Lightning Is the Only Way

Realm-Stop? Gravis hadn't heard that word before, but he could guess what it meant.

Additionally, did the Empress just say 100 years? That was twice his age!

Gravis took a deep breath. "What is a Realm-Stop?" he asked.

The Empress leaned back in her throne. "That means you are not allowed to kill, fight, or consume another beast for the next 100 years."

Gravis' body shuddered. He couldn't fight anyone for 100 years? Just the thought of it felt harrowing to him. He always felt stressed out when he wasn't constantly fighting, fearing that everyone else would overtake him. Yet, he had to stop for 100 years now?

"Why did you decide on such a harsh sentence?" Gravis asked. He first needed to know all the details before he jumped to conclusions. Right now, he felt shocked, angry, and suppressed again. He thought that this punishment was way too severe.

"Several reasons," the Empress said calmly, "but before we go into these reasons, we have something else to decide."

"Something else?" Gravis asked with furrowed brows.

The Empress nodded. "With that sentence, you are no longer considered a traitor. The sentence has been passed down with the committed crime in mind without considering anything else."

"Now, let's get to your rewards," the Empress said.

Gravis' head moved back in surprise. "Rewards?" he asked.

"You have managed to father three offspring that have already reached the power of a Lord. This is a major accomplishment, and such an accomplishment warrants a reward," the Empress said. "Additionally, your actions in the eastern defensive line have resulted in the defensive line moving without us having to send a Striking Squad."

"Then, you have killed several traitors in our ranks in the defensive line that had all been Kings. After that, you had uncovered more traitors when the enemy wanted to take you from the southern defensive line."

"In the Law Comprehension Area for Punishment Lightning, you managed to uncover a traitor with the power of an Emperor. This is, by far, the most outstanding of your accomplishments. Lastly, you have killed the traitorous squad leader of the Elite Striking Squad and another traitor from a defensive line," the Empress said.

"All of these accomplishments warrant rewards. Gravis," the Empress said, "I hereby grant you free access to every Law Comprehension Area available to my Empire for the next 100 years. Yet, your sentence of a Realm-Stop will still have to be completed. The reward and punishment will be given to you simultaneously."

"This means that for the next 100 years, you're not allowed to fight, kill, or consume any beast, but you will have free access to any Law Comprehension Area. This is my decision on this matter," the Empress said.

was shocked, and his mind was going

you are saying that I can increase my Law Comprehension and Battle-Strength in the next hundred years, but I'm not

said. "Now, let's speak

comfortable on her throne. Additionally, her oppressive aura receded until she only sat casually on the throne. The Grand Elder

are now,"

you mean?" Gravis asked

King or lord able to fight

really sure. "I would say everything,"

head. "It's

Lightning?" Gravis

nodded. "Exactly. You have told me how you managed to comprehend the Punishment Lightning, and you obviously didn't understand it yourself. This understanding has basically been forced upon you. This means that you have basically been granted a weapon that you shouldn't have had

accept, but the Empress was right. Gravis hadn't understood the Law

"We generally categorize Laws by levels. We have three levels of Laws that are known in

some Lords manage to comprehend. A rare few Lords manage to comprehend two of these, but most of the Lords never even understand a single Law until they become

combination of level one Laws. Only very few Kings manage to comprehend these Laws.

comprehend. If an Emperor manages to comprehend a third-level Law, they have a good shot at ascension. Without knowing a level three Law, the Emperor won't be able to kill a Strider and therefore also won't get enough food to

Punishment Lightning is a Law on the third level,"

his Punishment Lightning, but the Empress continued before he

them, you can kill them. Now, if you would actually win in this situation is another discussion, but, at least, you have a shot at victory. This

wouldn't even be able to really injure a beast two levels above yourself. By using your Lightning

He

above oneself is impossible for every other beast," the Empress explained. "It's not a matter about how much they have fought in their lives or how many

an opponent. With enough Laws, they might be able to become faster,

so far?" the Empress

I wouldn't be able to even injure a beast three levels above myself, let alone actually kill them. The gap is just

nodded. "Now, let me tell you something that you

Gravis listened intently.

breakthrough, but some Kings that are not