“Look at his right side, that foolish one had a secret weapon.” The titan said plainly. An odd object based on a bow but assembled horizontally was laying on the side of Deri’s body. There were many metallic bolts holding them the thing together which Jin would have found fascinating if not for Deri’s death. It was obvious that as soon as Jin started walking away, he took it out and tried to end Jin’s life in a sneak attack. Never in a hundred years would he have guessed that the secret projectile would splinter into pieces and kill him instead.

Jin was in a state of shock though. For a fifteen year old to kill someone, even by accident, was a life changing event. He lived in a civilized environment, his parents raised him up to be a proper person so he could succeed in society and he had never seen a person die, never mind killing one. Hunting Avatars was one thing because technically they are still alive in the form of Avatars. Also it is socially acceptable for humans to hunt beasts.

The grief and bereavement in this accidental killing of a boy only a few years older than him tormented him in ways he couldn’t even begin to describe. His gut churned as he felt like puking. The site of Deri’s bloody head and lifeless body grossed him out. What had he done?

Will his parents still love him if they knew what he had done? He could imagine his father’s stern forlorn look. His mother’s endless sobbing. What if they look at him as if he was a monster?

Has he become a criminal? Those serial killers that have wanted posters around the city? Guilds and mercenary groups are always hunting for those who have committed heinous crimes. Killing another man, can it get any worse?

Will he go to hell? Holy Fire is one of the two fire element based kingdoms on the limitless continent known as Mercai. There is a prominent religion, the Sacred Infernos, which a lot of the civilians from the two fire kingdoms believe in. Even though Jin isn’t a faithful follower, the religion posits that a sinner will be tortured for all eternity by Firelord Ferreros in hell!

Before he knew it he arrived in the Titan Domain that resides within himself. It was the special space created by the Avatar Prometheus. In this mysterious space, time is stopped on the outside. As long as Jin has enough internal strength, he can have all the time in the world and remain in there.

“What Firelord…” The titan scoffed as he read Jin’s mind. “Kid calm yourself down.”

“What have I done? What about his family?” Jin muttered, his mind was chaotic. He could just imagine what Deri’s own parents will go through.

“Ah you hopeless kid, what kind of useless family raised a trash like him?” The titan mocked. However Jin was still panicking by himself so the titan decided on another approach.

“Let me ask you, what would have happened if his sneak attack got to you instead?”

“…” Jin didn’t know how to reply. He didn’t think about the obvious question, wouldn’t he be dead if he didn’t fight back?

“You would be dead. Now let me ask you, what if you escaped and they went after your family? What if to vent his anger, this kid went and took your woman? That Yumi girl. What about the chef’s family, do you think he’ll spare them?”

Jin didn’t know how to answer but he was slowly calming down. The repercussions of letting them leave were humongous. Everyone he cared about could have been hunted down by this Deri person. It was definitely possible, he seemed to have the right connections.

“I have lived for countless eons… let me tell you this. While humans are weak, they have great potential. However due to that potential, they become corruptible and evil, more vile than most creatures in the universe actually. Human beings are just another creature. Wild beasts kill each other all the time over territory and resources. If you were a wild beast then you would have been killed to be an Avatar ages ago. So why is it so wrong to kill another human?”

“But we have laws…” Jin weakly replied.

“In almost every single world I have seen, humans try to be civilized with their principles and laws in order to live properly. Yet in the end only the strong get any say. If you were killed, who was going to mourn for you? Who was going to get revenge for you? Revenge for that poor baby monkey? Did you think that kid was going to obey the law and let you live? Do you think he was going to be punished by the law you speak of?”

“… how do I know what I did was justified?” Jin asked. He agreed so far with what the titan was saying but something still didn’t feel right.

“You don’t. The world is not perfect. I have seen some outstanding human Immortals. They have left their legacies and wisdom behind for their fellow humans and for a time, balance and order is kept. Inevitably if no worthy successor show up then all will be for naught. Nothing lasts forever… that wasn’t my point. Let me ask you this, would you kill an evil one to save two innocent one?”

“Yes.” Jin replied instantly.

“Alright, you just killed one to save yourself and any future victims. Why is there a need to feel bad?”

“…”

“If you feel like something is wrong with this concept, you will have to get stronger. The strong are always right. The weak will always obey the strong. That concept is universal, it even applies to the land of the Gods. In some ways what you did makes you a hero.”

“A hero?” Jin asked.

“You might feel it’s immoral to take a man’s life and have his blood on your hands. However would you rather let him go and let him ruin countless other lives? If his past and future victims knew what you have done, I believe you would be their hero. Lastly don’t forget one last thing, you want to live.”

Jin sighed as he meditated on the titan’s words for hours. His mind wandered everywhere. He thought about all the scenarios that he could think of. The Shion Family heir wanted to kill him, it was obvious by his last desperate act. The titan’s last words echoed around his mind. He wanted to live, why should he die on a whim of Deri’s command?

There is so many wrongs in the world and there is nothing he can do. However if he continues to get stronger, perhaps he can be those Immortals that the Titan has mentioned and at least bring peace to his own world.

“Alright. What should I do?” Jin asked after reaching a temporary conclusion on this moral issue of killing. Killing so he could live, killing so other innocent people could live. He will bear the consequences of his action.

The titan covertly smiled as he instructed Jin on his next steps.