The Gods' Decree 195 Goden Finger

"In regards to your elder duties, I have realized you and May have not applied for either a lecturing post or that of mentorship."

She uttered obviously catching Taf off guard as he nearly sprayed out the mouthful of tea that was within his mouth.

"Surely you are not serious, right?"

The stunned Taf questioned. This was not going how he thought. His assessment of the elder title was this was somewhat honorary.

In truth other than strength they were not qualified to hold a genuine post. It took decades of experience to mould young minds. Some weren't even young but their seniors.

"Choose any one of the two, whichever you see as fitting. As elders, you both will need to pull your weights. How would it appear to outsiders when my two new disciples are absolved of any responsibilities?"

The grand elder replied while being calm and composed. Seeing the frown on Taf's face she continued with a chuckle,

"Cheer up, one lecture for the month will suffice. You're both smart and will figure out a means to get through this small ordeal." 

Though Taf heard her words with evident laughter in her voice he could not see a funny side to the matter.

" I have one request, Old Perth."

Taf reserved to his fate then uttered to the grand elder across the table who casual sipped on her tea.

"Since I've asked something of you, it would be unfair of me not to give the same privilege. What is it that you desire?"

She responded with a smile.

"I will do all that you request if we spar for a bit. I know I have no chance of putting up a fight. Yet it is my wish. I hope you will oblige me."

Under her wrinkled face for the first time, Taf saw what appeared as a smirk. In some ways, her younger self shun throw.

"You have had a difficult battle with Dar. Have you recuperated enough to once more engage in another so quickly?"

The grand elder then asked...

With confidence, Taf responded, " I am 100% at the moment fully ready to go all out"

"Unfortunately, there is nowhere close to whereas to engage in a private battle."

The grand elder stated knowing in the previous battle with Dar, Taf held back significantly not want to let others seeing his true combat strength.

"I have a place." Taf grinned as he truly anticipated facing the one at the peak of the sect.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

For a long time, the grand elder has not been awed by anything. Yet when she saw what unfolded before her eyes she was mesmerised.

Above there were three gigantic moons that were like lanterns in the dark star-filled sky. Who knew that a space item could hold such things.

Even for her she though the limitations of a space ring was the size it housed inside. She has heard stories of space rings that could sustain life for a day or two but this was absurd.

Her inner child looked in glee as she sought to capture this moment and frame it within her mind.

This was a true treasure that even the ones at the helm of the Star continent would slaughter billions to obtain. She felt as though time passed differently within this world.

Then something struck her like a lightning bolt.

Monarch?!

Was she insane?

That divine being was far superior to a monarch to have given such a divine treasure to a child.

Who was he? Why would he have Taf join a sect in such a desolate land?

Evidently, he could crush her sect with a mere wave of his hand if he intended. A shiver went down the grand elder's spine when she thought bought the matter.

Obviously, she will need to reevaluate the whole matter of the reasoning behind the two's joining.

Taf seeing the reaction of the grand elder gave her the time to basked in the moment. Guess in some ways he underestimated the wonders of this world within his space stone.

He didn't callous bring the grand elder within the space stones as he had weighed the pros and cons prior.

Seeing her reaction she wouldn't dare have desires of stealing this knowing the being that provided it. He also assessed her character and based on his assessment realized it was beneath her.

However only a few he trusted with his life so his true reasoning was based on one fact. Within the space stone, he was akin to God.

Even if the grand elder became greedy giving in to her desires, wanting to possess his space stone and discarded his backing. He would have no qualms in using the stone's abilities to kill her.

Whatever he desired the space stone provided. In fact, his previous disguise was the doing of the space stone itself.

If he wanted an ocean, within a matter of seconds it was conjured. He could cut off all the oxygen and qi within the world and stifling her, waiting to collect her corpse within a matter of days.

May had the same abilities with her stone as well. Even on the outside world it can never be stolen or change owners. This was the draconian safeguard allowing them to move as they please.

This was an item which housed an infinite amount of possibilities and both knew this. Still, they only used its most basic features.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

"Have you taken in all the sites." Taf teased finally seeing this old foe flustered.

