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 said

most of the time. Apparently, he only had eight children. That

he had to focus on the middle world. That's why he didn't bring his family with him. The party might feel a bit empty with only four people present, but to Gravis, this was his

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

smiled. He was impressed that his mother could still be so excited after she had lived for such a long time. It was awe-inspiring that she managed to find happiness and meaning in her long life. Wasn't this what everyone wished

Whoop!

Gravis saw them

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

that

your father to make them," she said as she pointed at

just shrugged. "I also thought it

I came up with it!" his mother

it was your idea," his father said, seemingly with a

that. Even the Opposer had someone that could force

things were pictures. Yet, they were not just any pictures. They were all pictures of

sitting atop a gigantic tree as she overlooked a crowd of bowing beasts. Apparently,

remained lonely for a long time, and now, she was part of an organization. On top of that, she was

and the violent storm

picture depicted Aion stumbling over some treasure and groaning. When Gravis saw that, he had to laugh a bit. Aion was probably the only human that groaned when stumbling

Judging by the looks of the people, they all had different elements. Yet, they all wore the same robes. Nero was now part of an organization with people of different elements. Gravis also

he saw that. He still remembered the fight between Old

all over her body. Yet,

won, right?" Gravis

answered. "This was probably the

"They have become

again. "You are the weakest of all

was happy for them. They had already continued on their

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

mother shouted in a fake-angry voice.

he could just look at the picture and think about his friends. They have already gone further than him. So, what would stop

turn,"

Whoop! Plop!