Lightning Is the Only Way

Gravis and Ferris traveled back to the Mountain of Pride. Before they went to the bulwark, they needed to ask the Empress for permission. After all, Gravis was still under the Realm Stop.

After they arrived at the Mountain of Pride, they didn't stop and simply flew up to the top of the mountain. Currently, only the Empress was on the mountain with the Grand Elder nowhere in sight. He probably also had things to do.

The Empress was surprised that Gravis returned so quickly. Had he caused trouble again? It had only been four years!

Yet, the Empress' eyes quickly turned from Gravis to the, now serious-looking, Ferris. First, her eyes squinted like she needed to take a closer look. Then, her head moved backward in surprise. After that, she closed her eyes and shook her head a little, and after opening her eyes again, she looked at Ferris again with an intense gaze.

Ferris felt a bit uncomfortable when the Empress looked at him like that while Gravis only smirked, but inside, he was laughing. Beasts could feel the pride and superior power of other beasts. Additionally, the Empress had probably also understood the Law of Danger since it was so common. She had surely been in her fair share of dangerous situations to become so powerful.

After some seconds, the Empress shook her head slightly like she couldn't believe what she was feeling.

"Elder Ferris, what happened to you?" she asked with her usual cold voice.

"I comprehended some Laws," Ferris answered neutrally and respectfully. His positive and excited demeanor was nowhere to be seen. Right now, he acted like a respectful Elder in front of their Emperor.

"How many?" The Empress asked.

"Five," Ferris answered.

The Empress' eyes widened in shock. Gravis noticed her reaction and managed to discern several things. Apparently, Ferris' rapid progress was not usual for Emperors. Gravis hadn't been sure if it was normal for Emperors to understand so many Laws in such a short amount of time, but judging by the Empress' reaction, it wasn't.

"Which ones?" the Empress asked. She appeared calm and prideful on the outside, but Gravis knew that she was agitated deep inside.

Ferris probably felt completely different to her. The last time Ferris appeared in front of her, he had only been a level one Emperor that was a tiny bit above average. Now, with a level three Law, he was probably the most powerful level one Emperor in the world. After all, how many level one Emperors managed to understand a level three Law?

"Steam, Wind move-"

"Steam?" the Empress interjected with shock. Elder Ferris had a fire affinity. Where did that Law of Steam suddenly come from?

"Yes, steam," Ferris answered with a serious voice.

"Why?" the Empress asked, truly confused.

taught me that it's bad to only focus

was that bad!? Additionally, if Ferris didn't concentrate on his Battle-Strength, how did he suddenly become so

icy gaze turned to Gravis. "Explain," she

shock. Right now, Ferris was looking at the Empress with a threatening stare, which shocked her to no

down," Gravis said from the side. "The Empress

realized that he had made a mistake. "Oh, okay," he said with his usual, excited self, but he quickly remembered that he was supposed to act respectfully in front of the

own Elders, who had been with her for over a thousand years, was ready to attack her after spending four years with Gravis. Where did all his usual loyalty suddenly

Empress look at him again. "Specialized Laws often require knowledge from completely different sources that don't seem connected to the

know a

a thing. One element was one element, and another one was another one. Yet, Gravis'

example of a Law to explain it better. This entire Law is a gigantic amalgamation of Laws from different elements. Then, after Ferris had understood the Law of Steam, I realized that the same thing was true for the smaller Laws. Ferris, could

steam than I had thought after looking at it. In my fights against beasts with the water element, I had seen a lot of steam from when our elements clashed. So, my understanding of the fire element

fell into thought. Yet, she was not evaluating if that claim were true or not. Right now, she was only trying to come to terms with the fact that she hadn't seen such an obvious connection

which was a rare show of emotion from her. "I see," she said silently, mainly to herself. "So, if our more powerful Laws can give us insights into other, weaker

said

the Empress said. Then, she turned back to Ferris. "What were the other

Hardening, Soul Infusion, and

air move upwards. Earth Hardening also made sense since fire could harden clay and similar materials. Yet, what about

didn't know of

alive things," Ferris explained. "With Soul Infusion, I

powerful. Such a power almost felt like it shouldn't exist. Transforming

level two

Ferris nodded.

have created the Living Fire by combining your Law of Fire Manipulation with your Law

Ferris nodded again.

comprehend a level three Law, something even she hadn't been able to comprehend. Ferris' status had shot up violently. From a normal Elder, he had risen to become a Pre-Ascender, a beast that was only missing food

this had happened way too suddenly. One of her Elders had become a Pre-Ascender. Yet, due to something else that had happened, the Empress

an eyebrow. "You have a powerful

some impact, sure, but don't

look at Gravis. "No, I'm not,"