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.

was currently sitting on

a frown. "You said you wanted to see the

Mortis quickly said

now his own

longer hinged on

the Opposer and Orthar

decided to continue cultivating with Stella, while Mortis

planned to watch the sunset

never had to

to Mortis, he felt

in the past had finally become

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

None of the two of them spoke during all of this. In comparison to

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

enjoyed being in

want to stay in Eternal Fire Sect since they wouldn't cultivate anymore. Staying in the Cultivation

world, and they

but as soon

of young and weak

top of that, Mortis started to think of

Azure said at

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 children back then, but things were different

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 with

and Mortis looked at

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

Mortis were

had to be there

selfless feeling, and they didn't

in the past, and she had

of them had

Azure and Mortis for

for the two of them

Mortis felt a

as an Ancestral God,

have a long life ahead

point,

family,

of my total life have passed, and ten

'I'm still young.'

passed, Mortis felt more

and death came closer,

I've already lived for so

Death was coming closer.

years, Mortis and Azure only embraced each

didn't want

to stay

However, they couldn't.

limited time of happiness, they would always

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

time dragged on, they would keep in mind how long they

drew closer,

Mortis wasn't ready yet.