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.

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

Resignation overtook Rui.

the Martial

enough, but…" Sage Sayfeel's voice took an upturn. "Power rivaling the Transcendent Realm can delay the Emperor's

widened

The air tingled.

at

you mean?" Rui

option whilst he was conscious, for he deemed it unworthy to use such a powerful resource to merely delay the inevitable, not prevent it," The Sage's voice grew severe.

Rui shook where he stood. "Such

Kandrian Empire. With its power, the Emperor's fate can be delayed

resource. Once used, it will crumble to dust. Once

Rui's expression grew grave.

"…Do you possess the power to deploy

"…Yes."

Emperor more precious to you than

"Infinitely."

a hint of hesitation could

Rui's voice trailed off as he met the Martial Sage's

His message was clear.

Sayfeel narrowed his eyes. "What will you do if you

I'd

eyes widened

very air seemed to

felt chills crawl up his skin

"Prince Rui Quarrier Kandria."

Sage's tone grew

you fail…you will

His eyes narrowed.

will ascend

weighed

bear

weighed down on his

will become the Emperor

down on

expression grew grave. "…And if I

I will not deploy the Topaz of Time to delay His Majesty's fate," The Sage's tone was unshakable. "You will have to watch Kandria

of

Sage had made his choice

"So, Your Highness, what

Rui stared at him.

he refused

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 atop the throne was not an extremist who would throw

It was a dead-end.

None of the seven royals possessed the harmony needed to ascend the throne, and