Sword God in a World of Magic

Shang wasn't sure if that was good or bad.

For now, he decided to remain silent.

"Let me explain my conundrum with a metaphor," the Lightning Emperor said.

"Imagine you are a mortal and live in a village with 50 other villagers. You don't have any sort of real societal standards and norms, and the strongest person in the village is the leader."

"Now, imagine there is a council of five leaders since they don't want to fight each other for whatever reason, and you are one of them."

"One day, you find the offspring of a very powerful beast, which is far more powerful than any member of the council."

"You nurture it, and it follows you."

"Yet, it doesn't completely follow your commands, and you know that there is a chance that it might attack you and everyone else. After all, it is still a wild beast."

"But maybe, it will also help you."

"But also only you. What if it attacks any of the others in the village?"

"Right now, the beast is still a baby."

"So, what do you do?"

"Do you nurture it?"

"Do you kill it?"

"Do you ask the others?"

The Lightning Emperor drank another mouthful of tea.

"Everything about this beast screams risk at you. No matter what happens, it will be a risk. If it isn't one for you, it definitely will be one for the village."

"But you like the village. You live in the village. You are happy with the village."

"You don't want your beast to kill other villagers."

"But it very likely will."

"So, what would you do?" the Lightning Emperor asked.

Spirit Sense focused on

answer would decide

Should he lie?

even attempt

had the skills to lie in front of a

for the beast's

a good reason, this would feel

the decision to the Lightning Emperor?

he give a

do, what someone else should do, what the village should do, or what the morally correct thing to do is?" Shang

Emperor answered as he drank more of

be to send it out of the village," Shang said. "If

Emperor didn't show

is to either collectively raise

Emperor remained

person would do, it would depend on their ambition. Is it worth the risk to nurture it for the eventual payoff? The person

Emperor's interest, but he let

for what

let

reason?" the Lightning

no

the Lightning Emperor

be the strongest," Shang

must be stronger than the beast if I want to have any shot at reaching my goal. Even more, the beast's growth might even give me

stronger than me, it means

might as well kill myself

Silence.

looked at Shang with

tell me

told you what I would do. I know that my own goals and priorities are not in line with most people's goals

"You are not me."

case, it doesn't mean that you should

raised an eyebrow. "That sounds a bit extreme. Is your

left," Shang said. "I sacrificed everything else,

might be rare, but among billions, trillions, quadrillions, or however

many

if there are only a thousand people left from one trillion people, that is still a thousand people that I have to defeat if I want to become

from being the