Lightning Is the Only Way

Gravis had never heard of the bulwark before. By definition, a bulwark was a defensive wall or just a very fortified position. It sounded more like a bulwark would refer to the defensive line, but apparently, it didn't.

"It's a defensive line made out of plants," Ferris answered.

Gravis blinked a couple of times. "I was wondering why I saw so few powerful plants. Are they all in this bulwark?" Gravis asked.

"Most of them, yeah," Ferris answered. "Plants can't really move, which makes it hard for them to survive in most areas. Beasts that fight a plant and feel like they would lose simply run away and the plant can't do anything about it. That makes it hard for plants to get food and become more powerful."

"Then, how did this bulwark form?" Gravis asked.

"Our ancestors created it," Ferris answered with his usual excitement. "We have been fighting the sea beasts for forever, and keeping the defensive lines working takes up a loooot of beasts. So, they decided to create a defensive line with only plants. With that, we can send more beasts to other places."

Gravis nodded. "Makes sense. Where is that bulwark?" he asked.

"At the core of the world," Ferris answered. "A third of our area near the Grand Lake is being protected by the bulwark, with us taking care of the remainder."

"Grand Lake? What's that?" Gravis asked.

Ferris was a bit taken aback. "You don't know what the Grand Lake is? That's weird! Everybody knows," Ferris said.

Gravis sighed. "Just tell me, Ferris," Gravis said helplessly.

"Sure thing," Ferris answered with a smile. "The Grand Lake is the very core of the world. It's about 200,000 kilometers wide, encompassing the entire core of the world."

Gravis furrowed his brows. "I thought us land beasts were more powerful than the sea beasts. How come the most important territory is completely underwater? Shouldn't it be like 75% land and 25% sea?" Gravis asked.

and sea are distributed like that, yes,

territory into land if we're more powerful?"

there," Ferris answered simply. "They

impossibly powerful "cows" he had seen from the Mountain of Pride. In fact, when Gravis looked to the north, he could even see them from here. These Striders were all so powerful

when he had been on the Mountain of Pride. Yet, the Striders were simply too gigantic.

tried to do anything to the Grand Lake, a Strider

live in the Grand Lake?" Gravis

of them!" Ferris said. "It's their headquarters, and their Ultimates live

Striders don't

long as you are not a threat to them, don't touch their water, or don't attack them, they simply ignore

Striders aren't there to kill beasts but

must be powerful if it can defend such

"One of our Ultimates

of our Ultimates is a plant?" Gravis asked in

the plants are on our side, that Ultimate counts as one

they assign themselves genders as soon as they become Lords or something like that?

Laws?" Gravis asked. If the Plant Empress was an Ultimate, it meant that she didn't

and kinda don't," Ferris asked with an uncertain voice as he

elaborate?" Gravis

kinda learn their Laws automatically with age and

said as he scratched his chin. "How long has the Plant Empress lived

50,000 years or so," Ferris

eyes widened. "But Emperors only have a longevity of 10,000 years!" Gravis said

Ferris to become shocked. "We do!? I didn't know that!" he