The Martial Unity

Rui did a double-take at those words. It was unexpected. Yet the idea of being called something incredibly corny or cheesy or flashy made him cringe.

"Uh. Can they not?" He asked.

"Sorry, they can't not. The Martial community of this Empire loves doing that." She smirked.

They bantered a bit more, until Rui realized how much time had passed. He had trult gotten absorbed into the conversation.

"Good talk." He said, getting up. "But I should return now."

She nodded at his words. "This was fun."

Rui simply stared at her for a second.

"I look forward to fighting you tomorrow." He said, with a serious edge to his voice. "May the best fighter win."

She simply shrugged. "They always do."

Rui simply smiled at those words before taking his leave.

He thought about his conversation with her, having gotten a stronger grasp of her character and personality.

And then his thoughts soon proceeded to how to defeat her. Ultimately, that was what he would be setting out to accomplish.

His instructors came to his room shortly after, discussing the matter about her.

Squire Dylon put a hand on Rui's shoulder. "Do your best,

add. Although she was a Martial Squire and had vastly more experience than Rui, knowing how to fight specific opponents optimally was quite

didn't stop even when it was clear that her opponents were quite prepared for that approach. Nor did she stop even if it was the sub-optimal solution, she's demonstrated remarkable rigidity and lack of flexibility in her

fighting style in that sense, only someone who doesn't believe they will lose,

inwardly. He too had thought her carelessly rigid fighting style stemmed from deep arrogance, but after talking with her for a while, he had started to realize she simply wasn't as

tips. Some he agreed with and some he didn't. Ultimately, it was up to him. He was the

time passed,

exhaled, as he closed

He could hear nothing except for his heartbeat and his

then the image of Fiona manifested

His concentration accumulated.

His focus sharpened.

His mind gathered.

its environment, pushing down on it as it

unknown amount of time passed as

Squire Kyrie knocked

at how well Rui had focused himself. She had been worried he would have been to anxious or demoralized to win. But witnessing

"You're at

past them, he simply did not want to waste even the slightest bit of energy on anything not useful. Even in the short journey to the Martial Colosseum, he merely closed his eyes.

could easily crumble if his attention was drawn away even slightly. Doing so would not

immediately walked towards the arena once

folks!" The commentator cried. "The fight we've all been awaiting!

erupted in volatile cheers and applause as chaotic excitement sizzled

the highly anticipated Fiona Roschem, known as the mighty Chosen Incarnate, she is the