The Martial Unity

STEP

They landed atop Mt. Vanfeiger.

It was a mountain at the center of a barren desert in South Kandria, devoid of too much activity and life. The area was as desolate as it was serene.

"Huff…" Rui heaved a sigh as he quickly consumed a light rejuvenation potion, restoring his expended stamina.

He gazed at the Monastery of Mysteries.

"We will secure the area, Your Highness," Master Zentra calmly remarked. "Not that it is required, but nothing can be allowed to disturb your audience with the personage that awaits you."

"…Understood."

"Break a leg, my friend!" Master Iskan slapped him on the shoulder, leaving him a bruise as he walked away.

PAT

Master Vericita smiled warmly as she reassured him with a hand on his head. "Good luck, my child."

She, too, stepped away.

"You don't need luck," Master Ceeran smirked. "If it's you, you are able to make your own, am I wrong?"

Soon enough, he was alone before the giant structure.

His heart felt heavy.

A profound sense of power radiated from within the monastery.

A Realm of power that he had come to recognize.

It was a Realm of power that seemed to bend the world itself.

A power that bent heaven and earth itself.

His Martial drive stirred.

His hunger stirred.

The void in the depths of stirred.

"I want this power…" A single whisper escaped his mouth.

Feeling such power only brought about greater clarity in his heart.

Was he going to sit on a throne and play Emperor while such godly power awaited him?

Determination flashed in his eyes.

"No."

stepped forth with

didn't have time

CLACK

gate of the Monastery of Mysteries opened before he

The monastery was hemispherical.

also

of all

A man.

No.

Rui's eyes narrowed.

Not a man.

A Sage.

Rui could feel it.

that accompanied all

quite put his finger on it, but it

Heavy.

presence weighed down on the world around them. It weighed down on space and time itself, almost generating a gravitational field by virtue of the weight of their being, so much

He didn't understand.

understand this power that he deeply yearned

supported his head as a cushion while his legs stretched out, intertwined in a rather

at best. He wore a simple, fluffy single-piece garb,

switch

recognized him instantly, of

The Sloth Sage.

The meeting was too important to act without carefully considering

that

remark escaped from the

his mouth hadn't

He visibly looked tired as he got up. "Huff…at my

His mouth didn't move.

could hear

'How?' Rui's eyes widened.

at him with

the Monastery of Mysteries manifests

His mouth hadn't moved.

Sage smiled lazily. "Convenient, isn't it? I love this place because I'm too lazy

widened with shock as his

stronger the closer you get to the center."

stared at

anyone about the depraved thoughts and fantasies you

shook his head, heaving a

STEP

world around him

of the

in its place was a sight that he had grown extremely familiar

His Mind Palace.

shook on the spot, bewildered at how his Mind Palace manifested

hands, around as he gazed at the sight that emerged before