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 beautiful

with a frown. "You said you

yeah, right, sorry," Mortis quickly said

now

longer hinged

Orthar had gotten

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

to watch the sunset together with Azure

had to

to

had dreamed of in the

since he and

of the two of them spoke during all of

Azure didn't have something to complain about. As

and Azure simply enjoyed being in each other's

City. They didn't want to stay in Eternal Fire Sect since they wouldn't

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

beings, but as soon as he had

the instincts of young and weak animals and

top of that, Mortis started to

some children," Azure said at

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

"Yes, let's," Mortis answered.

these new children would be completely different from the old

emotional attachments to her children back then,

and they watched them from a distance. Since Azure was a beast and

time, Azure and Mortis looked at their

met them, and just like the last time, the kids didn't feel

Mortis were used

only had to be there

they didn't mind that their children

also been like that in the past, and she

while some of them had died, others

and Mortis for their previous conduct, and Azure

for the two of

Mortis felt

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

have a long

at one point,

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

million years of my total life have passed,

'I'm still young.'

as more time passed, Mortis

as the years passed and death came closer, Mortis felt more

I've already lived for so long, and only this little

Death was coming closer.

of years, Mortis and Azure only embraced each

want to

wanted to stay

However, they couldn't.

limited time of happiness, they would always look towards the end. School holidays and

people already looked towards the

dragged on, they would keep in mind how long they

the end drew closer, the

Mortis wasn't ready yet.