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

time that Aris had hugged him of his own

being such a burden back

your father, it was my duty to

looked into each

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 it was for them

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

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 hardest

high for you to return alive,

he put his arms on Aris' shoulders. "But here you are! You've grown up

smiled. "I have matured, and I now realize how

say that," Gravis repeated. "You've never been a

just saying that," Aris said with a more serious voice.

at Aris, and he saw that Aris

a couple of times," Aris said. "For Heaven, I count as

still alive is precisely because I am your son. Even when you were

working really hard to stay important to Heaven

listened to Aris, and an

Gravis said awkwardly. "I

remembered the tens of thousands of years he had spent with

Working hard?

Eeehhhh.

like 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 to undervalue yourself. Without you, most of us would probably already be

the natural worlds, only one beast arrives for every two humans. Humans don't have worlds where

the scales when an outcome is uncertain. When two parties have the same power,

several times while not even being there. In a sense, it hurts my pride, but I also

looked down on you time and time again, forcing you to prove your power to

that you were willing to help us so much

the chance to reach the Nascent Nourishing Realm, and we would get the gift of life. Our mother abandoned us, and there was nothing to it. I'm partially a beast, and I realize that there is nothing wrong with

love for you, and we only saw you as

helped us time and time again, even though

would have simply cut contact. After all, you also have to think about your own power