The Martial Unity

"As long as you keep this in mind, you at least won't die due to newfound arrogance." Senior Sarak concluded, satisfied with Rui's response. "One more thing. For the time period that the Martial Heart is active, your body will age much faster than the normal rate."

Rui's eyes widened with shock. "...What?"

"Did you think that power came without a price just because you earned it?" Senior Sarak raised an eyebrow. "There is no such thing. The price of the Squire Realm was maddening suffering and the risk of death. The price of the Senior Realm is not acute, it is chronic. For every second you spend with the Martial Heart active, your body will have aged many seconds."

"...I wasn't made aware of this beforehand." Rui narrowed his eyes.

"Neither were any of us. Besides, none of us ever expected you to break through at the age of twenty-four." Senior Sarak smiled bitterly. "But knowing you, I'm sure you've already figured out why we withheld this."

Rui simply stared at him silently.

The knowledge of that was probably detrimental to the probability of breaking through. If Martial Squires knowing of this drawback reduced their enthusiasm and desire for this power, then the reduced intensity of their desire would mean a reduced probability of breakthrough.

In that case, the number of Martial Seniors emerging from Martial Squires would visibly plummet across the continent.

This was nothing short of a disaster.

Martial Senior." Senior Sarak stated. "Informing a Martial Squire of this truth is a transgression that is actually punishable by death by the Panamic Martial Federation. So even if I wanted to, I could not inform you ahead of

at those words. The Panamic Martial Federation was, in some ways, the international version of the Martial Union. It served as a broker between Martial Artists and the international market. However, it only catered to Martial

so absurdly powerful that even Martial Seniors were unworthy of it. In many ways, it was said to act as a body that enforced some fundamental rules that were considered taboo to

with an official, or seen a public office of the Panamic Martial

he was still unable to come into contact with himself. Regardless, he did not intend to violate its rules. The revelation of the accelerated aging was unpleasant, but he understood why it was

was worth

Martial Hearts did not last too long. Especially when Martial Artists had increased lifespans, anywhere from decades to centuries.

if a Martial Senior truly had such a great problem with the price, then all they had

as simple

to conceal this fact from

Rui heaved a sigh. "Understood. I

bear responsibility of Martial Artists. You have reached a stage of power where you are able to create impacts that aren't

"Like...?"

best you do not earn their disapproval. As a Martial Senior, you are expected to live up to the name and rise up. If you come across a Martial Squire who has reached enough maturity, then you may inform them about

eyebrow as a realization dawned on him. "Is that why Senior Xanarn told me about the Senior Realm out

"She was fulfilling her responsibility and honoring a tradition that we ourselves have benefitted from. Imagine where you would be if we did not inform you of the truth. Do you see? Just this modest effort responsibility can nourish Martial Art significantly. There are too many impoverished Martial Apprentices