The Martial Unity

Rui opened his eyes slowly. An clear sky entered his field of vision.

He frowned.

Where was he?

He got up to his feet as he gazed forward, squinting as his eyes adjusted. A beautiful landscape extended as far as the eye could see as he gazed down at the breathtaking sight, appreciating its beauty.

But he was still confused.

He turned around, glancing at what was behind him, yet what he saw shook him to his very core.

He saw a path.

A path with profound depth.

A path he was on.

Yet what shook him wasn't the path itself.

No.

What truly shook him was treacherous calamities the path winded through.

Monsters.

Earthquakes.

Meteorites.

Land-breaks.

A torrent of devastating catastrophes littered his path.

It was a horrifying sight that inspired primal terror.

And yet, it inspired awe.

Through his terror, he could see profound boundless beauty in that path.

enchanted him, mesmerizing him, whispering to

a path he wanted to

took his first step, the world shattered into countless

jerking

glanced around spotting his

dazed, completely confused. It took him a few moments to remember what

again...') He thought

happened to my match?" His eyes widened as

both silent

to get her with the Stinger, inflicting a critical wound. But the damage you took from her last strike had crossed the threshold, you fell unconscious not fifteen

sighed, closing his

immense disappointment and frustration. He had given that fight his

as

a monstrous prodigy that has been cultivating techniques for six years. The odds were stacked against you in every way, in every possible parameter, yet you managed to not only push her going all-out but inflicted a critical wound

the preliminary contest. Your Martial Path extends far beyond the Martial Contest, this is merely a checkpoint in your life. Do not let this halt or hinder your

words with certainty. Yet, she wasn't lying. The fact that Rui was already half-way to being a Squire Candidate at

a genius back in her era, yet even

Voidbringer...') She mused. ('How

to let this failure hold me back." he said solemnly. "Instead, this failure will make me stronger, stronger than I

hands, as a slight smile

was possible and what wasn't. It expanded his view of Martial

the various

left

* *

on a chair as she gazed outside the window of her room, as she beheld the lively bustling town

magnificent sparkling cup sat atop a table

a matter of boundless prestige, yet she didn't

in a pensive mood, unsure of

wasn't sure

match ended, she was declared the Martial Champion and given that cup

KNOCK KNOCK

in~" She absentmindedly

"Miss." Her butler bowed.

"What is it?"

has summoned you."

nodded,

dismissed him as she walked towards the center of the

center, where the study of Sage Damian