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 on

a frown. "You said you wanted to see the

right, sorry," Mortis quickly said as

now his own

longer

the Opposer and Orthar had

Stella, while Mortis had decided to stop

watch the sunset together with Azure to commemorate their

had to be apart

had returned to

dreamed of in the past

no longer needed to fear his future since he and Azure would spend their time

side. None of the two of them spoke during all of this. In comparison to Stella and Gravis, Mortis and Azure

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

simply enjoyed being in each other's

didn't want 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

throughout the entire world, and they looked at all the different things in

as soon as he

young and weak animals and beasts worked. It

to think of them as

have some children," Azure said at

that all these thoughts about simple and weak beings had been a manifestation of his desire

"Yes, let's," Mortis answered.

had plenty of children, but these new children would be

no emotional attachments to her children back

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

this time, Azure and Mortis looked at

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

and Mortis were

to be there for

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

like that in the

of them had died, others managed to become

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

day, it was time for the two of them to become

happened, Mortis

have 13 million years in total left, three million as an

have a long life ahead

one point,

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

total life have passed, and ten million

'I'm still young.'

more time passed, Mortis

and death came closer, Mortis felt more and

lived for so

Death was coming closer.

years, Mortis and Azure only embraced

want to

to

However, they couldn't.

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

looked towards the

dragged on, they would keep in mind

closer, the

Mortis wasn't ready yet.