The Martial Unity

Life had become a blur for the four royals ever since Rui Quarrier had been unveiled. One moment, Prince Randal ordered his Martial Masters to attack, and the very next, a gash had been inflicted on him and his half-sisters.

It couldn't be helped. The Martial Masters and even Rui lived on an entirely different speed, at least as far as combat was concerned.

That was what may have taken a lot of time for them in combat and might have been just a split second for the royals.

He had been hurt in a split second and seemingly simultaneously been fed a healing potion, which he was duly inhaling.

It was a lot of blurred darkness.

It was like a bad dream.

In fact, Prince Randal desperately hoped it was a bad dream.

Perhaps he had nodded off the morning of the assassination, having a horrible nightmare caused by his nervousness. Perhaps everything had gone smoothly, and this was a nightmare he was having later that day.

Perhaps he was just dreaming stuff up; maybe Rui Quarrier didn't exist at all.

"So what's it going to be, Your Masteries?" Rui Quarrier's voice broke him out of his stupor. "Our heads the cost of the royals…or a sensible retreat to live another day?"

Prince Randal's eyes widened as he gained a better inkling of what was happening.

He glanced at the Martial Masters covering him. Their teeth were gritted, and their expressions were grave.

'…Are they actually unable to kill them and protect us at the same time?' Prince Randal grew bewildered even as he healed himself.

He didn't understand.

The Martial Masters looked deeply conflicted.

Of course, they were entirely unwilling to let any harm befall their marks. Yet, at the same time, they did not want to let Rui Quarrier walk away alive. Especially not when he impertinently held a recording device that had been recording everything that had happened since the Voidreaper entered the meeting.

The air was tense.

was excited, just itching to rush over

remained impassive, maintaining his calm, ready to ensure that the four royals bore witness to the Martial Embodiments

the chair,

a

struggled

are you doing?" Princess Ranea asked with a severe

simple, Your Highness," One

were paralyzed as long as it was compromised, paralyzed because they could do

yelled. "Just three of them! Go ahead

Prince Randal's voice was grave and severe. "Just

do so at that very moment. While Prince Randal possessed a much more thorough understanding of Martial Art and combat dynamics than his sisters,

far and away the most qualified out of them

furiously considering their combat circumstances. Their eyes were fixed on the two enemy Martial Masters. Every twitch, every shift, every movement they made…it was

that only Martial Artists of the Upper Realms could engage in. It allowed them to gain a measure

Prince Randal, Rui

edge of Rui's mouth

clear, although he didn't say a

the sixteen of them were too busy protecting the royals from Reina; he would exploit

I leave the decision to you. Whatever

"Hah," Rui snorted.

Martial Masters. "Responsibility will be the least of your worries when I'm done

voice was as

grew grave at

didn't need to inquire what

proof that

had them by the

was not something that they could withstand. If the Martial

didn't even want to think about