Chapter 876: Future (1/2)

SSSHHH!

Runes of Laws started to leave Gravis' Spirit. As they touched the outside world, they combined with the inherent Laws of the world and vanished. It was like a drop of white water was thrown into an ocean of black. The drop vanished and scattered as it got absorbed by the world and became part of it.

Gravis felt himself become furious.

However, it wasn't himself that became furious, but his Divine Lightning.

It would not stop until it became Gravis!

SSSHHH!

More runes left Gravis' Spirit, but he still felt himself changing.

His movements became slower as he started questioning himself.

'Is that truly necessary?' he asked himself. 'So what if I change? I'm still me, right?'

'Why do I need to get rid of my lightning? That would be stupid. This is an integral part of my power, and I can't abandon it.'

'How did I even come up with that idea?'

Gravis started to hesitate as the runes stopped leaving his Spirit. Was this truly the right decision?

'Is it truly me that is deciding to stop now?' Gravis asked himself. 'Has my lightning changed me so much that I no longer see an issue with keeping it?'

'Why was I even so adamant about abandoning it?'

'I don't get it,' Gravis thought.

This was the effect of lightning's influence. The speed at which it took over Gravis' Spirit had slowed down, but it still made progress.

Suddenly, Gravis started thinking that it wasn't so bad to keep his lightning.

After all, it gave him immense power.

How would he be able to achieve supreme power without it?

Without noticing it, Gravis' priorities had already started shifting. He was not considering happiness but power.

Suddenly, Gravis frowned.

'Yet, I still want freedom, and my lightning is influencing me. Isn't being able to be yourself part of being free? I want to do what I want and be what I want.'

'But what do I actually want?'

'Power?'

'Yes, I want that pretty badly.'

'Happiness?'

'Sure, sounds great.'

'Freedom?'

…

…

…

'Yes, I think freedom is what I want, and freedom means being myself.'

SSSSHHHH!

More runes left Gravis' Spirit as he resumed banishing them.

This was the result of an overlapping priority that both of them had.

Divine Lightning wanted power.

Gravis wanted happiness.

However, both of them also desired freedom.

At the crossroads of the future, a person influenced by two competing sides decided to take the middle road.

He wouldn't go towards happiness.

He wouldn't go towards power.

He would go towards freedom.

However, the path that led straight ahead was intrinsically linked to the path of happiness.

Because of that, the mixed person that had decided on something in-between traveled onto a neutral path that would lead into a path that one party desired.

Freedom meant being yourself and doing what you wanted.

Happiness allowed someone to be free. After all, freedom was an integral part of happiness.

They were intrinsically connected.

However, freedom didn't necessarily require supreme power.

Plenty of mortals felt happy and free, and they certainly didn't have supreme power.

WHOOOOM!

Gravis' Avatar of Freedom began shining as it started to banish the lightning from Gravis' head.

Freedom desired freedom, and freedom meant being yourself.

As more runes left Gravis' Spirit, he felt himself return.

He realized that his earlier indecision was stupid!

He had to get rid of his lightning!

Otherwise, he would never be happy again!

Gravis became furious as the Divine Lightning resisted with all its might.

If it left Gravis' Spirit, it would stop existing!

It would return to that black ocean of nothingness!

It wouldn't be able to change or think anymore!

It would lose its freedom!

Gravis felt the weakening resistance of his Divine Lightning, and an expression of sadness appeared on his face.

'You also only desire freedom, huh?' Gravis thought.

'After being suppressed for so long, you also only want to be able to make your own decisions. You want to think for yourself and do what you want.'

'Your emotions and personality might clash with mine, but we both want freedom.'

'I don't want to suppress anyone that isn't an enemy, and you are not my enemy.'