The Martial Unity

Shortly after, he spotted the eager figure of Prince Raul, who was soon followed by Princess Raemina, Prince Raijun, Princess Ranea, Prince Rajak, and Princess Rafia throughout the long line.

They alternatingly split into two lines on either side of the ostentatious carpet leading to the throne.

The time had come.

"Please welcome the Emperor of Harmony, the Second Emperor of the Kandrian Empire, His Majesty Rael Di Kandria!"

A powerful drum beat reverberated through the throne hall with each step.

STEP

STEP

STEP

Rui's eyes widened as he beheld the vaunted Emperor of Kandria.

…Now, a weary old man with a diseased body.

His skin was a shade of sickly darkness, hanging off his gaunt face. His body was lean and haggard; his thin, weak limbs conveyed an impression of malnourishment. His hair, once a brilliant golden, had lost its luster. His eyes, once an ethereal blue, had lost their shine.

Yet they never once lost the light of determination.

His gait was unstable even as two of his concubines held his hands, aiding him as he exerted himself to reach the throne.

Nearly twenty-five Martial Masters followed behind him, absolutely alert for any threat whatsoever.

Not that there were any threats.

Not with a Martial Sage overseeing security.

STEP

With each passing step, each guest bowed their head deeply as the Royal Emperor passed them, paying their respects to the Emperor of Kandria.

STEP…

throne atop the elevated platoon, beholding it for what could

"Ahh…"

detail circled around the throne,

single command escaped

"Raise your heads."

silence as each of the

deep air of power and authority seemed to radiate from him. This

him, he saw the hundreds of thousands of

the might of a million-strong army of elite soldiers armed with

the power of three Martial Sages who had sworn

he could almost feel the weight of his power, the power to erase Sage-level nations with a single command, to hunt Martial Sages like they were no more than prey, to

nervousness as the emperor's eyes swum across each and every single

The silence lingered.

It was deafening.

to be

A nonchalant remark.

as well have been

through the throne hall. "It is good to be back, wouldn't

The air grew electric.

It prickled.

nonchalantly swam across the guests and his own children as a wave of apprehension washed through the

"You seem nervous."

They undoubtedly were.

business and economic tycoons or the most accomplished Martial Masters of the Martial Union, a heavy weight

"Do I inspire fear?"

did now, with the way he was

gripping the hearts of the many guests that were present

my sickly

as it pierced

impending death

guests

"It should."

His words grew ominous.

inspire fear in you but…I know it doesn't," The Emperor calmly declared. "What it inspires,

lit up in his eyes as his nonchalance receded.

through