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."

with a

have time to

CLACK

of the Monastery of Mysteries opened before he

The monastery was hemispherical.

was also

of all

A man.

No.

Rui's eyes narrowed.

Not a man.

A Sage.

Rui could feel it.

sensation that

put his finger on it, but

Heavy.

almost generating a gravitational field by virtue of the weight

He didn't understand.

understand this power that he

on the ground, relaxed. His hands supported his head as a cushion while his legs stretched out, intertwined

wore a simple, fluffy single-piece garb, a fusion between Martial

was too lazy to switch back and forth

recognized him

The Sloth Sage.

flashed through Rui's mind as he considered what to do. The meeting was too important to act

ain't that deep,

escaped from

mouth

as he got up. "Huff…at my age, even

His mouth didn't move.

could

'How?' Rui's eyes widened.

Sage peered at him with a

Mysteries manifests thought as sound

His mouth hadn't moved.

now, you're hearing my thoughts," The Martial Sage smiled lazily. "Convenient, isn't it? I love this place because

shock as his thoughts

you get to the

stared at him

about the depraved thoughts and fantasies you have about the women in your life.

head, heaving

STEP

the world around

hemispherical dome of

was a sight that he had grown extremely familiar with over

His Mind Palace.

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

sight that emerged