Talk:Ten Covenants/@comment-86.31.12.199-20140616130728/@comment-68.34.121.235-20140807043717

It explains it in the light novels. These aren't just "rules." They're laws that govern the world and the actions of the Exceed.

Jibril unleashed a Heaven's Strike at the sea towards where the Seirens lived and despite the fact that the gates were blown open, there was no damage done to the underwater city itself and the occupants living in the city because hurting people was not allowed by the Ten Pledges. It means that if you fired a gun at someone's face, the bullet disappears before hitting them.

Also, in the light novels, multiple times people have "wanted" to hit other people only to find that they couldn't move their arm to strike the other person. In Disboard, people are simply unable to willingly hit other people unless allowed by the victim.