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

first time that Aris had hugged him of his own

being such a burden back then,"

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

Aris looked into each other's

Sect, I saw how hard

left for a fight, and whenever I saw that, I was reminded of you.

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, but the hardest part was watching you guys

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

Gravis smiled as he put his arms on Aris' shoulders. "But

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

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

not just saying that," Aris said with a more serious voice. "Even now, I am

and he saw that Aris

Heaven, I count as a beast, and I shouldn't have any Karmic Luck. Yet, if I didn't have Karmic Luck, I wouldn't be

alive is precisely because I am your son. Even when

stay important to Heaven so that we don't

listened to Aris, and an

Gravis said awkwardly. "I didn't really work

of thousands of years

Working hard?

Eeehhhh.

with a reassuring smile as he put his hand on Gravis' shoulder. "You're human, just like half of all beings. You can't work yourself to the bone at all times, and you need your breaks.

the inclusion of all the natural worlds, only one beast arrives for 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, not even

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

even being there. In a sense, it hurts my pride, but I also know that luck

middle world while we all looked down on you time and time again, forcing you to prove your power to us. You could have just abandoned us for our unthankful conduct, and you

fact that you were willing to help us

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

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

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

contact. After all, you also have to think