Lightning Is the Only Way

Ferris told Gravis everything that had happened in the time since his last visit, and the longer Ferris talked, the more shocked Gravis grew.

The events themselves didn't really shock Gravis, but the sheer amount of what had happened shocked him deeply.

None of the things were that special. There were just some fights here and there and some restructurings.

However, there were just so many incidents. The sheer number of them was simply shocking to Gravis.

Ferris had talked to Gravis for nearly a week before he was done recounting the events, which left Gravis surprised.

'All of that happened while I was away?' Gravis thought. 'It doesn't feel that long to me. It feels more like I've only taken two naps, and that's it. It only feels like I've been away for only a couple of years. I don't even particularly miss everyone since I feel like I had just met everyone yesterday.'

'Is this the effect of using Samsara too often?' Gravis thought. 'Over 150,000 years passed, but 150,000 years doesn't actually feel that long. I went through much longer periods of time.'

'However, if I break it down with my actual, physical age, It would make more sense that so many things had happened. I'm about 950,000 years old, and 150,000 years is just a bit less than an entire sixth of my life.'

'For a mortal, it would probably feel like they would have been away from their family for ten years.'

'For mortals, a lot of things can happen in ten years.'

While Ferris was continuing to talk excitedly, Gravis looked around Manuel's faction with eyes reflecting complex emotions.

Now that Gravis actually focused on his surroundings, he noticed that the entire feeling of everyone was… off. It was like a lot of things had changed.

However, the surroundings weren't the issue. The issue was more with how Gravis' friends felt to him.

A good example would be Dorian. Gravis still remembered how he had talked to him the last time. Dorian hadn't appeared any different from normal, but right now, Dorian appeared far more serious.

Gravis could see how Dorian talked to many members of Manuel's faction with a serious tone. He was currently giving them a lot of advice for the off-chance that they would be outclassed by their enemy. He was telling them how to retreat and how to use the changing environment to take their enemies by surprise.

Surprisingly, Dorian didn't joke around while teaching these things to the members of Manuel's faction. Instead, he was teaching the members everything very methodically. It was like he had been doing that for an eternity.

Dorian had always had a peculiar personality. He had always been crass and didn't take many things seriously, but right now, it felt like he had grown up, for lack of a better word.

feel the weight of responsibility Dorian carried

had always appeared exhausted due to his job as a Sect Master. Lazar always only very rarely joked around since he had to uphold

then. It was like Dorian placed the importance of the effectiveness of his teachings above being himself. He would rather completely change himself to give others a better chance at understanding his

much different from usual, except for the absence of her jumping into Gravis' arms. She was reviewing a lot of Formation Arrays and was also changing the Formation Arrays

Stella had

thought with a worried expression. 'I think that should be enough

Arrays to being good enough to alter Formation Arrays that cost millions of God

for

looked at Meadow, who quickly noticed that

you look at that. The great lord of Sitting-On-Your-Arse has returned to visit us,"

have you been, Meadow?" Gravis asked

that tone?" Meadow asked with disgust. "You're worried over me? I already

know how I meant that, Meadow,"

know how I meant that, dickwad. How about you don't bore me for

it. Normal

baby boy finally got some teeth. Why didn't you show

his head with an awkward smile. "Well, I fear I might have done

Again? What's it this time?" Meadow

I think I shouldn't have skipped my last break," Gravis said. "I don't feel like a lot of time has passed, but not everyone

long was it? 100,000, 200,000 years? Makes no difference to me. Has your sensitive little human

mean, you are even older than me," Gravis said. "It probably won't feel any different to

a look at Dorian or Stella. If you compare them to how

Dorian and Stella. "Sure, but that's normal. Humans and beasts change all the time. It's like I take a short nap, and everyone I know is already either dead or very

as her perception focused on Gravis again. "You don't feel different. It's like you haven't changed since the last time, which is surprising. You humans change all the time, but

worried Gravis. "So, everyone else feels

I said, you deaf fuck," Meadow

silent for a

but he hadn't

like I was put in some sort of time capsule or something. It feels like no time has passed for me, but so long has

Ferris, who was still