Lightning Is the Only Way

"So, what do you guys plan to do next?" Gravis asked Stella and Liam.

Stella went over to Gravis and leaned her head on his shoulder. Gravis smiled warmly at Stella and stroked her head.

"I will go wherever you go," she said peacefully. "You are my home, and I will follow you to the ends of the earth. No matter what you decide to do, I will forever be by your side."

Gravis' heart warmed as he heard her, and he kissed Stella lovingly. "I don't know what I have done to deserve someone as wonderful as you," he said.

Stella's eyes became blurry as she felt the deep love Gravis held for her. "That's what I'm asking myself every day," she said quietly.

"Urgh, get a room," Liam gagged from the side. "That's my sister. I really don't need to see that!"

Gravis chuckled and looked at Liam. "So, what's your plan?"

This question made Liam shut up as he took a deep breath.

Stella and Gravis both looked at him with concern. Judging by Liam's actions, he was probably making an important decision right now.

Some seconds later, Liam closed his eyes and released a deep breath.

Then, he opened his eyes and looked at Stella with conviction.

"I can't always lag behind you," Liam said.

"What do you mean?" Stella asked. She felt like Liam was about to say something that she wouldn't like.

"You both know the Law of Empathy, and Gravis knows far too many level four Laws," Liam said. "Just by being with Gravis, your Battle-Strength is destined to reach legendary powers. Fighting three levels above yourself will no longer be impossible."

"I'm far outclassed in that category," Liam said as he took another deep breath.

"As long as I remain with you, I will always lag behind. I'm bound to watch on as you reach impossible heights of power, leaving me behind."

Liam's eyes became compassionate as he looked at Stella. "Eventually, your power will grow so vast that you will leave me behind."

"Liam," Stella said with a worried voice as she went over to hug him. "You know exactly that I would never leave you behind. You and Gravis are the most important people in my life. I would never want to lose you."

Liam took another deep breath, but he didn't return Stella's embrace. Instead, his fists curled in frustration. "I know that," Liam said. "However, Gravis won't stop. If I don't become far more powerful, you would have to choose between us, and I will never want you to do that. Such a choice would be far too cruel!"

Liam gently pushed Stella away from him and looked into her eyes with conviction.

"Happiness is our main priority, but strength immediately comes after that," Liam said slowly. "I want to be part of your life, but I also want to become powerful."

"You have always been the Holy Maiden of the Nine Elements Sect, but what have I been? I didn't even manage to become a Holy Son Candidate. I was only a mere Core Disciple my entire life."

"The gulf between us is too large, and it will only grow wider with time if things remain as they are."

"I can't always chase after your footsteps. I don't have the talent to reach the heights of Battle-Strength that you will reach."

Stella's insides shook as she listened to Liam. She had expected that Liam was feeling like this, but she couldn't have been sure since Liam had never truly shared these feelings with her.

Was this truly how Liam felt?

Had he always felt inferior to her?

Had he always feared that Stella would leave him behind and that he wouldn't be able to keep up anymore?

exactly that I would never leave you behind," Stella said with sad eyes. "You have been with me for my entire life, and I don't

I know that you love me, but exactly that is the reason why I can't

levels of Battle-Strength, but I can, at least, reach a level of Battle-Strength that allows me to jump two levels. Then, I only need to increase my Realm. As long as I don't try to push my Battle-Strength too much, my Realm can still

than yours, we will still be in the same world.

voice, "first, I need to reach that level. For that, I need to go through hell and temper myself. I can't be distracted by you anymore if

you. I was always scared that you

you, while your Battle-Strength increased due to the mandatory tournaments. I had nearly no tempering,

to leave me behind, which is why I

and Liam looked at each other

complex glance at Gravis. "I was against your relationship with Gravis, but

was not speaking to Gravis

me, but the fact that I don't need

know that he truly loves you and that he will never allow

Gravis can't stop someone from hurting you, I most certainly can't do

took a deep breath. "Because of that, I will

to each other. It was incredibly difficult to have both of them at once. The only way one could have both

this, but it was still difficult for her to accept. Liam and Stella had always been together ever since they were born. They had only

Stella had to sigh.

like it was his duty to protect her. Stella couldn't imagine how frustrating it must

must have been hard

"I understand," Stella said.

I must leave you now. I don't know when I will return, but it will probably

nodded. "I know,"

sorry," Liam said

fine," Stella said. "I understand where

talking with each other,

didn't want to intrude on their last moments

he was important to Stella, but he

them because of some

talked with Mortis. Gravis wanted to plan which Laws they

was also giving Mortis a heads-up that he might be assaulted

no

the

these feelings would only make him weaker. Mortis believed that he had to cut off all emotions to reach supreme power. After all, every connection meant one more weakness that an enemy

actually saw the assault of these loving feelings as

felt these feelings, he would try to dissociate

control these feelings. Then, they would no longer have any value, and

he

a mindset was

he wouldn't need to feel guilty for feeling

am I. If that's the path he wants to follow, he can follow it. It doesn't matter if I think that his path is a dead-end or not. It's his path, his choice, and his

and Stella returned to Gravis

quickly embraced her and stroked

to the person that had been with her for her

the Major Law of

that he asked such a question in such

I'm still

"Then,

BOOOM!

along in his embrace as he shot

face as she looked at the sky, which was slowly turning from