Self Stage would probably also take around 20 months or so. At that point, I could reach the Unity Realm whenever I want. So, I would barely be 22 when I return to my homeworld. Six years, huh?'

After a while, Gravis reached another small hall. Like before, his group was already waiting for him. Joyce jumped forward and hugged Gravis. "You're still alive! Thank goodness," she said. "Thank you so much again for your training. Without it, I wouldn't be alive anymore."

Gravis was a little taken aback by the sudden hug, but he quickly pushed her gently away. "As I said, it's nothing. Don't mention it."

Joyce pouted a little when Gravis pushed her away, but she didn't really care. Her pouting was more playful than angry. Now, Gravis finally had time to inspect the group. Joyce's Will-Aura had become more powerful, and she was already in the process of concentrating it. She probably could only compress it to about 97% or something, but it was a start.

When Gravis saw Manuel, he smirked. Manuel had also managed to condense a Unity Will. He was an Ascender's Talent, and he had already been close to condensing one before. Together with two trials that had been perfectly tailored to him, condensing a Unity Will wasn't anything special to him.

Claude, the lightning disciple, had a fully condensed Will-Aura now. Only a little more tempering, and he would also condense a Unity Will. The darkness disciple was still a bit off from a fully condensed Will-Aura, but his Will-Aura was powerful enough to reach the Sapling Stage.

able to reach the Tree Stage. This was very impressive for a group. Apparently, Heaven really treated the group kindly. Those three would probably become the most powerful

was your trial?" Gravis

said with a chirpy tone. "The second trial was

an eyebrow. "Cultivators?" he

against each puppet and then again in teams in every possible configuration multiple times. All the puppets had different

powerful, the enemies also became more powerful. I think it's impossible to find any better tempering in this

different strengths and weaknesses, but there was still a significant difference between the two

puppets mimicking humans and the other featured beasts, but that the puppets were just that, puppets. They lacked the originality, will, drive, and emotion of a living thing. They were great at the beginning, but Gravis was sure that he would find common weaknesses across all puppets after some

even better than this. The more tempering Gravis went through, the more he realized how lucky he had been to be born with such a background. Saying that he had

he wouldn't have been able to achieve such power. 'Background is also a kind of strength. It can

Poke!

focus as someone poked his forehead. "Hey, you're spacing out again!" Joyce said. "Is something

I was just lost in thought," Gravis said with a bit

"You've been doing this ever since I met you again in the Core-Continent. Are you really sure that

rolled his eyes. "Yes. I am

She always said what was on her mind. Some people might find that attitude rude and invasive, but they

can't be helped if you're just slow in the head,"

his

yes," Joyce interrupted with a dismissive wave of her hand.

head, but then he saw her smirk. Then, Gravis sighed and also smirked. 'Okay, she got

and immediately, the whole mood in the hall changed. It changed from relief and lighthearted amusement

BANG!

in anger.

WHOOM!