The Gods' Decree 146 Fine-Tuning

Within Taf's s.p.a.ce stone the surroundings were reminiscent of the first time training. It was a world unto itself with flowing springs, grand mountains, and an open plain.

The three glowing moons hovering above were the only indications this was indeed divergent from the outside world. Under the glow of the three moons, Taf watched as May sat in the lotus position with her eyes closed completely focused.

He smiled as there was an added beauty about her with that determined looked on her face. Soon he placed her in an area devoid of distractions of any kind, where her breakthrough would be unhindered.

After which his eyes looked down on his right arm while he sat listening to the sounds of nature around  before uttering,

?Elemental Art (Earth) Metallic Bones?

His pupils became green as he clenched his fist. There he stared as if awaiting some form of reaction while the minutes went, still there was no sign of any seeming change. Soon his eyebrows furrowed yet he persisted not moving an inch.

They say patience is bitter, but its fruit bare sweet and this was true. Soon there were signs of something peculiar occurring. Little by little, an iron sheen replaced parts of his brown skin, so much so that one of the full moon's reflection could be seen.

This brought a smile to Taf's face as he saw hints of success while pondering,

" Ever since that battle with the gorillas in Braveman's Graveyard. I've truly admired their iron body demon inherit art. Seems my metallic bones technique can indeed be upgraded as i initially thought, and what better time than the present?"

He then closed his eyes as the minutes once more began ticking by and with each second inch by inch, his body began transforming into that of iron.

Once more his eyes opened as he arose from the lotus position.

Taf's appearance had somewhat changed with all parts of his body with his eyes and locked being the exception to the iron's effect. There he stood in silence coming to terms with the changes as his dreads blew with the wind.

" Let's see the pros and cons." Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

While Taf spoke he eyed a tree some distance away that girth was at least 150 ft thick in diameter...

BOOOM!!!

It was blasted into bits by his iron fist as all that remained was a tree stump barely still embedded with the ground.

" Not bad!"

He exclaimed as he saw the destruction before making some mental a.s.sessments:

{Pros - Increase in strength and damage, can be used as a means of defense and minimal Qi requirement.

Cons- Decrease in speed and Inflexible movements, which makes me susceptible to counters.}

Once more Taf sat, though he was quite happy with the result, the disadvantages were ones that sometimes might be detrimental in a fight.

After all, a victor can be decided within seconds by the most minuscule of things. Now he was already disadvantaged cultivation wise, why then give this added gift to the enemy?

In his mind, he thought of possible scenarios fixing this quandary which he now found himself. Before finally, he found a temporary means,

" One of the pros of this technique is the minimal amounts of qi required. To supplement my lack of speed perhaps a slight alteration could be made.

If I were to say, activate a mere millisecond each time I lay siege with my attacks this should yield its benefits. While in defense activation can then be prolonged."

Taf rubbed his chin as all seemed plausible so he continued, " It seems my inflexible movements are mostly due to the encasing of iron around my joints.

This could be solved by relieving the art surrounding those key areas. Indirectly it provides my speed a.s.sistance while I'm in defense."

Taf felt a bit more confident as a cheeky grin formed before deactivating the art in progress.

" So that was an improvement in my earth technique, Now for you darkness..."

As Taf spoke a cube appeared before him then expanded into a large cage. The inside housed an eagle with red and yellow feathers. Its eyes were pitch black as it seemed in a docile stage.

" Hammerhead you've been quite the help while training this darkness of mine. How about a little freedom?"

?Elemental Art( Darkness) Chains of subjugation- Shatter?

Around Hammerhead's neck, black chains appeared before breaking apart the binding between the eagle and Taf. Its eyes that had been pitch black regained its previous clarity from Braveman's Graveyard.

 It shook its head and similar to a person who has been in a coma for years tried to make sense of its surroundings.

" You b.a.s.t.a.r.d! There is a special place in h.e.l.l for beings such as yourself!" It yelled when seeing the youth before it with dreadlocks on his head.

How he detested this fiend who had bested it through a series of tricks, before shameless smas.h.i.+ng it with a hammer atop its head. For months its consciousness was in a state where all its actions were by the whims of others.

" A little cranky are we?"

Taf mused as he saw Hammerhead within the cage going livid as it hurled insulting epithets in his direction.

However, wasn't it a pity not one of its words made it to taf's ear. Being in the 8th stage it had yet to develop the means of telepathic communication.  

" How dare you hold me hostage you worthless cub! Relieve me of this cage you coward if you have the gall!"

Hammerhead continued with its innuendos in its enraged state. From Taf's facial expression he didn't seem particularly phased by Hammerhead's state.

" I'm not sure things will proceed as you have planned. However, I'm in a giving mood." 

 Taf had a hint of what the eagle was spouting while it smashed its head against the cage, its actions were better translators than any words could be.

As Taf spoke he waved his hands and the doors to the cage became ajar.

In a state of shock, Hammerhead looked out at Taf with a bit of wariness in its eyes. Didn't he realize within a matter of secs he would be but a parched corpse on the ground?

It didn't quite remember what took place after being hit with the hammer. Only feeling as if it was in a dream-like state for the past few months.

Within its memories, it recalled being left with only its primal instincts and a need to obey all orders given.

However, now it knew how tricky this cub could be and would not make the same mistake twice, rightfully burning him into crisp. It smashed the cage gates aghast as the hate for this fiend continually built in its mind.

As it stepped out of the cage all it's pent up anger had reached its boiling point while seeing the youth with dreads acting oblivious to its actions.

Enraged its beak became aghast as a small spark of flame was seen. The spark was evidently fueled as it turned into an ever-growing ball of flames which heat combusted the nearby dry gra.s.s into ash.

While relis.h.i.+ng in the thought of its revenge it nearly choked. Within its eyes in a flash, an iron hand firmly grasped the tips of its beak. 

" Tell me, once activated can your art be undone?"

Hammerhead struggled but no matter how it tried it could not set itself free from the clutches of Taf's grip.

"Hmm, This has always fascinated me. Will you combust if my hand is not released? If so won't that be a sight, how about I test this hypothesis?" Taf then uttered in a somewhat chilly voice.

To be continued...

NB/ Unedited Version