The Martial Unity

Chapter 3251: Not The Strongest

”Great,” Rui grinned with an eager expression. ”We can finalize it after we have hashed out the details. But I’m glad that you are willing to teach me the Nature Path.”

’How do you intend to teach us martial arts?’

”Actually, I won’t be the one doing the teaching,” Rui replied. ”I will leave that to Amare. She was the one who originally discovered Martial Art originally and then spread it across the entire civilization. She is very good at spreading Martial Art in a civilization, so I will entrust her with that part.”

’What?’ The Mother of Nature’s tone was surprised. ’A single person spread the path that your civilization follows? That sounds impossible to believe.’

”It’s true,” Rui confirmed. ”She is known as the Progenitor of Martial Art. Although it’s a bit complicated and they aren’t exactly the same person. She is still undoubtedly better equipped at spreading Martial Art in your civilization than I am. Of course, I will be the one to create the martial art. I will adaptively evolve it to suit your species and your Path so that it can harmonize well with your nature path.”

’That does sound alluring,’ the Mother of Nature admitted. ’I look forward to it nonetheless. I think spreading Martial Art on this continent will not be easy.’

”Ordinarily, I would agree.” Rui stirred. ”But you guys have a network that stretches the entire continent and can connect all elves together. That is more than enough.”

’Might I inquire how long you intend to remain here if you intend to harness the Nature Path? It isn’t something that can be done in a single day or two,’ she mentioned.

”I don’t intend to harness it to the extent that you dark elves do.” Rui shook his head. ”I would be happy if I could harness it to an extent. I also don’t need to remain here to master it. Once I have reached the stage of independent mastery, then I will likely depart from the Genora Continent.”

’I see...’ the Mother of Nature murmured with an uncertain tone.

Rui raised an eyebrow. ”If there is an issue with that, I don’t mind changing my plans. I don’t wish to be an ungrateful guest who has outstayed his welcome.”

’That is not the issue,’ she replied quickly. ’What is of concern, however, are the light elves.’

”...The light elves?” Rui frowned. ”What about them?”

’Your presence is likely provocative to them. I am simply concerned about long-term consequences.’

”Even though I’m on the western side with the dark elves, far away from them?” Rui raised an eyebrow.

’We don’t have political boundaries that demarcate where dark elves and light elves begin and end. We are simply different groups with different interests, but we are able to live in harmony because we pursue the Nature Path,’ she explained. ’Thus, your existence likely irritates them.’

The air grew a little heavy.

The atmosphere tingled with a hint of peril as a moment of silence lingered between them.

”... Is there any danger in me being here?” Rui’s eyes lit up with a hint of interest and eagerness.

’You seem pleased at the possibility of it,’ she pointed out.

Rui stirred as an excited smile emerged on his face. ”Sounds fun, doesn’t it?”

’That is a very strange definition of fun. What is it about being targeted for death by an entire civilization that brings you joy?’

”Wouldn’t even be my first time, to be honest.” Rui shrugged. ”The Evolutionary Army has sworn my death already, and now the light elves seem to want to join in on the fun.”

’You are a strange being

,’ she mused. ’I have never seen anyone get excited at the prospect of getting hunted alive by entire continents’ worth of civilizations.’
”It’s not that I’m a masochist or anything of the sort, it’s just that...”

Rui’s expression grew confident as a smile of certainty emerged on his face.

”...I am the strongest.”

It was an incredibly arrogant thing for anybody to say.

Not Rui.

To say that he was the strongest human or the strongest Martial Artist, at least, was a statement of fact.

It remained to be seen whether he could truly call himself the strongest of the true world.

The Mother of Nature, however, didn’t seem to agree.

’You are very strong. But I’m afraid you are not the strongest.’

Rui’s eyebrow rose. ”And who would you say is stronger than me? How would you even know? You haven’t even seen my full power.”

’I am a Mother of Nature,’ she replied, as if that explained everything. ’I can sense just what manner of a force you are, even if I do not possess any direct knowledge. I sense that you are extraordinarily strong. However, I also sense that there are forces out there that exceed you. There are ten beings in this world regarded as the strongest. The one you defeated, Supreme Commander Anthea, used to be among them.’

”Used to?”

’In his prime, yes. Evolutionaries have a very small lifespan,’ she replied. ’Even at their highest level of power, their lifespan only diminishes, while for the other species, lifespan generally increases the deeper you go down a Path. Dwarves, elves, tekvores, therianthropes, giants, and even humans, apparently, increase their lifespan the stronger we grow. But the evolutionaries are the sole exception. Their lifespan decreases and their death hastens the more they use their power and the more they cultivate their power. That is why I say he used to be among the strongest, before age caught up with him and he reached the twilight of his life.’

Rui frowned. ”So the Anthea that I defeated was...”

’An old man,’ she confirmed. ’However, as if to compensate for their weakness. Many leaders, if they are capable, undergo extraordinary evolution on the spot and pass on their seed or eggs to the next generation at the cost of their own lives, allowing the next generation to benefit from the fruits of their evolution. Whoever the next leader of the evolutionaries will be. They will undoubtedly be the strongest individual in the world for a while, before age eventually catches up with them. This is the eternal cycle of the evolutionaries.’