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.

hug and

that Aris had hugged him

such a burden

Gravis answered as he gently pushed Aris away. "As your father, it was

Aris looked into each

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

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

a bitter smile. "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,

to return alive, and we wouldn't see each other for a long

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

and I now realize how much of a burden

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

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

looked at Aris, and he saw that Aris fully meant

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

am still alive is precisely because I am your son. Even when you were not there, you

are probably working really hard to stay important to Heaven

listened to Aris, and an awkward

awkwardly. "I didn't

of years he had spent with

Working hard?

Eeehhhh.

shoulder. "You're human, just like half of all beings. You can't work yourself to the bone at all times,

every two humans. Humans don't have worlds where only humans are, but beasts have worlds where only beasts are. If there were no natural worlds,

that tips the scales when an outcome is uncertain. When two parties have the

it hurts my

have supported us in the middle world while we all looked down on you time and time again, forcing you to prove your

the fact that you were willing to help us so much

born of an exchange. You would get the chance to reach the Nascent Nourishing Realm, and we would get the gift of life. Our mother abandoned us,

saw you as a

loving us. You helped us time and time again,

you also