The Martial Unity

Chapter 2553: Protective Matriarch

Rui waited patiently with an expression of amusement as his grandmother continued ranting on about what she would do to the Emperor of Harmony if the formidable Sage Sayfeel wasnʼt protecting him at all times.

It wasnʼt until she finally tired herself that she finally paused, turning her attention back to Rui.

”Are you leaving soon, my child?”

”Yes, grandmother,” Rui replied with a respectful tone. ”Human civilization needs me if it is to have any hope of surviving the Beast Incursion without its Martial Sages. Five years is certainly less extreme than an assumed timeframe of one year, but itʼs still too short of a time to expect human Martial Masters to take over duties that only Sages are able to fulfill for the moment. I must travel around human civilization and accelerate the process.”

”Hm, that is noble of you.” She nodded with a hint of approval. ”Your Martial Art is nothing short of a beacon of hope in these trying times. However, be careful nonetheless. Human civilization may have temporarily united under the perilous pressure of this new apocalypse, but that doesnʼt mean that you are entirely safe. Tread lightly and always be careful.”

”I will be sure to keep that in mind, grandmother.” Rui nodded. ”I came to inquire about something specifically.”

”You want to know whether or not human civilization will emerge victorious from the Era of Darkness,” she snorted with a knowing expression.

”Did you foresee that I would ask you that question?” Ruiʼs eyebrows rose.

”No, I knew you would ask me that because everybody and their mother has been asking me that same question for the past half year!” she spat. ”I am not omniscient!”

Rui had to wait for a few more minutes patiently until she concluded her second rant.

”Well, if that isnʼt something you can foresee, then...” Rui continued. ”What about how effective my Hellbringer will be?”

”Hm, I have already looked into this. I foresee that they will be humankindʼs salvation in the darkest hour,” she replied with a knowing expression. ”That is why you must continue forth with your mission and fulfill your destiny.”

Ruiʼs eyes lit up with enthusiasm.

Of course, he was almost entirely certain that his work would be of great benefit to humanity, but it was good to know that it truly was as crucial as he believed it would be.

”And, let me see.ʼ Rui stroked his scruffy chin. ”How about... will I become a Sage?”

She shook her head. ”The answer to that question will not help you. I have informed you that I donʼt reveal details about breakthroughs because it negatively impacts the Martial Artist in question.”

”Ah, damn.” Rui shrugged. ”Worth a try. And finally, is there anything that I need to know ahead of time?”

She gazed at him thoughtfully. ”What is to come cannot be stopped. May you survive the path that you have driven yourself down. Now then, enough with this line of questioning, I shanʼt reveal anything unless I truly believe that it wonʼt be hurtful.”

Ruiʼs eyes lit up with understanding.

Her response already revealed much of the answers that he had come to her for.

”Hm... I shall keep your advice in mind, grandmother,” Rui promised. ”Well then, if thereʼs nothing else—”

”Wait,” his grandmother interrupted him. ”We require something from you. Something extremely urgent.”

Rui simply waited for her to continue.

”I am aware you have managed to adaptively evolve to that other lad.” Her eyes narrowed. ”The one who can steal techniques.”

”...I have.” Rui instantly deduced exactly where this was going.

”We require whatever you did to adaptively evolve to his copying technique,” she growled. ”Because I promise in the name of the Transcendent Prophet that I will personally kill him should he dare to steal the Eye of Prophecy technique of the Silas Clan.”

This was a very sound concern for the Silas Clan.

They had become a secretive nomadic clan all in order to protect the Eye of Prophecy. And now the biggest threat to that goal had also perched itself in the Kandrian Empire. Rui knew that if he didnʼt oblige, his grandmother would very seriously consider killing Tokugawa Ieyasu herself or demanding his exile. She had enough clout in the Kandrian Empire to get away with it, even if barely.

Rui didnʼt want any of these outcomes to occur. Thus, he very readily agreed to her demand. ”Itʼs a complex and fine domain technique,” Rui replied as he explained the principles to her. ”The domain could be too much for the Martial Artists of the Lower Realms, but that can be solved through other means. You could create diluted versions, or even just have specialized esoteric technological products if you want to go extremely far to protect your secrets.”

”Hm, we will explore all avenues to protect our sacred technique from thieves. Give me the technique immediately.”

Rui thought for a moment before activating his Realms of power and casting a powerful hypnosis on Matriarch Nephi, who in turn allowed it. The hypnosis was based on the hypnotic embedding that Rui has developed for the Hellbringer model. Normally, it was limited to any specific given technique, but Rui could use Megamind to rewire the technique to pass on the information of any technique.

After quite some time, Matriarch Nephi nodded. ”Hm, a rather ingenious technique indeed. This will do. I, along with the Masters of our clan, will create a version for all Martial Artists in our clan so that we will be able to protect our technique.”

Rui heaved a sigh of relief at Matriarch Nephiʼs willingness to work with this compromise rather than going for a more drastic route to solve the problem at its root.

”Well then, grandmother, good luck with that. I shall soon depart from the Kandrian Empire and head out to commence my voyage across the human domain and complete my mission of administering the Hellbringer model to the powerhouses of human civilization.”