Lightning Is the Only Way

Silence.

Gravis looked at the equipment he had carelessly thrown to the side with regret.

Gravis had assumed that Stella was creating the Formation Arrays, not the entire equipment.

Stella had put so much work into everything, but Gravis had thrown everything to the side.

"I'm sorry, Stella," Gravis said slowly. "I didn't know that you have forged all of this equipment."

"Does that change a thing?" Stella asked calmly.

"What do you mean?"

"It's not about you caring for my feelings or anything. It's about the truth, and the truth is that all my efforts have amounted to nothing."

"As always," Stella added with a regretful expression.

"Hey, your equipment is still very good! After all, I didn't lie when I said that I hadn't seen these Formation Arrays before. If you created them, that's wonderful!" Gravis said with a reassuring tone.

Stella sighed.

"That's not it, Gravis," she said as she looked at him with complex eyes.

"I know why you did what you did. You saw something that bothered me, and you took care of it. You care for me, and that's why you went out to spend a ridiculous number of God Stones just to get this huge chunk of ore. You thought that this entire thing was troubling me, but you thought incorrectly," Stella said with a sigh.

Gravis wasn't sure what he should think right now. "What do you mean?" he asked again.

"Gravis, put yourself in my shoes for a bit," Stella said. "I love you, and I want only the best for you, and I know you feel the same way towards me."

"You give me equipment. You give me safety. You give me Laws. You give me everything."

"Yet, what do I give you?" Stella asked.

Gravis raised an eyebrow.

can't help with your equipment," Stella

help with your

help

can't help you when you're in

help you with something, but there's absolutely nothing I can do,"

Aura, I tried everything in my power to help you. I gave it my all! I taught so many disciples. I gathered so much money. I tempered myself so many times just for you," Stella said in

did that do?" Stella asked quietly again. "What was my

me that Orpheus dealt with 30% of your debt and that the Myriad Sect also

Has my help even made a difference? You know that, even if I didn't help, you

to help him. Yet, I'm just a small pebble on the mountain that helped you get

Gravis remained silent.

power I have also comes from you. I'm

but I feel like I'm only in the Star God Realm because of you. Nearly all of my Laws come from you. I see how hard everyone else is

have

could sit on the ground for a million years and not do anything, and you would eventually still give me

temper myself since I don't need to fight to comprehend Laws. A Will-Aura isn't necessary when I

side with absent eyes. At this point, she wasn't even sure if she was talking to Gravis or to

also wouldn't need to worry about me anymore. I would safely reach the Divine God Realm eventually by doing nothing. I could spend time with you whenever you need me, which is literally the only thing

home and do nothing while

I

is such a thing still a

between two relatively equal partners. One partner can be better at some

I can't contribute anything, all of

not a partner or

"I'm a pet."

me, and the only thing I'm good for is to be happy when

I can

Silence.

knew that these weren't some irrational thoughts created by impulsive emotions. No, the things Stella was telling Gravis had been on her mind for a long time, based on how she talked

what

reminded

he had to protect her. However,

to catch up to Stella, no matter how hard he

in the