Lightning Is the Only Way

The green sparrow introduced Gravis enthusiastically. Gravis was the pride of their region, a level four King that managed to beat an Emperor. There had been a select few beasts that managed to fight an Emperor as level five Kings, but they were the stuff of legends. There hadn't been one in millennia.

"How far has the southern region fallen?" a grey elephant said with disdain. "A measly level four King is already considered equal to an Emperor. You are really throwing away the last bits of respect I had for you."

Gravis furrowed his brows. He was pretty sure that the whole continent knew about him by now. Additionally, did that elephant just comment on the southern region? Did this mean that there were regions?

"Don't judge a snake by its scales, Borro," the green sparrow said. "The Emperor he has beaten is standing right behind him."

Of course, the green sparrow was referring to Morus, who always stood quietly behind Gravis.

Borro, the grey elephant, huffed in disdain as he threw a side-eye at Morus. "A traitor that colludes with fish," he commented. "We land beasts are much more powerful than the sea beasts, yet the northern and southern region can't even deal with some fish. I'm ashamed to call myself an Emperor when you're also calling such a fish-fucker an Emperor."

Morus remained silent, but his tail cramped up in rage. Morus followed his master's orders, which was why he didn't act.

Gravis' brows furrowed even more. "Why are you talking to these idiots?" Gravis transmitted to the green sparrow.

"They are from the western region," the green sparrow answered with a voice transmission. "Nearly all Emperors from the western region are like this."

"Why?" Gravis asked.

"Because only the northern and southern regions fight the eastern sea. The sea beasts already have it quite hard resisting our two regions. If we send the third region at them, they might collapse. The Ultimates don't want that since they want tempering. This means that the western region is not fighting with the sea beasts."

"They see that our southern and northern regions are not able to overwhelm the sea beasts and think us to be useless. That's why they always show such disdain," the green sparrow explained.

"That's great and all, but why are you talking to them?" Gravis asked back.

"Because of you," he answered.

"What do you mean?" Gravis asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Whenever a known Emperor from our southern area challenges one of them to a duel, they always back off for a multitude of reasons. Yet, their small-mindedness won't accept that you have the power of an Emperor as a level four King. That's why I called you over," the green sparrow explained with some mirth in his voice transmission.

"So, you want me to kill them instead?" Gravis asked.

"You want tempering, don't you?" the green sparrow asked smugly. "Isn't fighting an Emperor some good tempering?"

If the green sparrow hadn't so openly explained his reasoning, Gravis might have felt manipulated. Yet, since the green sparrow was so

not reason enough to kill someone from our side," Gravis sent back. "I'm actually interested, but such useless words are nothing. It

like the answer, but as long as Gravis didn't

the grey elephant said to the brown buffalo beside him. "They are obviously talking to each other merrily. The southern region has truly

turned to the elephant and looked neutrally into his eyes. "Your words are

King! Know your place!" the elephant

commented again. "I have better things to do than to talk with a blind

Gravis turned

as long as such trash keeps

Gravis stopped.

turned around. "Repeat that," he

region's offspring will also be trash. It's your southern

before the smirking elephant. "So, my offspring is trash?"

at you! How can anything good come from such a black lizard-thing

and death duel,"

his children were his weak spot. No one was allowed to

by the sudden challenge, but then his disdain only increased. "Me, an Emperor, fighting a mere King? Fighting you would be a loss of status for me." Then, the elephant's disdainful smirk widened. "But you can fight my

your chosen King?"

a black raven appeared. "Yes,

lizard-thing wants to fight you,"

also looked with disdain at him. The raven was here to fight other outstanding level five Kings, not some mere level four King. To him, having to deal

ruffled his feathers as they stood up aggressively. "You want to fight

BOOOOM!

the raven

with some lightning without even looking at

and me," Gravis said

and they had all noticed the sudden and loud appearance of Gravis' lightning. All beasts

these Kings insulted an Emperor, the fight would, at least, take some seconds. After all, all of these Kings were absolutely outstanding. Yet, Gravis, a level four King, killed

they also knew that none of their Kings would win

the grey elephant shouted in rage. "Your conduct is not the conduct of a land beast! You act like the

or not," Gravis said. "You said you would fight me if I managed to

grey elephant shouted with righteous indignation. "You only want to distract me

Emperors. "We must seek justice for our fallen comrade