Lightning Is the Only Way

The Tribe remained silent for several seconds. Had the Sea Commander died just like that?

"YEEEAAAHH!" and then, the whole Tribe cheered, including the Sea Camp. Everyone hated Shira. She was dangerous to the Land Camp and just as dangerous to the Sea Camp.

If it had been two months ago, the Sea Camp would have felt devastated. After all, back then, they had believed that the Land Camp wanted to eradicate the Sea Camp. Yet, in these two months, with Shira's absence, they had come more into contact with the Land Beasts.

Over these two months, the Sea Camp realized that they weren't the Land Camp's enemy. The real enemy of the Land Camp was Shira. With Shira's death, the Land Camp and Sea Camp would no longer be enemies.

During this time, the Sea Camp and Land Camp got to know each other better. By now, they had acknowledged the other side's power, and with power came respect. With Shira's death, the enmity between the Camps would also die.

While all of this was going on, Gravis started growing. He had absorbed Shira's full power, and, finally, he had enough to reach the Early Unity Realm. His body shook, and in just one minute, he grew to be around six meters tall.

When Gravis' breakthrough was over, he only sighed. 'The internal pressure of the Tribe has lessened with Shira's death. Also, I need to forge new weapons for my new size. Well, I have enough ore for that, at least,' Gravis thought.

Gravis had a humongous amount and variety of ores inside his Spirit Space. After all, he and the fungus had regularly searched for ores. By now, he had also developed a feeling regarding the different kinds of ores. He only needed to smelt a new ore twice to immediately know how it worked.

"So, Shira's dead," Silva commented from the side.

Gravis nodded. "I wanted to keep her alive for you, but she decided to attack me. Sorry about that," Gravis said.

"Don't mention it," Silva said with a sigh. "It just feels kind of… empty to me. She had been my goal, and suddenly, my goal is just gone."

Gravis only lightly hit Silva's side. "She was just a temporary goal anyway. Isn't becoming stronger and protecting your companions the purest goal? Just strive for that instead," Gravis said with a smirk.

Silva sighed again. "I guess I could do that, but it feels different."

"That's because there is not as much pressure anymore. You've grown used to the benefits that constant pressure gives you. Now, the survival of the Land Camp is secure, even without you. Wasn't Shira's threat the only reason why you even decided to stay inside the River Tribe?" Gravis asked.

Silva thought back to the day when he had decided to join the River Tribe. Gravis was right. Silva had only joined the River Tribe because he couldn't watch as all his companions would die to her. He had been completely against the philosophy of the River Tribe back then.

"So, you can leave if you want," Gravis said with a smirk.

play games with me," he silently said. "You know exactly that I can't return to my previous self after seeing

now you have to

with interest at

After all, Shira had been right. This was exactly what I wanted her to do. With a greedy and sneaky snake constantly at

know that something like this would happen from the very beginning?"

had enough power

should do right now. I don't even know how I can

you don't need to worry

surprise at Gravis

said with a smirk. "Our Tribe has been constantly attacking and killing other Tribes. We have probably already decimated several Tribes associated with powerful Tribes or Kingdoms. In the coming

you need to fight those intruders. You haven't realized it

a bit more. "After all, we're arriving

a deep breath. Like this, all the

threat to me anymore. So, if two level three Lords attack, you have to deal with them. If you can't, I will just watch how the

just watch as the entire River Tribe was killed?" This was utterly

Tribe is there to create pressure for us. I have never put any kind of rule on any beast that forbade them from leaving. If you want, you can tell it to the whole Tribe. Whoever wants to leave can

most beasts won't leave with me after seeing their own power increase like that. Aren't you doing the same thing that Shira has

his head. "No. I don't target the Tribe specifically. I just let everything take its course. Either the Tribe is powerful enough to rule the world, or it will die trying. I don't know if the Tribe has that capability unless I let it take its course. Either you follow me on this path, or you abandon it and take

Gravis smiled. "Of course, I will consider you a friend either way,"

he listened to Gravis' words. Gravis gave the beasts every freedom. The members of the River Tribe were powerful enough to create their own Tribe. On top of that, they were way above average in

hegemons of their own Tribe and rise to power. Yet, nearly no beast inside the

you give the beasts of the Tribe so much

the most important thing to me, and if I don't grant others that freedom, I don't deserve it myself. Suppressing others while being

he didn't sigh out of helplessness but because he had made a decision. "Then I will use that freedom to convince as many beasts to leave the River Tribe. At the rate we're going, we will sooner

deaths. If they decide to stay, I will let them stay. After all, they are their own beasts with their own decisions. Yet, I want them to realize the whole picture and what could

true freedom. Go ahead and do whatever you want. If you believe your path is better, then follow it to the

was basically going against Gravis with this decision, and he would have preferred an

sorry," Silva said. Then, he

asked as he came closer