Lightning Is the Only Way

Gravis teleported once more and arrived at the usual clearing. However, he wasn't alone this time.

Gravis looked at Stella and also noticed her brother, Liam, beside her.

When Stella saw Gravis, she smiled happily. She had missed him.

Gravis smiled back at her. He had also missed her.

However, Gravis' gaze turned to Liam, and it was no longer friendly.

Liam harrumphed and looked away. By now, Liam had become an Early Minor Circulation Immortal King. However, his Will-Aura was on the level of a Late Minor Circulation Immortal King's, quite impressive. It wasn't nearly as powerful as Gravis' Will-Aura, but having a Will-Aura two levels above oneself was really impressive, especially since they had only been apart for about 25 years.

Back then, Liam's Will-Aura had only been on the level of a Peak Immortal's. His Will-Aura had increased by three cultivation levels since then, which meant that he had probably gone through his fair share of battles.

Stella's Realm and Will-Aura were still mostly the same, but not completely. Her Will-Aura had taken a minuscule step forward, but this didn't count for anything.

She had probably tried to increase her Will-Aura but realized that it just wasn't that easy anymore. Her teacher's interference had hit her hard.

"Hey, Gravis," Stella said with a happy smile as she came closer. "As you can see, I'm back."

Gravis looked at her, but his expression turned to a bitter smile. Then, he released a sigh and narrowed his eyes.

Stella was surprised by Gravis' reaction. Why was he suddenly so serious?

However, when she saw Gravis glaring at her brother, she realized why. "Oh, it's fine!" Stella said. "Don't worry, he is not going to attack you."

Liam rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, sis has convinced me," he said nonchalantly. "You can do whatever you want. I'm only here to keep an eye on her."

Stella smiled at her brother. This meant a lot to her.

After all, her brother was the closest and most important person in her life, and there was a great possibility that Gravis might also become one of the most important people in her life in the future. She didn't want any animosity between them.

Gravis continued looking expressionlessly for several seconds, not saying anything.

As time passed, Stella felt uncomfortable.

Why was Gravis acting this way?

As far as she knew, this didn't fit Gravis at all. They had talked a lot, and in her mind, Gravis was definitely not a person who held needless grudges.

Liam's eyes also narrowed as he looked at Gravis. "What are you looking at?" he asked with some annoyance. Being constantly stared at was not comfortable.

Gravis turned away from Liam after some seconds and looked at Stella with narrowed eyes.

For some reason, Stella felt nervous when Gravis looked at her like that. What was going on? Gravis was utterly different from usual.

"I have told you in the past that I can't tell you how to solve your issue," Gravis said to Stella in an even tone. "Knowing what it is will make it harder to comprehend it. However, this is only one part of the story."

Stella felt uneasy as she heard Gravis while Liam summoned some of his Energy. Stella might not know it, but Liam knew where this was going.

Because of that, Liam slowly took out his weapon, which was a thin rapier.

Stella saw Liam taking out his weapon, and her face whitened.

What was going on!?

"The other reason," Gravis said slowly as he turned to Liam. "Is that it requires you to be at the lowest point in your life. Only when you have lost everything can you realize it."

A dark feeling of foreboding suddenly appeared in the atmosphere, and Stella's face transformed into horror.

Liam gritted his teeth as he teleported away.

"I'm doing this for your own good," Gravis said.

SHING!

Gravis also teleported away.

Silence.

'W-What?' was all that Stella could think after some seconds.

BOOOOM!

Lightning exploded in the distance. The explosion wasn't very loud, but Stella knew how far away it had happened.

as she

SHING!

at the location of the explosion

world

stood Gravis, and before him was a

crater were some scattered and burned body parts with

mind couldn't process what had happened, and her feelings became a confusing mess

at the lowest point of your life," Gravis' dark and emotionless voice appeared inside Stella's mind. "I'm doing this for you,

keep

first step," Gravis said. "You need

only barely registered Gravis' words as she

SHING!

of the crater and looked at the

head, with one

was her brother's

it. The fluctuations of Liam's

Gravis couldn't fake that!

objects surrounding Liam's corpse. It still held

no denying

Her brother was dead.

Gravis had killed him!

said quietly, her

and cruel voice appeared in her mind. "Realize that I took no joy in the act. I had no enmity with your brother, and

the reason why I've done this. It pains me to do these things to you, but in order to

shouted as all her

will never

Stella's body shook.

in direct conflict. Right now, she hated Gravis so much that she wanted to kill

her mind tried to take

was

had already lost

sacrifice had already been

the death of her

anything, Stella felt like she no longer

Was this still the nice boy she had

Stella hesitated.

slowly as he walked closer. "From now on, you are no longer in control over

body shook with emotions she couldn't

Gravis' eyes narrowed.

SLAP!

the ground for many meters. Her mind was filled with shock and horror. This had been a serious attack, and her cheekbones

just lay there in horror,

Step!

Stella's vision as

he grabbed her throat

must learn suppression, and for that, I must take

registered Gravis'

SLAP!

wake her up. Stella's eyes saw white as the slap rattled her

Gravis pulled her to him and looked directly

you are no longer

"You are mine."

CRK!

Gravis' torso, but it was meaningless. Gravis was no longer below Stella in Cultivation. In fact,

don't even have the guts to resist. Your emotions are screaming at you to kill me, but your mind is unsure. You didn't even unleash a Law with your attack because you

teeth as uncertainty wrecked her

hadn't she unleashed a

that she didn't

the first time, Stella felt disgusted with

needed to die! He had

would never be able to

Gravis wouldn't bring her

to do whatever Gravis told her to

would

she would

she would still have a path to

she thought these things, her rage and

died, but she was only thinking about herself!? How

mind, she only saw one