The Martial Unity

"Be careful, don't push yourself too hard, okay?" Lashara asked with a worried expression.

"Don't worry mom, I'll be fine." Rui insisted, yet she didn't appear convinced.

It was a cold morning, as always. Rui had was standing at the entrance door of the orphanage, facing Lashara and other members of the Orphanage. Three days had gone by and now it was time for Rui to return to the Academy.

The Academy allowed for short vacations per season for a reason. So that students didn't lose their disciplined mindset. This was especially true for students at earlier stages. The Foundation and Exploration Stages, in particular. Three days was around the sweet spot where there was just enough time for a break, but not long enough to break the students out of their mindsets. They all knew they were returning to the Academy in three days so they psychologically didn't relax too much and adapt to their circumstances, knowing they would be returning soon.

Rui wasn't too sad either, he loved his family and truly enjoyed catching up with them. However, three days was a lot of time for chit-chat and banter. He had conversed with all of them for hours and the all the standard topics of conversation one would engage in when conversing in family reunions were already over. Rui had satisfied his homesickness and now his urge to complete missions grew even stronger!

He couldn't wait to get a taste of what it was like to be a Martial Artist. Furthermore, he couldn't wait to earn credits so that he could purchase higher-grade techniques. His Martial Art yearned for greater development! His Martial Path yearned for more depth!

He felt the itch to begin running towards the Academy even in the middle of his farewell! Immediately invoking even stronger feelings of guilt. Which he pressed down, forcefully.

"Alright mom. Everybody. Goodbye." He said. "I'll be back sooner than you think, so don't miss me too much." he grinned.

He began his journey once he finished exchanging farewells with all those who were there to see him off.

did when he applied for the

year had passed since that day, and he had gotten vastly stronger since then. The bloodlust test in round one, the

his current state he would comfortably place top five

stronger than the Kane from back then, who had scored twice

real problems would be Fae

been truly a long time since he thought of Nel. He had been so engrossed in his Martial Path that he had long forgotten about the number one freshman

an Apprentice." Rui murmured. He hadn't seen Nel in the Apprentice sparring sessions, which he would have had he actually discovered

able to defeat an Apprentice while still being a novice. Relying largely on brute strength. Only after Rui became

was taking so long to

abnormal." Rui remembered. He was the

the Martial Path provided would complement his innate physical gifts remarkably. Rui was a

What about Squire Kyrie?

with him hard with just a portion of her full combat

as he reached the central districts of Hajin, he could even see the large prominent figure of the Mantian branch of the Martial Academy standing proudly in

the morning, since he left well ahead of the already early reporting time, so the traffic and rush

to the limit as he used Parallel Walk, Balance Direction and Helical Breathing to their maximum, zipping