Lightning Is the Only Way

Manuel fought against the three enemies in quite an impressive manner. Sure enough, he was the most powerful one in the group. He was not only using his attacks as attacks but also as distractions and feints.

His fighting style was different from Gravis' but nearly as effective. Maybe his fighting style was even better for him. After all, he had a different element with different strengths and weaknesses. Nero had also shown a different fighting style that had worked very well.

When Gravis saw that, he rubbed his chin in thought. 'My fighting style might be the best one for Destruction Lightning, but maybe not the best one for other elements,' he realized. The others learned from him, but he also learned from the others.

"Hey, how can I find you in the higher world?" Joyce suddenly asked Gravis while Manuel was still fighting.

Gravis turned to Joyce and sighed. He had already realized that she was romantically interested in him. Sadly, he couldn't accept that. He had already told her the possibility of Heaven using his loved ones to force him to stop cultivating. She should know that Gravis couldn't risk entering a romantic relationship due to that.

"I won't enter your higher world," Gravis said, surprising Joyce.

"You won't? You can choose which world you go to?" she asked.

Gravis nodded. "Others might not, but I have the ability to choose my world. I have already learned enough about the elements, and my core-path is set. Remaining in elemental worlds would not allow me to see a wider horizon."

Joyce looked with complicated sadness at Gravis. She was very interested in Gravis, but she also knew that Gravis would never accept a confession from her side. Just like Gravis knew that she was interested in him, she knew that Gravis wouldn't accept her.

wasn't that Gravis didn't feel anything for Joyce. Actually, the complete opposite was true. If he didn't have any feelings for her, he wouldn't be so careful with her. If he had no interest in her, it would go down similarly as with the

Joyce would directly confess her love.

that you will leave us very soon. I also know that there is basically no chance of us ever meeting again. I know all that, yet I still talk and try to get close to you. Do you know why?" she

Gravis didn't answer.

limited time before you leave. Yes, the parting will be painful, but I think I would regret it

insides shook a little, but he didn't show anything outside. "What of your path forward? Are you not afraid of stopping because of these feelings?" he

looks different. That's what we

deep inside, some kind of pain appeared. Grieving? The last time that happened had been with Gorn. Ever since then, no matter who died, Gravis never grieved. He just swallowed all the emotions and told himself that he was cold and

was still inside the Heaven's Trial, and the fifth trial would probably be another really dangerous one for him. He would have all the time to come clean

would say something along the lines of that his goal was most important and nothing else mattered. Yet, Gravis remained silent. For the first time, Gravis didn't appear like the all-powerful, always decisive

who was very in tune with her emotions, had some tears come out of her eyes because of Gravis. "Why?" she asked slowly. "Why are you so uncertain of your path as soon as emotions

how he should explain the situation. He wasn't even completely sure if he understood his

hurt. It was almost like she

involuntarily. Joyce didn't feel bad for herself, but for the pain that Gravis was suppressing. Many more

wasn't acting cold because he didn't care about others, but acting cold was the only way for him to not get hurt. Humans were not unthinking machines. Sure, there would be some humans that genuinely didn't feel for others, but Gravis wasn't such a

shy boy she had met back in the Hunting Guild was just an innocent kid. Afraid of going through the pain of more close ones dying, that kid shut itself away from the outside. It built a wall so that no one

why? Why suppress all the pain? Why don't you just accept it? I swear, it

but he was inexperienced when it came to his emotions. "Maybe, maybe not. Honestly, I don't