Regaining her known cool and calm composure the grand elder uttered,

"Quite breathtaking, you are truly fortunate. I'll suppress my battle strength to the early mid-stages of the lord realm. Also, I will limit myself to only using elements as art. "

Hearing this Taf became even more enthusiastic. Perhaps he will have a chance after all. There has never been a fight he has lost against someone of equal strength. Better yet, now there was no need to limit his strength whatsoever.

He grinned as black lightning started spiralling around his body, his black and brown dread frizzed due to the static.

Soon he called forth,

🌟Elemental Art (Earth) Iron body🌟

His skin visually became cloaked in iron sheen. A hundred feet away the grand elder gave him the time needed as she calmly awaited.

"Let's begin."

Taf uttered as he blasted through the terrain. Within a second he was before the grand elder.

Fully encased in iron  A series of kicks and punching were launched aiming to pulverize the grand elder where she stood.

He held nothing back though the woman before him may be misconstrued as old and feeble.

Bam! Bam!

Small like crater were formed by the wait of his kicks, yet to the frustration of Taf, the grand elder only counter with one finger covered in gold.

"Opening!"

She smirked and before Taf knew it he felt that gold finger on his chest.

Flicker.

BOOOOM!

He was sent flying smashing against a hill.

Puk! Puk!

Taf slowly made his way out of the rubble as blood trickled down the sides of his mouth. He was utterly demolished even when going all out by one finger.

She didn't even move from the spot. Not one flinch as he went on an onslaught. Only her pupils which moved from time to time was proof she even took the fight seriously.

'What the heck and I am I doing!'

Taf berated himself. This was a first for him. Never before as he felt helpless before an opponent. In someway his ego was also taking a beating.

'Ok calm down, take a breath.' He spoke inwardly to himself as he sought to level the playing field somewhat.

"You are callous with your movements. Though you are encased in iron that doesn't make you invulnerable. With proper timing and a bit of precious you give your opponent a chance to counter every 2.5 seconds."

The grand elder uttered in the distance as she saw Taf taking his time process what previously unfolded. Her words were a bit of enlightenment for Taf as he recalled the exchange. It was as though the grand elder was waiting for the perfect moment to attack.

"Let me show you."

She calmly stated and as soon as Taf heard her words before he could fully process she was before him.

Bam! Bam!

He sought to fight her off but she wove through his attacks as though he was a tortoise and she a hare.

"Opening here. Under your torso becomes neglected as you thrust forward with your punches."

BOOOOM!

He was blasted once again across the terrain. His as his body ached and blood continued to flow from his insides.

"Opening here. Though apparently, your art does not require a lot of qi, some part of its application are weaker than others. Remember a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link."

BOOOOM! BOOOOM!

Taf again was sent flying into the distance.This contained for tens of minutes until the hour mark came.

After a while he realized he this was teaching session. As  each time he was given a brief of where he went wrong.

Most of his techniques were self taught so he knew there would be faults. Yet the grand elder made him see how childish he truly was in compared to old masters such as herself. Now he knew that perhaps his age might be his undoing.

" I'm sorry I am sure you desire to use other techniques. Wield that new hammer of you, I will give you a breather. Maybe then you can make me move."

The grand elder once more spoke carefree as she watched the battered and bruised Taf once make his way from the broken caved in floor. Her words rubbed even more salt in his already opened wounds.

He has tried most of his elemental techniques, Fire, earth, light and even darkness. Yet not once has he been able to counter the grand elder who only used a golden finger.

She was a true monster while he in comparison played paltry tricks.

"I'll make you move." Taf stated defiantly as the black lightning around his body intensified. This was a matter of pride and he would not lose.

"Sure you will." The grand elder uttered with a gentle smile infuriating Taf even further.

As the grand elder spoke she saw Taf summon the charcoal black warhammer to his hands.His muscles bulged and with determination in his eyes he uttered...,

🌟Heaven's art - Gravity🌟

To be continued

Unedited Version

Chapter end