Chapter 180: Awakening

'Where am I? What is this?'

Some random thoughts appeared in Gravis' mind. He was not lucid, and he couldn't comprehend what was happening. Everything was confusing and blurred. He didn't know who he was. He didn't know what he was. There were only some scattered thoughts of some sentient being.

A small figure of Gravis appeared in a sea of lightning, unsure of its existence. The figure looked around, confused by all the inputs that it received. What was this violently moving, blue stuff all around it? Inside the small figure's mind, the word lightning appeared.

"Is this, lightning? What is lightning?" the figure asked as more things appeared inside the figure's mind. Lightning was calm, yet aggressive. It moved around its domain, yet if something touched its domain, it would strike the thing down even if it meant that the lightning would vanish.

Lightning didn't care about its existence. It was there to destroy, and nothing more.

"No, this is wrong," said the figure as more concepts appeared in its mind. "Lightning can also create life. What is life?" asked the figure again, as more concepts flooded its mind. Concepts about life and cultivation appeared.

"This is Destruction Lightning," the figure concluded. "This lightning only exists to destroy and not to create. There are more kinds of lightning. There is also natural lightning and Life Lightning."

"Why can I only see Destruction Lightning?" the figure asked itself as it looked around. "I don't want to destroy. If it only destroys, then why does it exist?"

The figure was unsure about where it was or why it was. There was only the power of destruction surrounding it, making it feel uncomfortable. Every new life was innocent and only yearned for happiness. Why would anyone want to destroy anything? Happiness was the most important.

More and more concepts appeared in the figure's mind as time flew by. "I am... Gravis. I am the son of the Opposer. Why am I here? What is this lightning world? Where is father? Where is mother? Where is Stella?"

Gravis regained more and more memories as time flew by. "Father and mother are at home. Stella... is dead."

When Gravis said that, he felt like the world was crashing down. Hadn't they played just yesterday? Why was he here?

Slowly, the following years also appeared in Gravis' mind. He remembered Forneus, his preparation school, the practical tests, and also his brother Orpheus. Slowly, Gravis' expression grew solemn. "I can only use lightning if I want to fight Heaven. I notice that I am quickly regaining memories. It seems like I have done something risky with all this lightning, but I am not sure what."

As Gravis remembered different things, he went through all of his experiences again. It was like he was living his life for the second time. He felt the pain of being lonely in this lower world. He felt the guilt and regret about killing Gorn. He remembered the happiness of meeting Skye.

"As I quickly regain my memory, I notice how I have quickly changed. When I arrived in this lower world, I wanted strength. When I had killed Gorn, I wanted happiness. When I stayed in the Heaven Sect, I wanted strength again. At least, that was what I had thought. In actuality, when I had killed Wendy, my priorities changed from strength to destruction. My strength was unimportant. I only wanted to destroy Heaven!"

Gravis' eyes shone coldly as he thought that. His memories had fully returned by now, and he finally knew where he was. "So, this is my Spirit Space, huh?" he asked himself with interest. His personality had grown steady again as no more memories appeared.

Gravis smiled madly. "It seems like my plan has succeeded. With my mind acclimated to lightning, I should be completely immune to it. Like this, the highest Heaven can't damage me with its lightning. Like this, I have already countered its most potent weapon."

"Well, let's leave this place," said the figure of Gravis as it vanished.

WHOOM!

As Gravis opened his physical eyes, his Will-Aura activated and enveloped the surroundings. He was in the Core-Continent, and he had reached the Spirit Forming Realm. Gravis felt his Spirit expand.

One kilometer.

Two kilometers.

Five kilometers.

Ten kilometers.

Someone at the initial stage of the Spirit Forming Realm would have a Spirit that encompassed the surrounding ten kilometers, yet his Spirit didn't stop.

20 kilometers.

30 kilometers.

40 kilometers.

50 kilometers.

As his Spirit reached a radius of 50 kilometers, it stopped expanding. Gravis only smirked. 'Sure enough, this suicidal approach has its benefits.'

Yet, Gravis felt like he could push his Spirit even more. Gravis concentrated his will on his Spirit, and it expanded again.

60 kilometers.

70 kilometers.

75 kilometers.

At 75 kilometers, it stopped again, and Gravis felt a heavy drain on his Spirit. He could push his Spirit with his will, but it was draining his Spirit quickly. Gravis stopped forcing his Spirit with his will, and it shrunk to 50 kilometers again.

Now, Gravis paid attention to the things inside his Spirit's range. He saw beasts, plants, the Wind Wall, the Energy-empty air high above him, and he also saw Aion. Aion was currently looking in his direction with a fearful and shocked expression. Yet, Gravis felt that Aion wasn't looking directly at him, but at a place directly beside him. Gravis concentrated his Spirit on that place, but he saw nothing, which confused him.

Gravis turned his head to look to the spot, and his mouth involuntarily opened in surprise.

"Father?" Gravis asked in disbelief.

Right beside him stood his father, the Opposer. His father currently had his hand on Gravis' shoulder, which he hadn't noticed up until now. "Am I dreaming, father? Why are you here?" Gravis asked.

The Opposer looked at Gravis, and Gravis couldn't believe it, but he felt like his father's eyes were radiating warmth and comfort.

"Son, you have achieved something that no one else has done before," the Opposer did a pause there, but then continued, "but I am not happy about this."

Gravis was shocked. "What do you mean?"

The Opposer looked deep into Gravis' eyes. "You were ready to sacrifice your life to destroy Heaven, but that is not what I want from you. I don't want you to sacrifice your life or your future prospects for me," the Opposer said softly.

Gravis' emotions were riled up. What was his father saying? Wasn't his father's goal to kill Heaven? Why would he say that? For a second, Gravis didn't quite get the gist of it.

The Opposer increased the weight of his hand on Gravis' shoulder. "Didn't you say the same thing to your bird?" he asked.

Gravis' eyes widened as he remembered that. Yes, he had said the same thing to Skye. He didn't want it to sacrifice its future prospects for him. Now, his father had said the same thing to him. After a while, Gravis could only smile sheepishly.

"I really screwed up, huh?" he said.

Now, everything was clear to him. Would his father want Gravis to sacrifice himself for his goal? No, he didn't. Just like Gravis never wanted Skye to sacrifice itself for him, the Opposer didn't want his son to do the same thing. As Gravis realized this, his priorities changed again.

Gravis had realized that through all this bitterness that he went through, he had lost his original goal. Initially, he didn't want to destroy Heaven. He wanted to be free. He wanted to be unrestrained. He wanted to be powerful enough so that no one could suppress him again. Gravis had associated his bitter hatred with the hunger for power, which was wrong. He didn't want to purely destroy. He wanted to be free.

"I'm sorry, father," said Gravis as he turned to him.

The Opposer nodded. "It's good as long as you realize. Reach the Unity Realm quickly so we can have a proper Father-to-son talk. I'll see you soon, Gravis."

After the Opposer had said that, he vanished into thin air.

The highest Heaven watched all this but didn't care much. It only watched to see what Gravis would do. This whole incident had shaken it, and it wouldn't ignore Gravis again. Starting from this day, the highest Heaven would watch everything that Gravis would do in the future.

Meanwhile, Gravis looked up into the sky with a smile.

"See you soon, father."