The Martial Unity

"..."

"..."

Rui stared at him.

Nel stared back at him.

"You... what?"

"Broke through without em."

"No, surely..."

"Nope."

Rui tilted his head with incredulous confusion.

Broke through to Martial Apprentice without learning a single technique? What sort of nonsense was that?

Rui wasn't even sure what to say to that.

He wasn't even sure he believed him.

Was he lying to get Rui to lower his guard so he could later unveil them?

Looking at his sincere clueless expression, Rui shook his head, this guy was serious.

But wasn't that even more absurd?

"You... What is your Martial Path?"

"Take your stances." The supervisor had arrived, and quickly told them to be ready.

"Heh." Nel chuckled as he crouched, letting his arms dangle freely.

"My Martial Path is to beat everyone up using my body alone." He declared, his aura growing more feral by the second.

"..."

Rui's eyes flew wide open at those words.

For the very first time, he had run into someone with a Martial Path even more obtuse than his own!

"Take your stance." The supervisor insisted to Rui.

"I see..." Rui ignored him, staring straight at Nel with a boundless fascination and excitement.

He just couldn't wait!

"...My Martial Path is to beat everyone up with my VOID alone."

Rui adopted a neutral all-rounder stance, dividing his weight perfectly, positioning his arms and legs to be equally conducive to offense, defense and maneuvering.

"Fuuu..." He exhaled.

His mind went blank.

There was nothing.

And slowly...

He focused.

the vast mental energy his mind

He focused.

ounce of physical energy his body

grinned in amazement

by the second, pouring onto

how strong was

Nel wanted to know.

Path is stronger void boy!" He grinned as the savage

mental pressure the two boys generated burdened every

no one could look

could draw

the supervisor

RUMBLE

which Nel had launched himself sent tremors

He snarled as he launched a

WHOOSH

powerful swing crashed into

BAM!

kick at his ribs from the side, but Nel simply blocked it, pushing

POW POW POW

back, having calmly mitigated the strikes

mid-grade defensive techniques as

He grinned.

what if ordinary jabs didn't

capable

WHOOSH

burst forth with shocking explosive speed,

BAM

grimaced as he bruised his arm visibly despite his

only now had he confirmed that he could not take too many of

launched another loaded

try and

WHOOSH

cleanly avoided it with a feint. He used Balanced Direction and Parallel Walk, to circle around

BAM BAM BAM

a flurry

was powered with Outer Convergence

was

against Nel's guard. His reflexes were too quick to allow Rui to land

"Tsk." Rui retreated.

ordinary attacks aren't doing the trick.')

WHOOSH

cleanly with the help of Primordial Instinct,

Or so everyone thought.

at him with a punch, Rui

BOOM!!

clash shook

gaped at the sheer display of

with Balanced Direction and Parallel Walk, and launched

Nel's fist hadn't backed

five Apprentice-level techniques with his

The boys furiously fought.

Fists were exchanged.

Kicks were dodged.

Attacks were endured.

And defenses were sieged!

knew his average offense, defense and speed were lower than

switched things up with Phantom

speed did,