The Martial Unity

A moment of silence lingered in the air.

"…Your Highness," Sage Sayfeel whispered. "You think…I want him to die?"

His gaze bored into Rui's eyes.

"…You think I don't want him to live?"

His voice quivered ever so slightly.

"You think his ailment…his fate pleases me?"

He shook his head.

"You are wrong."

He turned to Rui, meeting his gaze.

"It was his will that you ascend the throne."

Rui narrowed his eyes. "I rejected his will."

Sage Sayfeel closed his eyes. "And what will you do when you fail?"

Rui stared at him.

The man opened his eyes. His powerful gaze bored into Rui's.

"…If you fail, will you ascend the throne?"

A moment of silence lingered.

It was deafening.

The two Martial Artists stared at each other.

The air seemed to boil.

It boiled, wrung taut with the weight of the escalating tension.

"…If I agree, will you help me?" Rui's tone was as clear as fresh water. "Can you help me?"

He stared at the Sage with hopeful eyes.

He didn't know what the Martial Sage was capable of.

In truth, he didn't know what Martial Sages, in general, were capable of. He wasn't entirely aware of the extent of the Master Realm's power and certainly knew no firsthand information.

power of the Sage Realm can accomplish what you seek to accomplish within the time limit

Resignation overtook Rui.

the Martial

of the Sage Realm might not be enough, but…" Sage Sayfeel's voice took an upturn. "Power rivaling the Transcendent Realm can

widened with shock.

The air tingled.

at the

do you

inevitable, not prevent it," The Sage's voice grew severe. "The Topaz of Time is

he stood. "Such

Empire. With its power, the Emperor's fate

resource. Once used, it will crumble to dust. Once used, the Kandrian Empire will be deprived of

Rui's expression grew grave.

gaze. "…Do you possess the power

"…Yes."

the Emperor more precious to you than this

"Infinitely."

hint of hesitation could

he

His message was clear.

yet," Sage Sayfeel narrowed his eyes. "What will

I'd

Sage Sayfeel's eyes widened

very air seemed to

chills crawl up his skin at

"Prince Rui Quarrier Kandria."

tone grew

will

His eyes narrowed.

will ascend

words weighed

bear the

weighed down

become the Emperor

weighed down

grew grave. "…And if I

The Sage's tone was unshakable. "You

of

Sage had made

into Rui's. "So, Your Highness, what will it

Rui stared at him.

if he refused the

he was back to square one, back to where he was before he was when he was struggling to find a suitable candidate for the throne. Looking for a way to ensure that the throne war ended and that whoever sat

It was a dead-end.

None of the seven royals possessed the harmony needed to ascend the throne, and none of the other royals possessed the competence to be