Lightning Is the Only Way

Gravis wasn't sure how he should feel. He had just realized that the children he had fathered and loved for millions of years had actually never existed.

Yet, on the other hand, it only felt natural not to have strong emotional attachments to things that weren't real.

It was just like a long dream.

"How was it?" Mortis asked from the side.

Gravis looked at Mortis with a bitter smile. "Just like you would think. However, I really don't feel much attachment to the things I have experienced and the people I have met. It really feels like a dream."

Mortis took a deep breath.

He knew that Gravis' personality was very stable, and he knew that Gravis wouldn't feel any issues.

However, what about Mortis?

Would he react this calmly?

"Now, it's your turn," Orthar said to Mortis. "Are you ready?"

Mortis took another deep breath and nodded.

Orthar nodded and extended his hand towards Mortis.

And then, Mortis' eyes became vacant.

Gravis looked at Mortis with interest.

"I thought this was instantaneous," Gravis said.

"I can only make time move so fast," Orthar explained. "Samsara doesn't need to invent things. All the perceived realities are already there, and it only has to replay them. That's why Samsara is instantaneous."

"In comparison, I have to continually manage the perceived reality Mortis is currently experiencing. I can only make it move so fast without endangering the management of the actual Cosmos," Orthar explained.

"Huh, so even you can't do anything," Gravis added with a smirk.

"Of course not," Orthar said. "I'm not some omnipotent being. I'm a Cultivator, just like you and everyone else. The only difference is that you can create life via procreation, while I can create a Cosmos. It's not very different. It's only on a grander scale."

"Okay, so how long will Mortis take?" Gravis asked.

"About five years. That's how long it took you."

"Five years? That's pretty fast," Gravis answered.

Orthar didn't answer for several seconds.

"What did you feel during the end of your perceived reality?" Orthar suddenly asked.

"Tons of regret," Gravis answered immediately. "However, that's only natural. I want to cultivate anyway, and I knew from the beginning that I wouldn't truly be happy if things turned out this way."

"Sure, living a fulfilling life with all my friends and family is great, but it's simply too short. I want to cultivate, but when I have been in the perceived reality, it was like I've simply accepted that I wouldn't cultivate anymore."

"Now that I'm awake, it feels so stupid. Why wouldn't I just continue cultivating? That would've solved all my regrets," Gravis said. "In a sense, I feel like I've never had the chance to do what I wanted, which makes the entire dream feel surreal. It's like someone else has lived my life."

Orthar nodded. "That's a good response. Someone with strong convictions won't feel attached to the dream since it forces you into doing something you don't truly want to do. That's also why the dream has basically no effect on you."

"What about Mortis?" Gravis asked.

Orthar only looked at Mortis.

"Huh?" Mortis said in confusion as he opened his eyes.

currently sitting

with a

sorry," Mortis quickly said as

now

longer hinged on

Opposer and Orthar had gotten over their

had decided to continue cultivating with Stella, while Mortis had decided

planned to watch the sunset together with

finally never had to be apart

memories had returned to Mortis,

had dreamed of in the past had

he

of the two of them spoke during all of this.

have something to complain about. As soon as she could complain about

Azure simply enjoyed being

to stay in Eternal Fire Sect since they wouldn't cultivate anymore. Staying in the Cultivation world would only invite danger, and the two of them only

and Azure traveled throughout the entire world, and

beings, but as soon as he had decided to stop cultivating, he had become interested in

how the instincts of young and weak animals and beasts worked. It almost

of that, Mortis started to

some children," Azure

about simple and weak beings had been a manifestation

"Yes, let's," Mortis answered.

had had plenty of children, but these new children would be completely

had had no emotional attachments to her children back then, but things were different

batch of children, and they watched them from a distance. Since Azure was a beast and Mortis

this time, Azure and Mortis

the kids didn't feel any kind of familial

and Mortis were used to

only had to

feeling, and they didn't mind that their

that in the past, and she had

some of them had died, others managed to become Star

that managed to become Star Gods apologized to Azure and Mortis

was time for the

Mortis felt a bit

in total left, three million as

long

point,

their family, and

life have passed,

'I'm still young.'

as more time passed, Mortis

as the years passed and death came closer, Mortis

only have so much time left. I've already lived for so long, and

Death was coming closer.

last couple of years, Mortis and

want

wanted to stay together

However, they couldn't.

would always look towards the

just started, people already looked towards the end, knowing that it

would keep in mind how long

drew closer, the person would feel

Mortis wasn't ready yet.