The Gods' Decree

Currently, s.h.i.+noda"s men were here to provide protection for Darwin. Which based on what previously occurred they had failed miserably.

"You"re quite insolent. Do you know the presence who stands before you? Do you even know who sent us? This man is under our protection and you dared to hurt him!"

Garro angrily yelled as his body set off searing heat. It was so intense that all of Darwin"s squad had to flee in the distance.

Taf uncaring of Garro"s apparent show of strength calmly spoke a few words,

"Who sent you is none of my concern, nor is this supposed protection. I will however say this once. In order to spare the innocent, I"ll give ten seconds in which to vacate the area allowing us time with our dare friend Darwin. After which anyone remaining following this stipulated time will be mercilessly stamped under our feet. "

This surprised all who heard it. This fellow was truly as mental as the rumors stated. In the distance Brutus chided,

"Is that supposed to mean something? Since that"s the case I counter with one of my own. Five seconds before I smack that stupid smile from your face."

He laughed and was joined by Sal. This was one of the silliest things they ever heard. Who speaks like this?"

"Since you"re so outspoken, a man who likes to make his thought be known out loud. I will use the body of Mr inferno over there to beat you unconscious,"

Taf uttered. His words when spoken sounded quite serious as he proceeded to point at Garro whose elemental flames burnt all around him.

This of course only made Taf seem demented in their minds. Was he perhaps suggesting that after defeating Garro a full circle qi realm as absurd as that might be, he would then proceed to physically use Garro"s body to beat another full circle qi realm into submission? 

What world did he live in? Surely in this fantasy world, the sky and oceans reversed roles. [1]

After the second ticked by they witness Taf doing some stretches as cracking sounds were heard all throughout his body,

"Ah, that feels good. Well, your time has pa.s.sed and you three have unwisely stayed even though I specifically warned against such an act."

Taf then turned his attention to Garro whose qi had been fully ignited,

"Time to turn you into my own personal apparatus."

Startle to all who witness he casually walked into the path of Garro who sneered at the mere attempt to move in his qi.

As Taf walked, he visibly struggled under the burden of Garro"s stifling qi. His feet sank in the ground as a crus.h.i.+ng force hung above. this kid"s naivety dumbfounded who witnessed the act.

The one he hoped to contend with was a full circle for crying out loud. Not only that, but Garro was also the ninth strongest disciple within the entirety of the Dark Abylis Sect. What did he really think would be the outcome of carelessly trying to contend with such a beings qi?

Garro sneered as he saw Taf feeble attempt. This was the prodigy that all spoke of? He had to attempt this quite the letdown. Though it would put some glamour on his name if he were to one to trample on this youth with barely his qi. 

This being the case he intentionally intensified the outburst of Qi as Taf could now barely move an inch as he visible struggled to keep conscious. When within five meters of Garro it became evident he could go no further.

"Sike!" Taf suddenly lifted his head as he grinned.

?Elemental Art - [Earth] - Metallic Bones?

A rustic brown glow engulfed Taf"s body as cracking sounds could be heard. To Garro"s amazement, he saw the previously struggling Taf dust himself off and now treating his qi as though it was a casual breeze.

Boom!

Taf swiftly ripped the grounds to shred while appearing before a caught off-guard Garro. Hastily Garro endeavored to counter as elemental flames slowly encased his body.

He then launched a vicious kick towards the income youth. In his mind, he visualizing a b.l.o.o.d.y Taf being flown a few hundred meters after the strength of his attack. Yet he soon came to the realization of how vastly he had underestimated his opponent.

Taf with lightning speeds sidestepped the attack before smas.h.i.+ng his fist into the vulnerable gut of Garro. Now it was made clear than all along Taf was simply playing the role of a fool. By doing this Garro became caught up in his own superiority forgetting one of the most basic rules when engaged in battle.

Never let down your guard. If he had treated Taf as though he was an actual threat perhaps things would have ended differently. However, that was just another what if, and now it was too late.

Puk!

Garro spat blood in the dreads of Taf who had not yet arrived at his towering height. After the punch as a reflex action, Garro had bent his body which gave Taf the perfect opportunity to continue with a combo. He then thrust his knee in an upward motion catching Garro perfectly underneath his chin.

