Lightning Is the Only Way

Gravis listened to their story with interest.

He learned a lot about how to manage a Sect from Manuel, and he had to laugh a lot when Dorian told of his exploits. Gravis could very well imagine the headache Manuel had while trying to handle someone like Dorian.

After they were done telling their story, over a day had passed.

Mortis had returned a couple of hours after Manuel started telling his story, and he simply sat at the table like everyone else.

"So? How did it go?" Gravis asked Mortis.

"It will take a while to close the gap, but she's definitely interested, even if she didn't immediately admit it," Mortis said.

Gravis nodded.

He had expected something like that. After all, Mortis was exactly the person that Joyce had been searching for. Even if Gravis wanted to chase Joyce, she would still choose Mortis over him.

After Manuel and Dorian were done retelling their story, it was Skye's turn.

Apparently, Skye had quickly become a pretty powerful beast, and she established her own Tribe.

She lorded over the Tribe for a long time, but at some point, Kingdoms became interested.

Yet, instead of simply joining a Kingdom, Skye wanted to fight a war.

It wasn't even a battle.

Skye very quickly lost, and she was forcefully enslaved as food.

She was used as a training partner for weaker beasts, but she was always stopped as soon as she tried to kill them.

Skye was attacked by beasts on her level for years without being allowed to really retaliate.

This had gone on for over 20 years, but Skye never gave up. She knew that her chance would come, eventually.

And eventually, it did.

Skye managed to comprehend the level two Law of Suppression, which she used to kill the beasts overseeing her captivity.

After that, she ran away.

Sadly, the Kingdoms were rather united in that part of the world, making it impossible for her to find refuge anywhere.

She felt like a wild animal that was hunted by a group of humans. No matter where she went, she would be quickly found and attacked.

Skye was on the run for a long time, and eventually, she managed to comprehend the level two Law of Freedom.

With the Law of Freedom and Law of Suppression combined, Skye managed to turn the tables somewhat.

The Law of Suppression increased her Battle-Strength, and the Law of Freedom allowed her to ignore the pressure of beasts above her Realm. This gave her the ability to fight with her full power against more powerful beasts.

Her story, at this point, became very similar to Dorian's story when he had just arrived in the middle world. Skye went through a lot of fights and, eventually, a lot of other beasts were willing to follow her.

she was mostly in control of her life. She was always able to carve out a place for

Skye didn't manage her beasts in any

her freedom, and she didn't want to have any responsibilities. The beasts were free to follow her

followed her, which eventually

However, they would never claim any land. They would simply kill the strong beasts, occupy their land for

didn't attack Skye's nomadic

Why?

of an old Empire would become unoccupied.

one wanted to attack Skye's Empire. Battling them meant using a lot of resources,

they bribed Skye's Empire. They paid Skye resources so that Skye

in the higher world, but Skye had to regain all her lost respect since no one in the higher world

the higher world, Skye eventually just walked

as free as it could get. She battled whomever she wanted.

Gravis heard Skye's story, he

and Skye truly

valued freedom highly, just like

difference was that Skye was truly free, while Gravis

care for

was the difference between a beast and a

just as free

off his feelings for everyone close

as a human, Gravis couldn't do that. His friends and Stella were more

eventually, he would

simply had to grow more

time for Azure, Styr, Ferris, and Sary

in the higher world,

very similar to Manuel's story,

one

and Manuel were

kind, and intelligent

an experienced, powerful,

the support of his Sect by being kind to the Sect,

of his Tribe by impressing all

like a Heaven-chosen talent, illuminating his surroundings with light. Styr would be a middle-aged king

be associated with the

associated

the position Joyce had taken up in Manuel's Sect. Azure was the most powerful fighting force in

busy helping beasts he liked or comprehending Laws, but most

beasts in the Tribe, and she personally populated the Tribe with

found Meadow, and she

for a time, but

the end, Meadow basically only sat in the Tribe, doing absolutely

not everything was

a Kingdom

the two forces was incredible, but the Kingdom had made

Styr wasn't stupid.