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.

me that it's bad to only focus on Laws that increase my Battle-Strength," Ferris

How was that bad!? Additionally, if Ferris didn't concentrate on his Battle-Strength, how

turned

before Gravis could answer, the Empress' gaze suddenly snapped back to Ferris with shock. Right now, Ferris was looking at the Empress with a threatening stare, which shocked

said from the side. "The Empress

with his usual, excited self, but he quickly remembered that he was supposed to act respectfully in front of the Empress and composed himself again. Apparently, he had completely forgotten that he had just looked at

Empress. One of her 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

again. "Specialized Laws often require knowledge from completely different sources that don't seem connected to the Law in any

learn about steam, you need to know a bit about fire. You don't need to know a lot, just a little bit. The same thing is true for

and another one was another one. Yet,

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

after looking at it. In my fights against beasts with the water element, I had seen a lot of steam from when

if that claim were true or not. Right now, she was only trying to come to terms with

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 Laws, the weaker

said with

lot to think about, Gravis," the Empress said. Then, she turned back to Ferris. "What

Hardening, Soul Infusion, and Living Fire,"

move upwards. Earth Hardening also made sense since fire could

she didn't know of such a

Ferris explained. "With Soul Infusion, I can take my

very ethereal and powerful. Such a power almost felt like it shouldn't exist. Transforming something

presume that's a level

Ferris nodded.

the Living Fire by combining your Law of Fire Manipulation with your Law of Soul

Ferris nodded again.

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

had become a Pre-Ascender. Yet, due to something

Empress looked at Gravis intensely, making him raise an eyebrow. "You have

with Ferris had some impact, sure, but don't you think you

simply continued to look at Gravis. "No,