Lightning Is the Only Way

"You do realize that six of the seven Peak Sects are currently out for your head, right?" Zero's Essence asked.

Gravis sighed. "I know, but it's necessary. I already told you how I had been unmasked. Sure, it feels a bit shitty that Arc was basically unveiling my existence without my consent, but I get where he's coming from."

"By remaining unknown to the world, I run the risk of being found out. Of course, I was also found out recently, but there is a difference between everyone finding out at once and only one power finding out."

"If only a single power found me, I might not even notice that they found me. Then, they would gather an irresistible net of powerful Cultivators while analyzing my background. Without me noticing, they would watch me and gather all the relevant information about my friends and family."

"And then, when they feel like they have prepared enough, they will catch all my loved ones and pressure me into joining their Sect."

"That's when my life would be over."

"On top of that, they wouldn't even be under any stress for time or anything similar to that. No one else knew about my existence, and they would have all the time to plan for my eventual capture."

"Yet, by being unveiled in public, all seven Sects start at the same position, and they have to compete with each other. In a sense, resisting seven rudimentary, hastily planned attempts at capturing me is easier than resisting one thoroughly planned out attempt."

"Even more, the Sects wouldn't want to directly anger me just yet. After all, I could join a different Sect out of spite, and that Sect would be in a lot of trouble in the future."

"Arc used the equilibrium of the Peak Sects against each other, and I would be the one benefitting from it."

Gravis smiled bitterly. "Sadly, he probably didn't realize that I would anger six out of the seven Peak Sects at once."

"However, even that isn't as bad as being found out secretly. After all, I know that everyone found out, which allowed me to hide my tracks and background."

Gravis took a deep breath. "I still feel guilty about doing it, but I had to eradicate the Eternal Fire Sect. They were the only ones that knew about me, and with them gone, the Peak Sects have no lead."

"Right now, as long as I don't contact my loved ones, the Peak Sects won't know where or who I am."

"That's already the best I can ask for. I just have to stay low and stay hidden. Additionally, I have plenty of tempering opportunities now. I don't need to search for my opponents since nearly all the Peak Sects are my opponents now. All these people looking for me are my enemies."

while they are in the

Then, Gravis remembered something.

Eternal Fire Sect still exists and

silent for some

the people of the Eternal Fire

the closest Sect found the territory of the Eternal Fire Sect completely destroyed, and

the Eternal Fire Sect. No one connected the death of

members of the tournament joined the different Peak Sects. Exar joined the Lightning Peak Sect while your

of relief.

joined the Lost

thought back

Gravis, but now, she was in a Peak Sect and an

was glad that she managed to

meet her again, but

even see Stella or

Arrays. They were probably constantly questioning their

Sects would take thousands of years, but that wasn't actually that

was searching for Gravis at this moment, and the only way for

probably the longest time Gravis would be apart from his

this was still

the best opportunity for

Gravis said after a while. "I don't really like to target an entire organization just because their leaders decided to do something I don't like, but I think that Ancestral Gods should be smart enough to

looked at

Gravis seemed rather calm.

think genocide isn't that bad of an option right now," Gravis

this is a special occasion?" Zero's Essence asked. "Destroying an entire Clan or Sect is standard practice. We can only

eradicate an entire Sect. It's not really anything special," she

mean, I get it. It feels so normal for all of you, but it's still something I'm

blinked once