Lightning Is the Only Way

"Happy birthday, Gravis!" his mother shouted as she hugged him.

Currently, they were inside his father's room. It was pretty big and rather empty, something very fitting for a small get together.

"Happy birthday!" Orpheus said as he hit Gravis' shoulder with some force. Gravis felt his shoulder ache a bit, but he only smiled.

"Happy birthday," his father said evenly. For once, he wasn't sitting in the middle of the room but standing.

"Thank you all," Gravis said with a grin.

This was why he wanted to celebrate his birthday before leaving for the middle world. Who knew how long it would take for him to see his family again? He wanted one last memory with all of them together before he resumed his journey.

"23 and already in the Unity Realm while following the Will-Forging Path! That's really impressive, Gravis," Orpheus said as he hit Gravis on the shoulder again. "The earliest that people reach the Unity Realm while following the Will-Forging Path is 26, and that's incredibly rare."

"26, huh?" Gravis commented. "How do they reach the Unity Realm that quickly?"

"Mostly by getting artificial tempering experiences and a lot of pills," Orpheus said. "It's like the practical exam for Research Assistants, just longer and with more powerful opponents."

Gravis nodded. "Yet, they won't be able to learn about situations where they are hopelessly outclassed, even though they went through a lot of life and death dangers, right?" Gravis asked with furrowed brows.

"Right!" Orpheus said, "So, you have an additional advantage over these created geniuses. You went through genuine tempering. That's why I'm so proud of you!"

Gravis only grinned. "Thanks, brother," he said.

"I still remember when we met a little more than a year ago," Orpheus mused. "You just finished your first practical exam. You didn't even have your Will-Aura then. To be honest, I've expected that you wouldn't return from the lower world," Orpheus said with a sad voice.

"But no, you proved me terribly wrong," Orpheus said with a laugh. "You didn't only return, but you also managed to kill a lower Heaven. You have surpassed all my expectations."

"Yes, thank you," Gravis said back. He was a bit embarrassed by Orpheus' praise.

They all stood beside a relatively high table with food and beverages on it. Cultivators didn't need to eat, drink, or breathe, but that didn't mean that they didn't enjoy the occasional food or drink.

"Man, I've really missed your coffee, father," Orpheus said as he drank from his cup with a smile.

"It needs to be rare to be special," their father said with his usual, even tone.

Orpheus

things. Orpheus was talking about his job and his family most of the time. Apparently, he only had eight children. That wasn't because he didn't want more, but that his wife didn't want more. She first wanted

world. That's why he

hours of talking, his mother clapped into her hands. "Time for presents!"

a long time. It

Whoop!

appeared on the table. Gravis saw them and immediately felt some warmth course through his

did you get these?" he asked with surprise and a bit of shock as

that this was the perfect

to make them," she said as

his father, who just shrugged. "I

I came up

father said, seemingly

they saw that. Even the Opposer had someone

things and looked at it. All of these small things were pictures. Yet, they were not just any pictures. They were all pictures of

overlooked a crowd of bowing beasts. Apparently, Skye had managed to create a

Gravis saw that, he felt happy for Skye. She had remained lonely for a long time, and now, she was part of an organization. On top of that, she

lotus position, and the violent storm that destroyed everything around him didn't seem to affect him.

he had to laugh a bit. Aion was probably the only human that groaned when stumbling upon a treasure. His luck and laziness were the main reasons for

all wore the same robes. Nero was now part of an organization with people of different elements. Gravis also guessed that they were friends, judging by their

smirk. Gravis laughed again when he saw that.

of Joyce, fighting a many-kilometer-tall golem with blood all over her body. Yet, her expression only showed fiery determination

right?" Gravis

father answered. "This was probably the hardest

smiled. "They have become

"You are the weakest of

for them. They had already continued

Then, he put all the pictures into his Spirit Space. "Thanks, mom, father," he said as

his mother shouted in a fake-angry voice. "I'm your mother! That's my

really cherished this present. When he ever felt alone in the future, he could just look at the picture and think about his friends. They have already gone further than

turn," Orpheus said as

Whoop! Plop!