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.

sitting

paying attention?" Azure asked with a frown. "You said you wanted to see

yeah, right, sorry," Mortis quickly

now

no longer hinged on

the Opposer and Orthar

to continue cultivating with Stella, while Mortis had

sunset together with Azure to commemorate their

had to

to Mortis, he felt

dreamed of in

his future since he

None of the two of them spoke

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

enjoyed being in each other's

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

traveled throughout the entire world, and they looked at all

Mortis hadn't been interested in weaker beings, but as soon as he

instincts of young and weak animals and

started to

Azure

that all these thoughts about simple and weak

"Yes, let's," Mortis answered.

plenty of children, but these new children would

emotional attachments to her children back

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

Mortis looked at their children

just like the last time, the kids didn't feel any kind of familial love towards

Azure and Mortis were

only had to

and they didn't

also been like that in the past, and she had

of them had died, others

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

the two of them

happened, Mortis felt

three million as an Ancestral God, and ten million as

still have a long

one point,

Mortis spent their time together with their family, and eventually, it was time

my total life have passed, and ten million

'I'm still young.'

passed, Mortis felt

death came

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

Death was coming closer.

years, Mortis and Azure only embraced each

didn't want to let

to

However, they couldn't.

would always look towards the end.

it just started, people already looked towards

dragged on, they would keep in mind how long

drew closer, the

Mortis wasn't ready yet.