The Martial Unity

Meera, on the other hand, did not exert any pressure. She truly was a confounding Martial Artist. The pressure that Martial Artists, or any entity for that matter, exerted, simply arrived from the threat of their existence being conveyed once they expressed it by taking a stance and focusing their minds.

Yet, one could not feel any overt threat when one looked at her. One would never have guessed that she was the champion of the Martial Contest at first glance.

Yet despite that, Rui felt vaguely more discomforted at the sight of her than any of the other Martial Squires. Perhaps it was the fact that she could hide her strength so seemingly well that made him feel wary.

"Begin!"

STEP!

Squire Feoul launched herself at Meera with a shoot maneuver, her arms positioned for a takedown even before she reached her.

Yet, Meera did not move.

Squire Feoul's eyes widened when the two of them locked eyes.

Despite being a moment away from being part of a takedown, she was relaxed.

She may very well have been relaxing atop a hill overlooking a valley, taking in the view.

Her body was relaxed.

Her stance was unperturbed.

And yet, at that moment, Squire Feoul felt a boundless chasm of power lurking deep behind Meera's sparkling eyes. She gritted her teeth as she forcefully paused her maneuver, leaping back, putting some distance between them.

"Oh? Squire Feoul has pulled back! Could it be she saw something that we didn't?" The commentator wondered.

"It appears that I underestimated you," Squire Feoul spoke with a grave tone.

"Eh?" Meera tilted her head in confusion. "I didn't even do anything."

"I am not a fool," Squire Feoul coldly retorted, before adopting an even deeper crouch than before, reducing her size even further.

Her expression intensified as the air drew towards her, growing taut.

Literally.

Rui's eyes widened as he felt something strange with Tempestuous Feel.

Something was off.

air around her gravitated towards her... before disappearing

eyes narrowed as

even the air from the skies above

this?' Rui watched with

body was consuming the very

what was causing this. Neither was Seismic Mapping or Primordial Instinct able to inform

her body

something he had never seen before. 'Skin breathing. But this is not supposed to

her body. The atmosphere seeped into her at a

Rui's eyes narrowed.

doing, it was

eyes were fixed on Meera. She refused to lose sight of her even once. Her

a choice that Meera disapproved

"How disgusting," She murmured.

the air grew tumultuous.

The audience froze.

Something had changed.

at

contestants

from Meera, crashing into all of them. It had a darkness

miss the bone-chilling malevolence

heart as long as you wield

and your victory stolen." Squire

She was ready.

A smile that didn't reach her eyes formed on her

deepened her shooting maneuver, leaning almost flat on

steal your heart, then..." Meera continued like

intention of letting her

BOOM!!!

eyes widened in shock as she launched herself at a

should have incinerated the very air around her. She should have torn apart the very atmosphere with

Yet nothing happened.

sped forward, employing her normal breathing to inhale air

resistance did not exist

not impede

small fraction of a millisecond, she had