The Martial Unity

It wasn't long before Ieyasu was quickly treated and healed. He took the loss with grace, much to his credit.

"Know this. Next time, I'll win," He declared to Rui with sharp eyes, before returning to his training.

Rui made a complicated smile. It wasn't that he wasn't happy about getting a win on who was perhaps his only equal, but he knew more than anyone how skewed the match-up had been in his favor.

'He was that strong after integrating a handful of Martial Art into one,' Rui realized. 'Just how astonishingly strong would he be had he done the same with the thousands of Martial Art he has mastered? The stipulations of this battle hurt him more than it did me.'

Of course, Rui knew that Ieyasu was almost certainly unable to seamlessly assimilate and integrate such a gigantic number of Martial Art into one flawlessly. His current system of thought was certainly flawed, limited, and incomplete. He could sense that much.

Still, he had his work cut out for him, and knowing how driven Ieyasu was, he was going to squeeze every iota of energy and drop of energy and dedicate himself to training and improving his Martial Mind prototype. No matter how much time, effort, or perseverance it took.

'If I slack off, he'll break out of the deadlock and shoot way past me.' Rui narrowed his eyes.

That wasn't to say Rui was dissatisfied with his own efforts or progress. The Hypnomatrix staved off Ieyasu's powerful techniques by oppressing him mentally with all kinds of shackles and pain, literally.

there passively and some assassination techniques that were

off the bat, but its stamina had reduced by half ever since Rui upgraded it. It would not have been able to take down someone with as

first iteration that he had created was worthy of his Martial Path and a fine addition to his Martial Art. It also contributed to his Martial Mind by a decent amount, reducing the distance between him

arriving at Cloudia and gaining the teachings

so soon?" Master Zeamer asked him when he saw Rui with his

objectives I came for, and I have other matters that need my immediate attention, even within the Great Forest

He turned to Rui.

"I suppose it has. Thank you

Master Zeamer's tendencies, the man

for me as well." Master Zeamer

that they would meet again one day. If only because they had no other

chummy relationship, so Rui didn't mind his absence. It

Rui's mind returned to matters outside Martial Art for the first time in two years. "I suppose I should go visit the Beggar's Sect. I wonder if they still remember

concluded his training, it was time to get down to business. His commission payment to the Beggar's Sect had waited long enough, it was time to finally finish the payment

his muscles

His eyes narrowed.