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

answer

Should he lie?

even attempt

the skills to lie in front of a

argue for the beast's

reason, this would

decision to the Lightning Emperor? After all, he was much older

he give a

what someone else should do, what

Lightning Emperor answered

of the village," Shang said. "If you can't

Lightning Emperor didn't

smartest choice for the village is to either collectively raise the beast to make it follow everyone's

Emperor

eventual payoff? The person could become the leader of the village. Maybe, they could even leave the village

interest, but he let Shang

as for what I would

would let

reason?" the Lightning Emperor

has no impact

the Lightning Emperor said

be the strongest,"

have any shot at reaching my goal. Even more, the beast's growth might even give me the

out that the beast is stronger than me, it means my goal was impossible

I might as

Silence.

Lightning Emperor looked at Shang with a bit of

just tell me

answered emotionlessly. "I 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."

mean that you should make that choice or that it is the

sounds a bit extreme.

have left," Shang said. "I sacrificed

might be rare, but among billions, trillions, quadrillions, or however many people there are, there have to be lots

geniuses, how many of

still a thousand people

stops them from