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?

sad eyes. "You have been with me for my entire life, and I don't want

nod. "And that's why I can't stop you. I know that you love me, but exactly that is

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

long as my longevity isn't lower than yours, we will still be in the same world. Life will

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

happen to you. I was always scared that you would have died while I was

have stagnated during that time because of my worry for you, while your Battle-Strength increased due to the mandatory tournaments. I had nearly no tempering, while

behind, which is why

looked at each other while Gravis kept himself

breath as he shot a complex glance at Gravis. "I was against your relationship with Gravis, but I can't deny that this relationship has come with

not

outcome is not all the resources he has granted me, but the fact that I don't need to worry about

not be the biggest fan of Gravis, but I know that he truly loves you and that he will never allow

I most certainly can't do any better. You don't need my

eyes and took a deep breath. "Because of that, I

of them at once. The only way one could have both was when both parties grew in power at a similar rate. In Gravis' mind, Liam

always been together ever since they were born. They had only been apart from each other when

Stella had to sigh.

couldn't imagine how frustrating it must

have been hard

"I understand," Stella said.

together, I must leave

"I know," she

Liam said

"I understand where you're coming

and Stella were talking with

to intrude on

to Stella, but he also knew that Liam was just

wouldn't interrupt them because of

with Mortis. Gravis wanted to plan which Laws

be

Mortis had no problems with

the opposite

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

actually saw the assault of these loving feelings as a

Mortis felt these feelings, he would try to dissociate and isolate himself

enough "emotional tempering", Mortis would be able to fully control these feelings. Then, they would no longer have any value, and Mortis could finally reach the

didn't know what he should think about

mindset was

wouldn't need to feel guilty for feeling these feelings anymore. After all, Mortis had

path he wants to follow, he can follow it. It doesn't matter

Stella

quickly embraced her and stroked her

been with her for

finished the Major

he asked

I'm still missing

smirked. "Then, let's

BOOOM!

in his embrace as he shot towards the sky with his

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