Lightning Is the Only Way

"There is no one willing to battle with you anymore, Gravis," the Empress transmitted with some annoyance. "Last time, only the wolf was ready to battle you, and I doubt that anyone wants to fight with you now."

Gravis grimaced when he heard that. "Okay, but are there maybe some other outstanding level five Lords around? I really need some tempering," he asked.

The Empress sighed again as she massaged the bridge of her nose with her fingers. "Why do you want to temper yourself so badly? I don't get it. You are not ready to learn a new Law, but you still want to gamble with your life. What's the reason?" she asked.

"Well," Gravis answered. "You saw that aura that made my first opponent slow down?" he asked.

The Empress nodded.

"This aura only grows by putting my life on the line. The only reason why it even has such a strong suppressive effect on a beast a whole level higher than me is that I have tempered myself a lot already. If I don't keep tempering myself, eventually, it will become less useful."

The Empress remained silent for a bit as she thought about what Gravis just told her. "I've never heard of something like this, but your powers are strange to begin with. What's your plan? Why do you want to temper yourself now?"

"Well, as long as I manage to increase it some more, I might be able to win against a King while I'm a level four Lord," Gravis admitted. "If I don't increase it now, I'll have to wait until I'm a level five Lord to fight a level one King."

For some reason, the Empress sighed again. Gravis had no idea why she reacted like this.

"Gravis," she transmitted, "even if your strange aura becomes more powerful, you will still have no chance against a level one King. Think about it. The most outstanding level five Lords in this event can fight two levels above themselves. Yet, not even one of them says they can fight a level one King, even though, theoretically, a level one King is two levels above them. Why is that?"

Gravis didn't know why. He had seen the talent of the level five Lords. They all knew Laws that increased their Battle-Strength significantly. Why weren't they able to battle level one Kings?

"I don't know, actually," Gravis transmitted. "I don't have much knowledge about the higher Realms since the Red King is the first King I've ever met. Obviously, due to our relationship, he didn't tell me anything."

that. "You have had no guidance from any Empire or Kingdom?"

this fact because Gravis' Battle-Strength and experience in battle were too powerful for some beast that hadn't received any guidance. Had Gravis achieved all of this power

me, and all these Lords had been either my friends

made some sense now. After all, he

The only Tribe I had been a part of was one that

came and went daily. An enemy invading a Tribe and eradicating it with only the Tribe Leader surviving

continuing the conversation, the Empress looked at the other beasts. Hundreds of Kings and Lords were still waiting for her to do anything. They

talking about. As long as the Empress didn't order anything else, they

First of all, I need to end this whole matter," the Empress

to the present Kings and Lords. "The competition is over," she announced. "Gravis will

were surprised about that. Gravis had proven his power, and it was only natural that he would be chosen. Feelings like entitlement were incredibly rare among

Kings will all receive the standard reward. The Grand

me what kind of rewards you want," the

again. The Kings were probably all talking with the Grand Elder via voice transmission. After some seconds,

the Empress, the white ape, the Red King, Gravis, and the

army Commanders. They have gone through many such meetings and know what to do.

part

element, which can transform into ice. She also has comprehended the Law of Pride. So, I guess calling the Empire Icy Pride

so many several-kilometer-long beasts flying into one direction looked quite imposing. A human Sect

on top of the Mountain of Pride: The Empress, the white ape, the

their size. Gravis had already seen the true size of the Red King, which was gigantic. He also wondered if the white ape and the

"You have brought an outstanding mate for me. Tell me,

the Infernal