Lightning Is the Only Way

Gravis was in his home with Stella. Gravis had never actually needed a home since he had been living everywhere basically, but ever since he had become a Peak Divine God, he had decided to build one for himself and Stella.

Their home was near Opposer City for many reasons.

First of all, this was where Gravis' family lived.

Second, Opposer City was the largest city in the world, and it was always nice to live near a city.

Third, it was easy to teleport to everywhere else from Opposer City. The Teleportation Formation Arrays had strengthened connections to Opposer City.

Lastly, Opposer City was in the very center of the world, which meant that it was near basically everything else.

Gravis and Stella were living every day as it came. Stella focused on her Laws quite a bit while Gravis stayed near her.

Gravis didn't need to comprehend any more Laws since he knew the Law of the Cosmos. He could essentially just wait for the fateful day.

So, when would the fateful day arrive?

…

Tomorrow.

Mortis had told Gravis that he was ready to condense his Cosmos.

Gravis wasn't surprised that Mortis had comprehended the Law this quickly. After all, Mortis' talent for comprehending more Laws outside had become relatively irrelevant.

Gravis knew that.

Mortis knew that.

And Gravis knew that Mortis knew that.

Just today, Mortis had contacted Gravis and told him that he wanted to condense his Cosmos tomorrow.

When Gravis heard that, he became nervous, and an oppressive feeling washed over him.

However, he also realized that this decision was probably even harder for Mortis. So, Gravis decided not to complain.

Staying in this limbo forever also wasn't desirable. It might as well have been torture.

The last couple of years with Stella had felt unreal to Gravis.

Gravis wasn't in the mood for laughing, joking, and smiling, but he did so regardless. After all, he didn't want to worry Stella.

Yet, he also couldn't shake off the feeling that Stella was acting the same way. She was chipper, loving, and joked constantly. However, Gravis felt that it was empty.

It was like both of them were living an illusion for the other.

On the last day, the two of them spent their time together. Gravis didn't tell Stella anything, but she could feel it.

She knew that Gravis was about to do something very important.

For the last night, the two of them only silently held each other.

They simply enjoyed each other's presence.

A night of silence passed.

When the morning arrived, Gravis slowly stood up, his expression serious.

Stella saw Gravis act like this, and it hurt her.

Her entire being was shouting at her that she had to stop him!

She felt like she had to grab hold of him, or she would lose him forever!

Her body shook slightly, but she hid it behind a smile.

"You're going?" she asked.

Gravis only nodded.

Silence.

"Will you be back?" Stella asked as her heart beat frantically.

Silence.

"I don't know," Gravis answered after a while.

When Stella heard that, her eyes began to water.

Having suspicions was one thing, but hearing it directly was something else.

"Why?" she asked.

Silence.

"I can't abandon my goal," Gravis said. "With you by my side, I can have an eternity of happiness. However, I will also feel stifled in this Cosmos."

"I want to go outside."

"I want to see the world outside this Cosmos."

Stella only looked at Gravis with a worried expression.

"Will you?" she asked.

For a while, Gravis didn't answer.

"I don't know," he said. "However, if I don't try, I will forever regret it."

Then, Gravis turned around and looked at Stella.

"I'm sorry, Stella," he said. "I'm really, really sorry."

When Stella heard these words, it was like Gravis' reality was splitting off from her reality.

She was losing him!

Yet, she didn't interrupt Gravis.

"I have always desired freedom and happiness in my life," Gravis said. "You have given me happiness, and you are all that I need for happiness. I don't need power or status or whatever. I only need you."

"If it only involved us two, I would never leave. I don't want to leave!"

Gravis sighed.

"Yet, it isn't only you. Every day I remain like this, father comes closer to his death. I can't give you specifics, but father has been slowly dying over a long period of time, and if I don't do something, he will eventually vanish."

"He has been fighting for his freedom for much longer than me. If I already feel this stifled after only five million years, how does he feel after 50 billion years?"

"Also, it isn't only him. There's also Arc," Gravis said with a sigh. "Arc will eventually also succumb to his fate. He has spent ten billion years in a prison, and he has only been granted marginal freedom for a couple million years."

"Lastly, it's because of all of you," Gravis said. "You are all doomed to die sooner or later. Not cultivating means death. Cultivating means death."

"Everything leads to death."

If Gravis had said these things a couple million years ago, Orthar would have most likely killed him. After all, Gravis was essentially unveiling Orthar's method of running his Cosmos.

However, at this point, it didn't matter anymore.

Gravis could even talk about the Brand if he wanted.

It wouldn't matter anymore.

When Stella heard that, it was like reality was breaking apart.

"Death?" she asked in shock.

"Yes, all paths lead to death," Gravis said. "If you are weak, you will be killed by others. If you are strong, you will be harvested by Heaven."

"All the Heaven's Magnates are just ripe crops to Heaven. They are only there to draw in more Energy."

"Stella, if I don't go, you will eventually be harvested by Heaven, and even if Heaven grants you eternal life, it won't extend the same courtesy to Arc and father, not that they would want it. They are not interested in eternal life but in freedom."

"For an eternity, the Cosmos has remained the same."

"Nothing has ever changed."

"But now, for the first time, the Cosmos can be changed."

"Fate can be changed."

"And I am the key," Gravis said with a solemn voice. "Mortis and I are the only two people that can change the Cosmos. We can allow you all to break out of this cage."

"That's why I have to go," Gravis said.

Silence.

"Even if it costs your life?" Stella asked silently.

Silence.

"There's no other choice," Gravis said with a shaky voice.

Then, he turned around.

"Goodbye Stella."

"Find someone that loves you as much as I love you."

SHING!

After Gravis spoke these words, he vanished.

For a while, Stella only looked at the empty place in shock.

Then, she broke down.