Lightning Is the Only Way

Forneus didn't arrive too early or too late. He looked at the youngsters and announced loudly, "It's time for the last test. The enemies will appear after a fixed interval of 45 seconds. It doesn't matter if the previous enemy died or not. After 45 seconds, you have to fight the next one. If you haven't defeated your opponent by then, you will have to fight two enemies simultaneously. Environmental changes will be kept up for three minutes and do not count as enemies. Be prepared to fight your enemies in unfavorable environments." Forneus narrowed his eyes. "Also, there will be no breaks until the test is over."

The youngsters narrowed their eyes. This would be hard. In comparison to the others, Gravis didn't react. He went through harder tests by now. He didn't even know why he was required to attend. This test held no meaning for him.

As the portals appeared, the youngster's eyes narrowed, and they walked forward. "Gravis, stay here," Forneus suddenly said. The others were too preoccupied with the preparation for their test, to care about Gravis right now. When all youngsters vanished, Gravis looked at Forneus and waited. He kept looking in Forneus' eyes, with his, by now, usual cold look.

Forneus grinned slightly. "That's a good look you have there." Forneus' eyes also narrowed, and suddenly, Gravis felt cold. Gravis felt like a blade rested on his throat. "But don't get cocky," Forneus coldly remarked and went back to his usual bored self.

Gravis released a sigh. This woke him up. For the first time, he felt utterly outclassed. Just Forneus' aura alone reminded him that, while he was the strongest in his class, he was still weak in the world. For the first time in a long while, Gravis restrained his aura. With a deep breath, he calmed himself down.

"Do you think it's a good idea to curb someone's Will-Aura right before a battle, Forneus?" An imposing voice appeared from the entrance of the hall, and Orpheus entered. He looked at Forneus with a sharp look. Just like Forneus curbed Gravis' Will-Aura, Orpheus destroyed Forneus' Will-Aura.

Forneus gulped deeply, but he didn't falter. "So what? He provoked me by releasing his killing intent while looking at me." Forneus got some courage back and spoke louder. "You would do the same in my case."

Orpheus narrowed his eyes even further. By now, cold sweat was flowing down Forneus' back, and his breathing became heavier. But surprisingly, Orpheus did nothing further. This was an excellent opportunity to teach Gravis.

Orpheus turned to Gravis. "He is right, you know. You were constantly unleashing your battle-intent. That's what we call a Will-Aura, or killing-intent. Normally, the Will-Aura is only released when someone wants to fight someone else. By openly showing your battle-intent, you basically shouted at him to fight with you."

Gravis closed his eyes and sighed. Orpheus was right. By always killing weaker opponents, he forgot that he was still at the bottom. Gravis turned to Forneus and slightly bowed. "Thank you for the reminder, Forneus. And I apologize for my disrespect," Gravis said politely.

Forneus harumphed, looked at Orpheus, and left grumbling. Orpheus watched Forneus leave and turned back to Gravis. "Your test will be different than the other's."

eyes, and his battle-intent was building

will

Gravis' Will-Aura rose further.

this before, but I believe that you can manage." Orpheus

aura reached his peak. "What will

smile changed to a smirk. "You'll

last months, and wild beasts were among those things. He had only fought against ferocious beasts until now. The strongest among them could theoretically, still

demonic beasts were not ferocious beasts anymore. They were a grade higher, and people of the earlier mentioned stages were just food for them. With luck, someone with tempered skin could kill a low-grade demonic beast. Only if someone additionally tempered their muscles or bones, could they securely win against such an opponent. Gravis knew this would

Only like this can you hope to defeat your opponent." Orpheus took out a saber made of void-stone and threw it to

here and just collapsed onto a wall to catch their breath. Orpheus and Gravis ignored

his grip on his saber and walked silently through the portal. The scenery changed, and Gravis was back in the red cave. In front of him stood a two-meter high, golden lion. Its head looked down at Gravis, sizing him up. Gravis felt its pressure. None of his earlier opponents felt this powerful, yet his gaze did not falter and looked back into the lion's eyes. His

weaker than his opponent, his will-aura was superior. The opponent didn't even have one. The lion had fought for its meal, but never fought an opponent that could threaten its life. Inside its forest in the lower world, it was king. None dared challenge it! Its mane stood up to intimidate its opponent, but

initiative was important, so he immediately shot forward. The lion roared again and swiped with

and raised his saber to block. The paw smashed into the saber, and Gravis flew back for about five meters. When he hit the floor, he rolled off with his back and managed to stand up again, before he even finished sliding. Gravis' arms shook. There was immense power behind that swipe, and the lion didn't even use its full body weight for that attack. He could not contend

own attack, ran to Gravis and swiped again. Gravis wouldn't fall for its speed another time and ducked under the attack while moving forward. He quickly raised

CLANK!

dodge a paw that smashed down. Then, the lion tried to hit him with its back

away, trying to hit Gravis in panic. Gravis had no issue evading such uncoordinated attacks and kept close to the lion, like a leech. The lion swiped again, but Gravis kept low to the ground and went under its elbow. With a sharp blow, he hit the inside of the lion's elbow, while it was still swiping. The lion's attack's added power made the saber go in deep and

lion was recovering, Gravis stabbed his saber in its left eye. The lion seized and only managed to close its eyes before the saber penetrated it. The saber had destroyed the eye, but a saber was not made for stabbing, so it didn't