Chapter 360: Realms for the Middle World (1/2)

Gravis blinked a couple of times in surprise. ”So, my original body is already gone?”

His father nodded.

”Huh,” Gravis said, ”this feels kind of weird. I don't really feel any different.”

”Yes, because your body isn't you,” his father said. ”Same thing with a beast body. Didn't you say once that you are you, and that won't change, no matter how much you change?”

Gravis was a bit surprised about that. ”I said that?” he asked.

”Yes, after you talked to some boy about the death of the other green bird,” his father said.

Gravis scratched his chin in thought. That phrase actually sounded way too philosophical for his personality. Usually, he wasn't a fan of philosophical stuff since it didn't change reality. Apparently, his mind had been in a weird place at the time if he said something like that.

”I think you're right. It's weird having my own words thrown at me,” Gravis said with a little bit of embarrassment.

”I thought it was a good phrase,” his father said.

”Might be,” Gravis answered. ”By the way, what body will I enter?” Gravis asked.

”It depends on someone's path of cultivation,” his father said. ”You, obviously, have an affinity towards lightning, so you will enter a body that also has an affinity towards lightning. Lightning is a peculiar affinity in regards to beasts. It's rarer than the other elements.”

”Additionally, most beasts with lightning affinity only get that later in their lives. Though, which body you enter depends on luck,” his father said, ”so, be prepared for a bad one.”

Gravis sighed. ”Luck again, huh?” he commented. ”Then, wouldn't that be putting everything on one card? The body could be useless or unsuited for fighting.”

”That only matters at the beginning,” his father said, ”you might not know, but the development of the body is not unchangeable.”

Gravis raised an eyebrow. ”Could you elaborate?” he asked.

”Most beasts follow their instincts when they reach a higher Realm. The instincts dictate which body they will choose. The important word is choose. They simply change the body into a form that is most comfortable and natural to them.”

Gravis' eyes shone. ”So, I can alter my body.”

”Yes, but only when you reach a new Realm with it,” his father said. ”The alterations are also limited. Don't expect to immediately create a human body. If you want to return into a body similar to a human's, you would need several Realm increases.”

”For example, you could get an additional pair of legs or arms after reaching a new Realm, but that is about as far as you can take it with only one breakthrough. Changing the outer layer of the body would also require a breakthrough.”

Gravis thought about this for a while. ”Why is the change so limited?”

”After you enter the body, it's your body. It's perfectly compatible with you. Your Spirit needs to acclimate to the body. Otherwise, it wouldn't be your body anymore. Only by slowly changing one part at a time can your body still be yours, even though it is completely different from your initial one.”

”Hm, makes sense,” Gravis commented. ”I would also need to change my fighting style,” he said.

”Depends on how you want to change your body,” his father said. ”If you aim for a humanoid body and enter the body of an ape, you could keep your current fighting style. Though, if you enter a body very different from a human's, it would take a long time to change it into one.”

”With my luck, I will probably enter a snake or frog, something completely different to a human,” Gravis said.

”The chances are high, yes,” his father answered.

”By the way,” Gravis said as he remembered something. ”What happens if I enter a very weak body?” he asked.