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

with a frown. "You

quickly said as his

now his own

survival no longer

Orthar

with Stella,

planned to watch the sunset together with Azure

finally never had to be

had returned to Mortis, he felt a

dream he had dreamed of in the past had finally become

he and Azure would

two of them spoke during all of this. In comparison to Stella and Gravis, Mortis and Azure were on the quiet

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

and Azure simply enjoyed being in each

them moved to Opposer City. They didn't want to stay in Eternal Fire Sect since they wouldn't cultivate anymore. Staying in the Cultivation world would only

and they looked at all the different things in

beings, but as soon as he had decided to stop

of young and weak animals and beasts worked. It almost intrigued

Mortis started to think of them

Azure

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

"Yes, let's," Mortis answered.

children, but these new

her children

batch of children, and they watched them from a distance. Since Azure was a beast

Mortis looked at their children

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

Mortis were

to be there

and they didn't mind that

that in the past, and

of them had died, others managed to become

Gods apologized to Azure and Mortis for their previous conduct,

day, it was time for the

it happened, Mortis felt a bit

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

still have a long life ahead

one point, it will

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

million years of my total life have

'I'm still young.'

more time passed, Mortis

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

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

Death was coming closer.

Mortis and Azure only

didn't want to

wanted to stay together

However, they couldn't.

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

people already looked towards the end,

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

closer, the person would

Mortis wasn't ready yet.