The Martial Unity

For a moment, Rui could not help but short-circuit as he tried parsing the importance and weight of the sheer gathering that he was a part of.

"Is this your first time?" The Minister of Martial Art smiled friendlily.

"...Was it that obvious?"

"Haha. Your reaction was the reaction that everybody, without fail, has in their first time. Being invited to an important event with the many powers of Kandria in the throne hall is indeed an extraordinary event."

Rui nodded.

No wonder the Martial Sage of the Kandrian Border Patrol Force had personally arranged for the security of this event. In hindsight, at least one of the fourteen Martial Sages of the Kandrian Empire needed to personally guard this event, anything less was a poor allocation of Martial resources.

On top of that, there were many Martial Masters in the Martial attire of the Royal Security Force inside and outside the Royal Hall as an additional guarantee, making it such that their safety was high.

He walked around, overly conscious of everybody around him. There was loud chatter and murmurs among them as the many guests began intermingling with each other.

After all, this was a rare event where the many powers of Kandria were gathered in a single room. The ceremony would not begin until every last guest had arrived.

Thus, it was only natural that they would take this rare opportunity to speak with each other about various topics.

He was unable to calm down.

The air tingled.

"Rui!"

A relieved smile flashed on Rui's face as the familiar, friendly voice of Master Ceeran beckoned him.

"Master Ceeran."

"Quite the event, isn't it?" Master Ceeran murmured as he eyed their surroundings.

"That's an understatement," Rui replied as he took measure of the other guests. "Have all Masters been invited individually or…?"

Master Ceeran glanced at Rui. "All Masters merit being invited to this event; however, the nation cannot afford all Martial Masters to abandon their training or operations to be in this room simultaneously."

"This is the norm when it comes to Martial Artists in general," The Minister nodded.

Rui nodded. "Makes sense."

Martial Masters were entrusted with important duties, many of national importance. They could not be drawn away from it. Certainly, it could not be the case that all of them were simultaneously taken away from their duties.

minor sect has sent an appropriate number of leaders. Today, I represent the

with another of my elder colleagues," Master Ceeran

based

three of them spoke, it wasn't too long before they

Headmaster Aronian.

Master Vericita.

Master Zentra.

familiar faces helped him feel

that, the

didn't know what

something, something deep

felt consciously and unconsciously. It was alarm bells ringing as Primordial Instinct would yell at him about

No, this was subtle.

It was soft.

Dim.

was a

voice that

'Something is off.'

"-i?"

didn't know what it

"-ui?"

mind was on the

"Rui?"

turning to the concerned Master Ceeran. "I'm sorry,

Master Ceeran gestured to the final carriage taking away, having dropped off the final guest who came scrambling through, undoubtedly embarrassed at the outsized interest in

stream of incoming

not the only

single one of them felt

the depths of

In their souls.

they human or

air

lands beneath them

as he recognized the

RUMBLE…

The world quivered.

quivered, for

quivered as heaven

bent under the weight