Lightning Is the Only Way

Gravis thought about what the Empress had said for a while. 'I'm absolutely sure that no human would get something like that as soon as they reach the Nascent Nourishing Realm. Father said that there is some kind of secret weapon that humans get when they reach the Nascent Nourishing Realm, but this surely isn't it.'

Gravis looked at the horizon with narrowed eyes. 'I think this is another one of Heaven's ways to keep the beasts powerful enough to serve as tempering. The beasts probably don't have access to this secret weapon that humans have, which is why Heaven bestows a Law upon the beasts.'

'Additionally, for beasts that haven't come into contact with the Laws before, understanding a Law might give them the start they need to understand more. I'm pretty sure that Heaven teaches the Laws differently than when I have absorbed the Punishment Lightning. Otherwise, this would make no sense,' Gravis thought.

Then, Gravis looked at the Empress again. "I've got another question."

"Go ahead," the Empress said. She didn't really mind talking to Gravis. After all, the whole matter with the competition had passed, and now she had way too much time on her hands again.

"Are there situations where beasts immediately die as soon as they become Kings?" Gravis asked.

The eyes of the Empress widened. "How did you know?" she asked.

Gravis had already put his armor away and scratched his chin in thought. "So, there is. That's what I have expected."

Gravis thought. 'The Law of Punishment Lightning has basically been granted to me by the lightning itself, not by Heaven. Father has said that this might make it harder for me to understand my

all, Heaven wants all the beasts to become powerful. Therefore, Heaven must transport the minds of the beasts into some kind of plane where they can fully concentrate on the Law

Laws. This means that some beasts just wouldn't be able to

"I asked you how you knew that." She had watched Gravis looking at the horizon for a while now, even though she had

at her. "I was lost in thought. I didn't

know about this, there is no way to extrapolate

"I have a lot of secrets, and I don't want to tell just anyone about

grew more annoyed. "I've been answering your questions with patience, but you say you can't answer my

workings of the world, but that knowledge is precious.

them. Yet, Gravis' powers and conduct

Empress asked. She had thought about threatening Gravis, but as far as

as he looked at the Empress. "There is something that has been bothering me for the longest time, and if you can accept this condition, I will tell you as much about my

force you to keep your secrets with me present? You said yourself that you are not part of any

face. "Sadly, that's part of my secrets. I

remembered that he was still a Lord. Why did it feel like she was speaking to an equal rather than someone way weaker than her? This whole situation felt surreal to

to her to concede to some Lord, but the potential gains may be worth