Lightning Is the Only Way

"We'll assault the land," Gravis said to Shira. "Do you already have a plan in mind?"

Gravis wasn't sure, but he thought that he saw Shira smirk.

"This is not the first time I've been part of something like this," she said. "I know how these raids go, and generally, they go horribly."

"How come?" Gravis asked. He already had some answers in mind, but he wanted to be sure. Shira had first-hand experience in these things.

"Adaptation and strategy," Shira answered. "We are not adapted to fight on land. Additionally, the common strategy is a war of attrition. We just send beasts into the enemy until either they die, or we die."

Gravis nodded. "That's indeed a stupid strategy. What's your idea of a better one?"

"Using the Water Makers," Shira answered. "Water Makers are beasts with an affinity with earth. They are very rare, but their skills are invaluable. After the war ends, they can lower the ground and distribute it over a wider area. Because of that, the lowered ground gets flooded with water."

Shira knew that Gravis wasn't from here. So, she had explained the concept of a Water Maker to him. Gravis was a bit surprised about the Water Makers' affinity. By the name, he had expected that they had an affinity with water, not earth. Yet, the explanation of Shira made sense.

"But that isn't so simple, right?" Gravis asked.

"Yes. Water Makers are rare and, therefore, valuable. Sending them in while we're still fighting is putting them at risk. That's why they generally only come after the fighting is finished."

Gravis nodded. "And I guess the beasts on land have beasts that can do the same, correct?"

"Of course," Shira answered. "Additionally, beasts with an affinity for earth are more numerous on land. They create high walls and mountains to make it harder for us to fight. In general, the land dwellers don't do invasions but counterattacks."

the invasion from the sea exhausts itself, they can take another territory by attacking. Yet, this forces them

are fewer beasts on our level among the land dwellers. This means that we

his brows. "But isn't the continent in the center of the world

The fact that

true for beasts on our level. We have a far bigger territory with less Natural Essence while the continent is smaller with more Natural Essence. This means that we have more beasts on our level

and Kings aren't interested in territories

the power of their followers. After all, when we lose, we leave behind a lot of meat for

He remembered the map that his father had shown him of the world. There was a stretch of ocean that even touched the

beasts to reclaim that part of the ocean. Yet, they didn't. This could only mean one thing. There was at least one very powerful beast able to resist

to use

conquering very small territories and defending them. The Water Makers will lower the land

furrowed his brows. "This is a better strategy, yes, but there is

like it when someone questioned her craftiness. "Which is?" she asked with a hint of

of water, they might go to the shore and attack the territory behind us. At that point, we would be stuck in that thin

she wasn't sure what she could do against such a counterattack. Sadly, her

to become powerful, you need to

"Explain," she said icily.

the you from ten years ago is as smart

course not," Shira answered as

future will also

stopped glaring and fell into

in the future can look down on the current you means that you still have room to grow. You pride yourself in your intellect, but there are beasts just as intelligent as you that have the advantage of experience, and

Shira wasn't immediately convinced. Doing that felt like lowering herself to the level of common, stupid beasts. How could their plan be better than