Chapter 89 - Are You A Good Man?

Luo smiled and reformed his barrier around the spinning orb of black fire. This time utilizing creation magic to reinforce his barrier. As the ball was completely encapsulated the barrier illuminated a bright white light. Luo closed his fist and the barrier and fire orb disappeared.

"Did you think I was really afraid?" Luo said laughing. "This that all the other dragonkin have taught you of creation magic? How to create a bomb? What a horrible use of the fabric of the multiverse."

"How did you?" Zell asked surprised, knowing he had to have been a higher level than the white dragon.

"If you mean, how did I best your attack when you should be stronger, that answer is simple." Luo said. "Your level is meaningless when it comes to creation magic. The leveling system of this universe is only of this universe. It does not extend out into the greater multiverse. Creation magic is pulled from the multiverse itself and therefore it supersedes any level advantage you may possess.

I am simply better at using creation magic and that is all that matters in this case. You are as a brute forcing a square peg into a round hole, whereas I am a master craftsman building a masterpiece."

"You know I could just move so fast you couldn't react and take you by physical force, right?" Zell said. "I don't need magic; I have raw strength and speed."

"I suspect that you could do exactly as you say, but yet you have not." Luo said. "You speak as if your mission is all that is paramount in your life, even threatening my home to get your way. Yet all of that is because you wish it to be my choice to go with you. You have had the power to take me by force and have not."

"Like I said, I only need a small amount of your time." Zell replied.

"Still even after your threats you just insist on asking and being polite." Luo laughed. "What an interesting human you are. Even with all your bluster about killing the gods, would one such as you be able to do it? You have a kind soul, it has been damaged by more trauma than any soul should bear, but it has remained kind. I can see it within you."

"Maybe I had a kind soul once, but I am different now." Zell said.

"No, even tainted the purity of your soul remains." Luo explained. "Otherwise, you would use force instead of bluster. Tell me what do you think someone with an unkind soul would have done with your power? For example, when my guards charged you. You could have bathed the streets with their blood as punishment for their insult, but all you did was knock them down."

"There's no need to kill over a misunderstanding." Zell said.

"Exactly why I say even when given the chance you would not kill the gods." Luo said.

"You are wrong." Zell said. "I have already killed two."

"And I am sure you sought those murders out on your own volition then?" Luo asked. "They did not provoke it in any way, or you weren't put in an impossible situation where you had no other choice? You did it willingly with other options available?"

"No." Zell said. "I wouldn't say I had a choice."

"So then if a good man is forced to kill you are saying he can no longer be a good man?" Luo asked. "He must fall deeper down the path with no redemption possible? Yet that same, no way possible of a good man, continues to act good, despite saying otherwise."

"I don't really know how to respond to that." Zell said.

"So, you think it is possible for a good man to remain good even after being forced to kill?" Luo asked. "Just as long as it was not you. You believe that you personally do not deserve a chance. But why think another man can and not yourself?"

"I have come to terms with who I am." Zell said. "I passed my trials and understand myself."

"And yet you know nothing." Luo laughed. "If you genuinely believe you are who you say you are then take me by force. I will not struggle or fight you, but I will not accompany you willingly. If you honestly believe you are a man capable of such deeds, by all means do it."

Zell stood there and thought about what he should do. He had hoped the dragon would come willingly, but it seemed hopeless at this point. He knew the war was continuing while he waited and did not want to waste any time. He started walking towards Luo.

"Interesting." Luo said as Zell approached him. "Your soul is a raging storm of emotions. I see you have placed the burdens of the world on yourself. Why do you care about others? What they do to themselves is their own choices. Why suffer trying to save them from themselves? They chose that life and who are you to even tell them it is wrong?"

Zell stopped and stared Luo in the eyes. "I do it because it was not their choice really. They were pushed and guided by the gods, they were placed in a situation where they would fight and die for another's entertainment." Zell said. "I only wish to give them the freedom of choice that you claim they already have. If they choose violence and death after that, so be it. That will be their choice and their lives, but right now they do not have that choice they are bound to the whims of the gods as all mortals are.

The only reason I am not is due to my skill of defiance. The will of the gods is meaningless to me, I am the only mortal with true freedom of will. I only want everyone else to have that same freedom and to not be someone else's toy."

"So that is your true reason." Luo said.. "You wish to be a hero."