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 embraced

the first time that Aris

such a burden back then,"

your father, it was my duty to help

Aris looked into each

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

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

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

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

Aris' shoulders. "But

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

Gravis repeated. "You've never been a

more serious voice. "Even now, I am riding

and he saw that Aris fully

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 Luck, I wouldn't be saved by luck

am still alive is precisely because I am your

probably working really hard to stay important to Heaven so

listened to Aris, and an awkward smile

Gravis said awkwardly. "I didn't really

tens of thousands of years he

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

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

an outcome is uncertain. When two

there. In a sense, it hurts my pride, but I

you time and time again, forcing you to

the fact that you were willing to help us so much

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

mindsets completely unlike human mindsets. We didn't feel any love for you, and we only saw you as

of these things, but you still never stopped loving us. You helped

all, you also have