The Gods' Decree

"You do know we are cheating by doing this, right?" May uttered while removing her bracelet which restricted her strength. To which Taf responded,

"She stated it was against the rules to use our lord realm strength for battle. I don"t recall her mentioning anything about reconnaissance."

Taf smiled with one of his eyebrows raised after finding a loophole in his agreement with the grand elder. Still, May gave him a knowing look yet she questioned no further.

In fact, she cared not one bit if they cheated. Only wanting Taf to admit that what was indeed what they were doing. Yet she knew that was a lost cause.

Soon May lifted her arm as dark clouds began forming above the western parts of the forest.

This startled those noticed these blackened clouds as the morning had been quite sunny merely moment prior. Not one cloud had been in the skies but now it seemed a deluge awaits.

The clouds became darker by the second, but before the first drop fell all were shocked as they swore their eyes witnessed black lightning being shot into the clouds.

Isn"t this the opposite of what should actually occur? Since when did lightning form from the ground before reaching the clouds?

Moreover, it was black nonetheless which they found quite odd. Soon the black clouds no longer covered only the westernmost parts of the forest. It expanded until not a spot remained uncovered.

This was quite the peculiarity the swiftness to which the clouds expanded. What made it even stranger was it almost perfectly covered the forest and not an inch outside.

In the distance in her private study, Old Perth chuckled as she looked out of her window,

"Those rascals." After which her eyes no longer lingered to the activity surrounding the forest.

Finally, the first drops of rain fell, and oddly it was not a huge downpour as expected but a somewhat light drizzle. Yet with each drop that touched a disciple"s skin, they felt a slight jolt.

While all unfolded both May"s and Taf"s eyes remained closed while holding hands. Through this means with every drop that made contact with a living creature they became aware of their position.

" I take the eastern side and you the west. Our objective is the top ten before nightfall. After which we"ll settle a debt owed." Taf outlined how they would proceed for the next few hours.

Hmmm!

"Let"s make it a bit interesting. How about the person with the least markers for the day has to cook the winner"s favorite dish?" May interjected with a smirk.

Hearing this brought a cheeky smile to Taf"s face. May always knew how to rile him up, "Well you know what my stomach loves so be mentally prepared, will you." 

"Why would I when my personal chef is within my midst," May responded with a bit of banter as she shot off in the opposite direction leaving him with faint laughter is his ear.

Hmmm!

"Guess it"s on."

Taf thought as he once more placed a bracelet around his arm. He had to admit though he had to limit himself with the bracelet. Truthfully he loved the thought of competing with others in his age group for once.

?35 minutes before automatic elimination?

Taf could now be seen at the side of a grand river that crashed against the rocks on its banking. There he watched as the tides moved back and forth. There was something that he previously found strange about this river when using his black lightning.

It seemed normal but all is not what it appears. He had his suspicions and theories that is why he made this one of his first destinations to visit. Taf then placed a finger within the water before sending out a harmless electrical pulse.

After which he smiled while thinking,

"How interesting? I estimate I"ll have about two minutes of air to complete this task."

Soon brown dust could be seen amalgamating into hardening dirt covering his body. First from his feet and then making its way to his chest. This Taf did at least twenty times over until he felt it was an appropriate amount.

He then eyed the river going back a hundred feet before sprinting in quick bursts. When once more at its banking he launched himself in the air before plunging into its deepest waters.

Splas.h.!.+

When entering the water Taf felt its temperatures drop at a tremendous rate. Through his eyes, he saw five women staring at him coldly as their heads were covered in water bubbles filled with oxygen. Water twisted around their bodies as small ice spikes began to form.

Puh! Puh!

They shot the spikes like sharp torpedos at the invader, as Taf constantly twisted his body in order to evade. Though his movements were slower under the water he did just enough to escape being constantly impaled.

"No wonder they lasted so long. They"re quite tactical in their battle strategy. Funny I thought I would have had the element of surprise on my side.

Yet it seems the moment I arrived at the banking they became aware of my presence." This Taf deduced after he was bombarded with attacks within seconds of entering.

The five were unrelenting with their attacks but when seeing Taf easily evade the spikes the apparent squad captain of the five gestured for a change in strategy. After her hint, the rest of the squad halted their attacks, and soon Taf felt the temperature plummeting at least ten times its previous rate.

Around him, the water became freezing as small clumps of ice could be seen. Then it went even further with all the water around him become frozen solid. Right their and then he deduced their plan.

It seems they intended to freeze him into a block of ice. At first, he had intentions of resisting but perhaps this might work in his favor.

"Let"s see where this leads."

Still, Taf did put up a ruse as though he was fighting with all his might. He launched himself as a last desperate move to the two who were the weakest of the group.

However, his movement became restricted as he rapidly became what resembled a large iceberg. There he was trapped and defeated inside a block of frozen ice. At least through the perspective of the five women who smiled in delight.

Yet another marker to add to their collection was the general consensus. A thought lingered in the backs of the mind as they were intrigued as to how he knew of their presence submerged under the river tide. Still, it mattered not as he too was a fish caught in a net. 

They waited for a few more minutes allowing the ice to solidify even further before collection. This was to ensure their enemy was truly defeated as a precaution, but they knew no one could still remain conscious inside. Perhaps if this youth had the elements of air and water he stood a chance.

Yet based on what was seen from his combat a mere few moments prior these were elements which he lacked. A few minutes later they then ensured to thaw the large block of ice expecting to see a frozen youth inside.

However, as the ice dwindled away below its husk something which resembled frozen mud could be seen.

"What the heck is that?" The squad captain mouthed, yet when looking at her vice-captain she saw her screaming in fright. When she hurried to instinctively turned around there was a human-sized clump of wet mud that resembled a casket.

?Elemental Art (Earth) Sarcophagus?

The mud which resembled a coffin suddenly thrust itself forward however she swiftly attempted blasting small burst of water bullets to keep it at bay. Yet it was all for naught as the bullets only pierce through holes created by the mud. 

Then she tried using water blade slashes but yet again the mud only avoided the paths of the attacks before reforming.

Within seconds the clay gobbled up the squad captain before sealing itself shut. Though she was underwater within the sarcophagus it was devoid of water similar to any dessert. 

She tried to smash it apart but to her dismay, the casket would not bulge. It was all for naught. Feeling helpless she screamed for relief as her phobia for tight s.p.a.ces took effect. This was no different from being buried alive. The nightmare of many.

Sensing their captain in danger the other four members turned their attention to Taf who was still encased in a combination of ice and mud.

They hurriedly sent spike projectiles while also dispatch twisting whirlpools. Together the two would shred apart even hardest rocks to dust.

Yet they didn"t notice while unleas.h.i.+ng their onslaught. At the base of the large block of ice there was now boiling hot water.

Unedited version

To be continued...