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.

mesmerizing him,

he wanted to

took his first step, the world shattered into

a shock, jerking

around spotting his squire

squinted, dazed, completely confused. It took him a

again...') He thought to

what happened to my match?" His eyes widened as he glanced at

silent for

"You managed to get her with the Stinger, inflicting a critical wound. But the damage you took from her

see." Rui sighed,

immense disappointment and frustration. He had given

breath as he exhaled deeply, shaking

against 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 that threatened to lose her the match. Frankly, she also got a

his words. "Remember what I told you before 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 journey. You will one day achieve power that beggars

was already half-way to being a Squire Candidate at the age of fourteen was truly astonishing.

genius back in her era, yet even

She mused.

you. However, I do not intend to let this failure hold me back." he said solemnly. "Instead, this failure will make me stronger, stronger

his hands, as a slight smile

shattered and reforged his world view of what was possible

as he thought of all the various techniques he would master

had already left

* * *

window of her room, as she beheld the lively

sat atop a table some distance away, drawing her

to be an honour and a matter of boundless prestige, yet she didn't fell

mood, unsure of

wasn't sure about how she felt

ended, she was declared the Martial Champion and given that cup as the crowd went berserk

KNOCK KNOCK

She

"Miss." Her butler bowed.

"What is it?"

has summoned

simply nodded, having expected

as she walked towards the center of the Roschem

center, where the study of Sage Damian Roschem