The Gods' Decree 194 A Matter Of Ethics

?Elemental Art(Earth)Metallic Bones?

Taf called forth upon his earth element as a brown rustic glow shrouded his body. His muscles bulged as his veins became visible under his skin. Soon the Warhammer finally moved with him lifting it three feet from the cracked ground.  

'Finally some progress!' He thought as his face beneath the purple mask showed obvious signs of fatigue with cold sweat.

"This is an armament I once gained while on one of my excursions outside of the Chu Country. Its one unique trait is its heavyweight which inflicts quite the damage but the disadvantage is the time it takes to wield such a weapon.

Judging by your technique this is quite suited for you. I am sure the weapon you seek is one with dexterity and not finesse."

The grand elder interjected by saying. In truth not one of her previous disciples thought this weapon useful in the past. To them, it was just a pile of junk not deserving of the time and effort. Yet the most talented of all salivated at the notion of wielding the Warhammer, it was quite ironic.

"Thank you,"

Taf uttered having felt a bit grateful. When he fought with his Warhammers it was not about grace but a method of brute force and a means to an end. Give him a mountain with a handle and he would be just as excited.

"I knew there was a sweet child underneath." The grand elder oddly teased as Taf rolled his eyes. He then replied,

"I wouldn't get too used to it, Old Perth."

"You have created quite the stir within the ranks of your fellow disciples."

She uttered watching as Taf discarded his new weapon allowing him to move normally for a change.

"Oh, news travels fast huh? Just a small incident. Don't tell me any of them actually died? I really did try to hold back my hand."

Taf right there and then tried to absolve himself of any form of wrongdoing. 

"Join me in having a cup of tea while we have a little chat." She uttered with a smile.

At that moment Taf hoped it was not the beginning of a lecture on being reserved. Yet he was quite surprised when he found this wasn't the case.

"I am no fool. I was once young and had to put a few bullies in their place from time to time. A sect is a tough place to survive and we know this to be true.

In fact, this is encouraged and enforced, I won't tell you we are kind souls because we are far from that. We nurture the strong while the weak are trampled. Do you know why this is?"

The grand elder uttered as she poured Taf a cup of green tea. He remained quiet for a bit while he thought of her honest words and question.

"This is a means to encourage all to strive for strength. The segregation of living quarters is a prime example. Some live in mansions, while others in 'swamps'.

Every day it is an ample reminder for the two groups that only through strength can there be true rewards."

Taf acknowledged as he sipped the tea provided, which had quite the minty taste. His response garnered a smile from the grand elder while she sat across from him drinking her tea as well.

"Strength is a funny word don't you think?  Many only a.s.sociate strength with power, yet sometimes the strength we seek is not might but something far more important.

Some acts might be deemed cruel but there are methods to the madness. You are right about one of the purposes of the 'swamp', still that is only the secondary motive. In time you will realize its true purpose."

The grand elder ended by saying. Taf remained quiet as he wondered what this other purpose might be. At the moment he was stump for another reason.

"So will you be taking part in this year's annual sect tournament?" Soon the topic of discussion was changed by the grand elder.

"Grand elder I am a lord, how would it look for me to fight amongst juniors? Isn't that simply bullying the weak?"

Taf retorted having no intention of partic.i.p.ating in something that provided no gain or personal interest.

"A lord you say?" The grand elder chuckled at Taf's wording.

"Yes one within the realm of lords, to be specific." He once more uttered to which the Old Perth retorted,

"Child how long did you think you could keep this charade of yours going." 

"What charade?"

Taf became a bit defensive as once again he felt he had been seen through by this old woman. What is it that could be hidden from her eyes? Soon he knew the gig was up so dejectedly he uttered,

"What gave it away? I thought I was playing the role perfectly."

" Don't be alarmed not many will see through your disguises. If anything most pride will blind their eyes from the truth.

Who would think that qi realms would dare try such a thing as gallantly parade as lords? I have seen many things but this is a first. It seems I underestimated you both once more."

As the grand elder spoke Taf couldn't help but notice this woman was always composed no matter the topic that was broached for discussion.

In truth unbeknown to him the grand elder's thought process was quite simple when it came to Taf and May.

Taf was an anomaly so his future accomplishments are even beyond her comprehension. While May had the backing of someone she suspected might be a Monarch. She then continued,

"About this tournament, I will like your partic.i.p.ation."

This wasn't what Taf expected to hear. In fact, he thought she would concur with his decision. He was fighting against Lord realm cultivators. How was it fair for him to challenge anyone below him? She then continued by saying with some reluctance,

"I've been watching and there are many talents within this generation of disciples. Yet I can't find one that will rightfully take on the mantle from us the dying breed. This is truly troubling as I fear the demise of the sect after our pa.s.sing." 

By the words of the grand elder, everything she did for the sect was to ensure its successful futures.

"What about that one in a thousand-year genius, Jason?" Taf asked as surely he would have the pa.s.s mark required. His credentials are in his t.i.tle after all.

"He is talented, yet he lacks the drive and character that is needed to surpa.s.s the mark of his predecessors.  His ego will be his undoing in the future unless it is checked now."

As she spoke the grand elder was once more brought back to her younger self. Wasn't Jason her duplicate from the past? Though he was from an opposing clan the future of the sect superseded her clan's aspirations. 

It didn't take long before the grand elder saw Taf scratching his chin under the purple mask as if deliberating on a matter. It seemed he found a means which provided a bit of leverage against this superior foe.

The question then became, how will he use this to his advantage? Soon he uttered with a bit of reluctance in his voice,

 "Isn't this somewhat immoral? I am a man of ethics and would hate to bully the weak."

Still, he was graced by that old smile while she responded,

"So I am guessing you would be averse to taking the prizes of 1.5 million qi stones, A mid-level lord weapon and one special request of the sect? Seeing that you are 'morally' endowed."

"Well, grand elder how could you say such a thing. if it is for the shepherding of the younger generation, how could I an elder dare turn my back on such a request? It is my duty, I will, of course, take part."

Taf without any seeming shame sought to twist his sudden reversal of opinion as a matter of duty to serve.

"Of course there would be restrictions." The grand elder soon dosed his greedy desires.

'd.a.m.n it! I knew this was too good to be true.' Taf cursed within his head. 

Cling! Cling!

Two bronze bracelets were thrown across the table.

"These bracelets will suppress your battle strength below Lords. With this in place, the battleground will be even."

"You're still confident I will win even amidst these restrictions."

Taf curiously questioned as he looked the bracelets over. There would definitely be moments where he would need to exert himself if he were to be restricted. 

Confidently the grand elder replied,

"Yes after your battle against Dar I am certain. Your affinities are not your greatest a.s.sets, it's that a.n.a.lytical mind during dire situations. Not many would have won that battle under such duress with little to no hope."

Her words though not many did bring a feeling he missed from his time at Marvel City. There was always Old Man Ming presence with his rea.s.suring experienced voice. Though he didn't need it at the moment with this being a mundane task in his eyes, oddly it was quite comforting.

To be continue

Unedited Version.