The Martial Unity



"Wait, you're telling me it hasn't even been a day since you got up, and you've already been targeted by assassins?" Kane laughed. "That's hilarious, man."

Rui had made his way to the manifold without any further impediments. He quickly found Kane, informing him of his most recent incident with assassins after having reunited with him.

"Well, ten billion gold coins is a lot," Rui replied. "There aren't that many bounties on the black market comparable to that. I'm guessing that they were dragged in by their greed. But they should have known that it wouldn't be as easy as popping my head with a sound bullet."

Rui came to learn that not all Masters were masters of the art of assassination like Master Reina. He had always thought that at the Master Realm, any assassin would surely be more than just stealth and assassination techniques, but apparently not.

"It makes sense, I suppose. Masters are so strong that just their strength alone lends them to being excellent killers. Only the cream of the crop master everything there is to the art of assassination outside of Martial Art as well."

"You might have to deal with them soon," Kane mused. "Hell, for ten billion gold coins, I'm tempted to undertake the assassination myself."

He grinned as Rui turned to him with a deadpan stare.

"So, are you planning to undergo any training at the moment?" Kane asked, curious. "Maybe an anti-assassination that allows you to antithetically dismantle all the assassination attempts?"

"...That actually sounds interesting, but no." Rui shook his head. "I haven't reached the point where I feel the need to train another technique. I'll do so when I happen upon an avenue of adaptive evolution that is worth pursuing or upgrading."

Kane shrugged. "Suit yourself. I suppose it is true that you're way too strong to be easily pushed to the point of feeling the need to train your adaptive evolution."

Rui nodded. "I'm looking for a challenge that I am unable to overcome with my existing Martial Art techniques. I have considered creating something to aid me with war, like with large-scale conflicts, but I figure that I might as well wait until I experience more conflicts of that nature before I try to create a technique for it."

The battle against the Sekigahara Confederate was hardly the norm. It was actually extremely abnormal given the sheer size and scale of the conflict; such types of conflicts were highly atypical for a war.

Once he got a good grasp, he intended to ensure that he created a technique, training system, or system of thought that would allow him to deal with large-scale conflicts with much greater proficiency.

"For now, however, I simply look forward to dealing with the war in earnest."

"Well, I intend to spend more time training and getting my Martial Art in synergy with my Martial Mind," Kane explained. "I don't really have any other goals at the moment. Of course, I intend to participate in the war; I could use some experience as well."

Rui nodded. "Also, have you been told about the breakthrough to the Sage Realm?"

Kane winced. "Yeah, I don't like it, but it is what it is. I'm not really good at philosophy and whatnot."

"It sounds philosophical, but it's more than just philosophy," Rui remarked. "But, yes, I don't like it either."

Kane directed a knowing look at Rui.

He had been there when Rui learned the truth about his reincarnation. He recalled that Rui had speculated that it had something to do with the Sage Realm. And he was right; it was the key to the sage Realm.

"So, what do you plan to do?" Kane asked with a concerned expression. "Feels like in your position, just the ordinary method isn't going to cut it."

"You're probably right..." Rui heaved a sigh. "There is a more effective path than the ordinary method of simply growing stronger and individuality. Dying."

Kane looked at him with an incredulous expression; you're telling me your plan to get to the Sage Realm is dying?"

"Yes," Rui remarked. "Allegedly, the more one approaches death, the more one learns about the depths of one's self. The idea is that by dying, one can accelerate one's path to the Sage Realm."

"That... sounds super risky. But knowing you, you're probably going to take it."

"Well, it appears you just might know me better than myself."

"Hah! It's a shame the rules don't allow Masters to delegate the task."

Rui chuckled. "Well, these are super long-term considerations. For now, I am nowhere near the Sage Realm. I don't intend to train a new technique in the hopes of trying to close the distance either; I just need to fight some more."

"Well, I don't think that the Sekigahara Confederate is going to mount another attack like that after I decimated almost all of their Masters. So, how is the war going to evolve from now?"

"...Allies," Rui informed him. "Both sides are scrambling for allies. Our enemies know that, while they have more Martial power than we do, they do not have enough power to overwhelm us without suffering horrific losses in a pyrrhic victory. The Kandrian Empire is trying to stop them from gaining the allies they seek by reeling them to our side. Thus, I expect we will see many medium skirmishes across all of East Panama."

"I see...So, you plan to fight battles by heading over to the battlefield and fighting for our allies; that sounds fun. I'll join in."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Rui smiled. "The more the merrier. My first stop, though, is Vilun Island. I'm heading there to enlist the support of Master K'Mala of the G'ak'arkan Tribe."

Kane's eyebrows rose as he recalled those names. "Vilun Island, huh? How long has it been? Twenty years?"

"Around that much."

"And she managed to break through to the Master Realm, huh? Good for her. Still, I think I'll sit this one out. I never liked that place. And if it's just a diplomatic venture, I don't really have anything else to do. But make sure to let me in on the next one."