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.

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

to most other beasts, Skye didn't manage her beasts in

that responsibilities restricted her freedom, and she didn't want to have any responsibilities. The

most of the beasts still followed her, which

could find. However, they would never claim any land. They would simply kill the strong beasts, occupy their land for some years to check out the

other Empires didn't

Why?

an old Empire would become unoccupied. This meant that the Empires could expand their borders without sacrificing

using a lot

They paid Skye resources

the higher world, but Skye had to regain all her lost

Skye eventually just walked around,

She battled whomever she wanted. She went wherever she wanted.

heard Skye's story,

Skye truly had similar

highly,

was that Skye was truly

for Stella,

that was the difference between a beast and a

be just as free

off his feelings for everyone close to

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

knew that, eventually, he would become

to grow more

time for Azure, Styr, Ferris, and Sary to

in the higher world, and they created

was very similar to Manuel's story, but with more direct war and

was the one

a way, Styr and Manuel were

was a mysterious, kind, and intelligent Sect

was an experienced, powerful, and

to gain the support of his Sect by being kind to the Sect, bringing more resources to the Sect, and being

managed to gain the support of his Tribe by impressing all the beasts with his bearing, experience,

them, Manuel would seem like a Heaven-chosen talent, illuminating his surroundings with light. Styr would

be associated

associated with a regal

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

comprehending Laws, but

and she personally populated the Tribe

Sary found Meadow, and she quickly led

most powerful being in the Tribe for a time, but her slow

only sat in the Tribe,

not everything was smooth

a Kingdom attacked their

two forces was incredible, but the Kingdom had made a devastating

Styr wasn't stupid.