Lightning Is the Only Way

Nearly all the beasts had noticed what had happened. After all, the chieftain had stayed at the front, far away from everyone else, making her quite conspicuous. When Gravis killed her, they nearly all stopped breathing in shock. A mid-rank Spirit Beast had killed a Lord? That was impossible!

What would happen to them now? Were they supposed to stay and wait? Could they flee? What were they supposed to do?

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Gravis asked Orthar with a smirk.

"If the chieftain was confident enough in leading a raid-party towards the land with her strength, the opposition on the land shouldn't be something she couldn't deal with," Orthar answered.

Gravis' smirk widened, and he nodded. "Exactly. I've got a Unity Beast to eat now, but I need another one to reach the Unity Realm myself. I should be able to find a suitable one at the shore. After all, the beasts on land surely wouldn't keep their territory undefended."

Orthar looked at the stunned beasts behind them. "Do you intend to use them?" he asked.

"No," Gravis answered immediately. "I'm not a fan of forcing people or beasts into servitude. They can follow me if they want, but they don't have to."

"I'm glad to hear that, Gravis," Orthar said. "I'm also not a fan of forcing others to do my bidding as long as they didn't show aggression towards me."

"I think I should talk to them," Gravis said as he turned to the beasts. Not all the beasts were inside his Spirit's range, but most of them were.

When the beasts saw Gravis looking at them, they grew panicked. If they wanted to flee, this was their chance.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Many beasts suddenly started fleeing with all their powers into the distance while others decided to stay. It wasn't that they wanted to go on land, but that Gravis could probably kill the fleeing beasts. Acting against his potential wishes could doom them.

Yet, contrary to their expectations, Gravis didn't chase any of the beasts. He just let them leave. When the hesitating beasts noticed that, a lot of them also decided to flee. Invading the land? They were not suicidal! Their instincts screamed at them that there was danger, and they followed their directions.

After a minute, only around 10% of the beasts remained. Gravis grew interested in the fact that so many beasts stayed, even though invading the land was basically a death sentence. When he saw no more beasts fleeing, Gravis swam forward.

"It's interesting that you decided to stay," Gravis transmitted to them. "You know that the land has food for me and, therefore, is also enticing to me. Why did you decide to stay?"

Most of the beasts remained silent. They weren't even sure why they didn't flee. Maybe they were just too indecisive?

several seconds, no

do. You can leave, and I won't stop you. But you can also stay if you want. I have some

land was akin to suicide, but that was only true when they were forced to attack like a suicide squad. Every beast was

do you intend to attack?"

message he had received.

sneaky, and in control of the situation.

scratched his chin as he

an attack, but you look like you have a better idea. Otherwise, you wouldn't have

briefly peeked through its mouth. Right now, the snake was thinking about a lot of things at once.

actions. This threw all its plans into the trash. "Why are you asking me?" it

smirk intensified. He preferred speaking

the other beasts out of the loop. "I think your goal is power, but in a different

on," the snake said with narrowed eyes. This weird creature in front of it was scary. The snake had never been seen-through

enable you to rule over the others. You want respect, followers, riches, beautiful

that why every beast tries to become stronger?" the snake answered, not denying Gravis' claim. "They

wrong there," Gravis

"How am I

others. I want the power to be free and unconstrained. The lives of the weaker beasts are irrelevant

a lot of others chase power for different reasons. Revenge, freedom, riches, respect, protection, surviving, and

at the other beasts and was honestly thinking about these words. Normally, when someone just said something, the snake wouldn't start doubting

intelligence by seeing through its plan. Gravis

why you directly asked for my

"Yes. You probably wanted to take part in the invasion

interest. It couldn't understand this beast's reason for directly giving the snake part of its authority. This seemed like Gravis was giving away

don't care about ruling over others. I'm only interested in becoming powerful. I'm interested in freedom. Ruling over others will inherently force me to bend my will to their wellbeing. This

to no one," the

is," Gravis answered. "If you suppress everyone below you, they will feel stifled. As your following grows, the dissidents may start to overwhelm you and revolt. Maybe they will run to an enemy and

just kill