Lightning Is the Only Way

When Gravis heard Aris speak, he felt like he was meeting someone completely new.

Aris had always had inner conflicts. Some parts of human psychology and beast psychology battled in his mind. One side told him that he should get into contact with others more and join a group, while another part of himself told him that he didn't need all that. He only needed power.

Gravis knew of all these inner conflicts, but when he saw Aris again, he felt that the conflicts had been resolved.

The Opposer had told Aris that he should go into a world where the tempering was organization-based, not species-based. In that world, humans and beasts joined the same powers, and they lived in relative harmony with each other. The enemies were not the ones that didn't look like them, but the ones belonging to other powers.

Apparently, living in such a world for such a long time had done a lot to shape Aris' personality.

Well, that and time. After all, Aris had spent nearly 200,000 years in that world.

"Aris," Gravis said with a smile on his face as he came closer. Then, Gravis looked Aris up and down. "Honestly, when I just saw you, I thought that I saw another version of myself. You really resemble me."

Aris smiled slightly.

Pack!

Gravis' eyes widened as Aris pulled him into a hug.

"I missed you, father," Aris said.

Gravis was taken aback as he heard Aris' words.

Without noticing it, Gravis' feelings were going wild.

Gravis had always told himself that his children were beasts and that it was normal for them to not want to spend any time with him. He knew that, and that was why he always gave them their free space.

However, this didn't mean that Gravis didn't wish for a deep connection with his son.

After all, Aris was his son!

Even if they hadn't met for a long time, Aris was still one of the most important beings in his life.

returned the hug and embraced his

time that Aris had hugged him

for being such a burden back then,"

answered as he gently pushed Aris away. "As your father, it was my duty to

and Aris looked

that you were an honest person, I would have doubted these words," Aris said with a smile. "When I joined my Sect, I saw how hard it was for human parents to let go of their children. I also saw how difficult

parents break down when their children left for a fight, and whenever I saw that, I was reminded of you. Was this how you felt when we left?" he

"It was difficult. It was hard to see you guys growing up in the wilds while constantly having to fight off other beasts. It was hard to see you guys leave for the Tribes to temper yourselves, but the

to return alive, and we wouldn't

shoulders. "But here you are! You've grown up as a

"I have matured, and I now realize how much of a burden

Gravis repeated. "You've never

saying that," Aris said with a more serious voice. "Even now, I am riding on

saw that Aris fully meant everything

my time in the higher world, I have been saved by sheer luck a couple of times," Aris said. "For Heaven, I count as a beast, and I shouldn't have any Karmic Luck. Yet, if I didn't have Karmic

still alive is precisely because I am your son. Even

stay important to Heaven

and an awkward smile appeared on his

Gravis said awkwardly. "I

the tens of thousands of years he had spent with Stella,

Working hard?

Eeehhhh.

half of all beings. You can't work yourself to the bone at all times, and you need your breaks. I understand that. But I don't want you

one beast arrives for every two humans. Humans don't have worlds where only humans are, but beasts have worlds

the scales when an outcome is uncertain. When

a sense, it hurts my pride,

time again, forcing you to prove your power to us. You could have

you were willing to help

Realm, and we would get the gift of life. Our mother abandoned us, and there was nothing to it. I'm

feel any love for you, and we only saw you as a more powerful beast of our race. We didn't think about your survival, and we

you still never stopped loving us. You helped us time and time again, even though

would have simply cut contact. After all, you also have