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.

that," Orpheus

he only had eight children. That wasn't because he didn't want more, but that his

interested in getting to know someone new right now. After all, he had to focus on the middle world. That's why he didn't

some hours of talking, his mother clapped into her hands. "Time

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.

Whoop!

small, rectangular things appeared on the table. Gravis saw them and immediately felt some warmth course through

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

knew that this was the perfect

them," she

shrugged. "I also

up

father said, seemingly

bit as they saw that. Even the Opposer

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

tree as she overlooked a crowd of bowing beasts. Apparently, Skye had managed to create a circle of friends

a long time, and now, she was part

and the violent

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

beautiful tree. 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 guessed that they were friends, judging by their expressions

a smirk. Gravis laughed again when he saw that. He still remembered the fight between Old Man

Joyce, fighting a many-kilometer-tall golem with blood all over her body.

won, right?"

answered. "This was probably the hardest fight of

have become

again. "You are the weakest of all your friends

was happy for them. They had

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

a fake-angry voice. "I'm your mother! That's

just look at the picture and think about his friends. They have already

turn," Orpheus said as he

Whoop! Plop!