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 on a beautiful

with a frown.

yeah, right, sorry," Mortis quickly

was now his own

no longer

the Opposer and Orthar had gotten over

Stella, while Mortis had

planned to watch the sunset together with

had to be apart

the memories had returned to Mortis, he felt a

in the past had finally become

needed to fear his future since he and Azure would spend their time together from

the two of them spoke during all of this. In comparison to Stella

Azure didn't have something to complain about. As soon as she could

enjoyed

Fire Sect since they wouldn't cultivate anymore. Staying in the Cultivation world would only invite danger,

throughout the entire world, and

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

was so interesting how the instincts of young and weak animals and beasts worked. It almost intrigued

started to think of them as cute and

have some children," Azure said at

realized that all these thoughts about simple and weak beings had been

"Yes, let's," Mortis answered.

children, but these new children would be completely

to her

and Mortis soon saw their first batch of children, and they watched them from a distance. Since Azure was a beast and Mortis counted as half a beast, the children were born

this time, Azure and Mortis looked at

like the last time, the kids didn't feel any

Azure and Mortis

to be there

feeling, and they didn't mind that their children basically ignored

that in the past, and she had eventually

of them had died, others managed to

ones that managed to become Star Gods apologized to Azure and Mortis for their previous conduct, and Azure

it was time for the two of them to become

it happened, Mortis

13 million years in total left, three million as an Ancestral God, and ten million as a

long

one point, it

family, and eventually, it was time to become Divine

million years of my total life have passed, and ten million

'I'm still young.'

time passed, Mortis felt more

the years passed and death came closer, Mortis felt more

left. I've already lived for so long, and only this little bit of time

Death was coming closer.

Mortis

want

to stay together

However, they couldn't.

always look towards the end. School holidays and vacations were such

towards

keep in mind how long they had

closer, the person would

Mortis wasn't ready yet.