Lightning Is the Only Way

It was hard.

Gravis could deal with Cera's death. He could deal with his friends' death.

But Aris.

Aris' death was hard on him.

When was the last time the two of them had talked with each other?

Gravis remembered that the last time they had talked, they had been on their way to the tournament of the Lightning Peak Sect.

Back then, Gravis had joked with Aris about the fact that he was acting like a grandpa.

Gravis hadn't thought that this would have been the last time he would talk with his only son.

Gravis still remembered looking at his three children when they had grown up.

Back when Aris had been a newborn, he had stupidly tried to chase after stronger and faster beasts, which led to him being slower in this growth than his two sisters.

Cera had gone for a disarming approach while Yersi had gone with an ambush approach.

But things turned around pretty quickly when Aris gained more experience. He was the first one to truly jump levels. Cera had it difficult, and Yersi, who had been the strongest up to that point, had needed the help of her father to allow her to go outside.

When Aris was a newborn, he had just been an innocent kid that wanted to fight.

Then, after only staying inside a closed space with weaker opponents, he had grown incredibly arrogant.

Gravis and other beasts had needed to show him that his arrogance was misplaced several times until he finally got it.

In comparison, Cera hadn't changed very much in her earlier years. She had chased after Aris, wanting to become stronger than him. Sadly, even though Aris had been very arrogant, he had also been very talented.

Only Yersi had been more talented in terms of Cultivation. Sadly, the problem with her was her mindset. She had played it too safe her entire life, and she didn't like to join any fights that were too risky.

So, even though Aris' talent wasn't at the same level as Yersi's, he had managed to overtake her and stay in the lead ever since.

Then, Aris completely changed when he came back from the higher world. He had truly matured.

From a battle-hungry child to an arrogant adolescent to a responsible adult.

Gravis had been incredibly proud of Aris. Aris had even been talented enough to count as one of the favorites in the Lightning Peak Sect's tournament.

That was outstanding!

With enough time and resources, he could have become a genius on the level of the Peak Sects' geniuses.

And sure enough, he hadn't disappointed.

In just three million years, Aris had gone from a level one Ancestral God to a level six Divine God.

With some more resources and more time, he could have also become a Core Elder figure.

Sadly, there had been no more time.

an average Core Elder. One had to remember that every single Core Elder had been one of the

Law of the Dead World. Gravis was sure that Aris would

Laws also wouldn't have spelled a problem for

experiences with life that he had gained

would have been the Law of

and the Law of Control would have

incredibly talented, but that would have probably been where his growth in

become a powerful Ancestor of a

was already

Aris simply hadn't had the

the Heavenly Divine Sect before Aris could fully realize

put before a

Fight or flee?

could have simply

he hadn't wanted to abandon his new home and his

join, their group might lose

the fight too early, and they would have attacked the Formation Array, maybe even

time, Arc's and Manuel's carefully crafted plans

if the Formation Array had collapsed, all the attackers would be able to communicate with each

and he knew that Gravis would have attacked one of the

too early, several Ancestors

the last reason for Aris'

probably didn't even know that Aris would be part of this war, but his actions would have still supported the Heavenly

knowing it, Gravis had been supporting Aris' fight from a distance, and Aris

would support

they were fighting together,

And that was enough.

the battle, knowing that several of them would

able to triumph

his decision to fight made

Nobody knew.

been unknown before the fight, and it had remained unknown

Aris joining the fight had made a significant impact, but the same could be said for nearly everyone

lives, and those people had also

been incredibly proud of

person

many small candles that

long time with Yersi about Aris and

couldn't keep his tears in check anymore, and he

Gravis being there for

It was difficult.

It was so difficult.

never been

shot through Gravis' mind again

He missed him.

wanted to

thing of all was

knew the True

He could recreate Aris.