Wack! Crk!

The sounds of something shattering in his mouth were heard, and this time when Garro spat on the ground one could see all his teeth were within his blood.

Taf was continuously mercilessly as he unleashed multiply kicks and punches on the defenseless Garro. His face became so swollen oozing blood, his organs were ruptured and spirit now broken.

The onlookers look in terror as Garro crawled on the ground with Taf slowly stalking behind him. After which he viciously stamping on Garro"s broad back leading him to collapse face down on the ground in his own bodily fluids.

All felt a chill as Taf turned his attention to them. Without looking he sw.a.n.g his feet which resulted in Garro flipping on his back. This was what he deemed merciful not wanting Garro to drown in a pool of his own blood.

What was once a proud Garro was replaced with a helpless man foaming blood from his mouth, while continuously twitching on the ground. Everything happened so quickly that minds had not been able to process the outcome of the battle.

"Hey, you with the big mouth. You"re next." Taf evilly grinned as he eyed Brutus who s.h.i.+vered when he saw the gaze he was given.

 Was that even a fight? No, it was just sheer unfiltered brutality. Now only one thought was in the minds of everyone including Brutus who witnessed the event.

"Run!"

If he could dispatch Garro who was so powerful without batting an eye, who were they to put up a fight? 

"Hmm!"

Taf paused watching as all six attempting to sprint off in separate directions. Yet he only focused on Brutus while indication to a bored May she could have fun with the rest.

He then grabbed Garro by his right ankle dragging him without a care on the gritty ground filled with sharp rocks and stones.

?Elemental Art - [Water] - Tentacles?

As the weaker members sprinted off while in mid-air stride they were ruthlessly grabbed by the necked while their bodies felt like they were being frozen.

No matter how they tried to escaped the tentacles squeeze and it could be seen with but a mere thought of May they could be killed.

That was the disparity in their strength. May was nonetheless merciful as each was then flung in the air. Yet their horror when turning around they saw four huge water tentacles forming into a slinging motion.

Swis.h.!.+

Four successive cracks of a whip could be heard as Darwin"s squadmates screamed in anguish as their flesh was ripped from their bodies. The only two to successfully flee to some distance was Sal and Brutus. They had made use of the distraction to put some distance between them and these fiends.

?Elemental Art - [Wind] - Eye of an Eagle?

Pew!

A frozen arrow burst through the fleeing back of Sal without any seeming obstruction. He was hunted down by May as though he was a game bird while she slowly nocked her bow and arrow. Sal then sought to ignite his qi, he was a full circle cultivator after all, but sadly for him it was too late. 

Pew! Pew!

He then screamed in horror as May successfully targeted his knees shattering them with her blue ice shards. She didn"t stop there as while helpless on the ground Sal saw ice spike beginning to form above him.

"What would you like to say to this lady?" He heard May speak for the first time in a cold voice.

Sal could see from her previous actions that though she wasn"t as talkative as Taf before a battle, May seemingly was just as ruthless. There was no doubt in his mind she would unleash the spikes turning him into a porcupine.

"I relinquish my marker."

As his marker vanished Sal witness as the hovering spikes above him dissolved into drops of water soaking him on the ground. Though in pain he sighed in relief before hurriedly turning to see the fate of his squadmate Brutus.

What he saw was the most appalling scene he has ever witnessed in his life. Brutus blend from all orifices as Taf lifted an unconscious Garro by his ankles swinging him like a hammer on the body of Brutus.

Wack! Wack!

Taf continuously smashed the body of Garro onto Brutus and only after noting his enemy was unconscious did Taf stop. Now Sal knew how vastly he had miscalculated Taf"s ruthlessness, in comparison to him, wasn"t May a complete saint?

Seeing the twitching bloodied Brutus, Taf through Garro to the side without a care. He then looked towards the tree that his true prey was last spotted. Yet Darwin was nowhere to be seen and apparently made use of the battle to plot his escape.

This did not surprise Taf however as he had an idea where his injured prey had intended to flee. Being one who always took his surrounding into consideration, how could he possibly miss the safe haven which was not too far from their current location?

Unedited Version

To be continued...

[1] I wanted to put something else here but I am having a block. Will come back to it later