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.

the hug and embraced his

Aris had hugged him of his own

being such a burden back then," Aris

gently pushed Aris away. "As your father, it was my duty to help you on your way. I've never

and Aris looked

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

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

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

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

on Aris' shoulders. "But here you are! You've grown

realize how much of

Gravis repeated. "You've never

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

he saw that Aris fully meant everything

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

because I am your son.

stay important to

listened to Aris, and an awkward

said awkwardly. "I didn't really work that hard, you

remembered the tens of thousands of years he had spent

Working hard?

Eeehhhh.

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

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 one in a

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

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

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

the fact that you were willing to help us so much is not

Nascent Nourishing Realm, and we would get the gift of life. Our mother abandoned us, and there

and we only saw you as a more powerful beast of our race.

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

After all, you also have to think about your