The Martial Unity

Rui's dark eyes lit up with a flash of interest. "…Gaia?"

The Divine Doctor heaved a soft sigh, glancing at the sky of the manifold.

He grew quiet as his smile faded and his eyes softened.

A profound silence seemed to overtake the atmosphere.

For a moment, he became human.

"You see…" He began, his voice growing soft. "One fine day at dusk, when gazing at the setting Sun, I had an epiphany."

He continued, immersed in a reverie. "I consider it to be the most glorious moment of my long life. Not even overcoming death inspired the depth of emotion that I experienced from this magnificent revelation."

He closed his eyes. "In that moment, I came to realize that this world was not merely a lifeless stage for all life to occupy. It was not merely a dead speck of rock floating about in an infinite void we call the universe. It was not merely sustenance for the Tree of Life."

His eyes opened.

Within then flashed boundless intensity.

"No." His voice grew more intense. "This world is alive. Gaia is alive."

Rui and Kane widened their eyes in shock. "Gaia is…alive?"

uttered it in front of him, Rui would have scoffed and

him was the Divine

for more than six centuries, traveling the world and gaining priceless knowledge and experience in the domain of medicine and

at him, frozen in

was far

insisted, growing more intense. "She is more alive than any of us. She is more alive than all of us! She is the life that nurtures the very Tree of Life of which we are

gazed

immediately after, growing regretful. "…Yet, along with the magnificent

eyes returned to Rui. "You see, Gaia…she's ill.

whisper escaped

The Divine Doctor admitted. "I don't know, but I made it my life's mission as the greatest doctor to have ever walked

close to diagnosing her condition and her ailments, let alone treating and curing her, unfortunately. Even for someone of my ability, it has proven to be the most difficult endeavor I have ever undertaken in my entire life, far greater than anything I have

made struck

shocked. "How can a planet

it is one that is beyond me. However, I do not find it impossible considering the most extreme forms of life that exist in

that particular statement. "If deserts and golems can be alive, then it isn't

"When considering the exotic and esoteric life that exists in this world, it is only the scale and magnitude of Gaia's life that

moment of silence overtook

for clues in different parts of Gaia's 'body' for symptoms for a diagnosis." Rui realized. "The Human Domain is transparent, the Beast Domain is a region filled with countless mysteries

consulted the Ecologer, an unparalleled genius and the leading authority on the Beast Domain. Yet, diagnosing Gaia was beyond even her. I was almost out of options until she told me about the existence of

"…well, I'm sure you know

Mellow Manifold. "Fascinating, but