The Martial Unity

Once the Divine Doctor healed and restored the Martial Sages of the Kandrian Empire, they immediately began rehabilitation training. It was only after the truth of the training manifold was explained to them that they understood how they could return to their prime within the timeframe that the Emperor of Harmony required them to.

They immediately began using the power of the manifold greedily, not wasting so much as a second. They would need to spend the next few years in the manifold so that they could make it in time for the impending war that was to hit the Kandrian Empire within months in the real world.

“So this is the power of Sage-level powerhouse…” Sage Laozhu, the East Wind, remarked, huffing lightly as his hand combed through his long hair. “It far surpasses my native nation.” “No,” Sage Kole shook her head lightly. “This isn’t the power of just about any Sage-level powerhouse. I’m certain that this power is unique to the Kandrian Empire. We have been blessed with the opportunity to serve a powerful nation and a powerful emperor.”

Not all of her new and fellow healed colleagues shared her sentiment.

Sage Lameperel Mernolen, the Meteor, sneered at her with derision. “Serve? You think I joined the Kandrian Empire after coming out of retirement just to serve once more?” His eyes narrowed. “Hell no. I’m with the Martial Union. I’m not serving nobody.” Sage Devin, the Molten Mammoth, nodded silently, never once uttering a word. “Ah…” Sage Meilia, the Dancing Darling, heaved a melodramatic sigh. “I would normally agree, but serving the Emperor of Harmony…”

She dreamily giggled to herself while the other four simply stared at her with a dubious expression. One could almost see the flowers blooming around her as she blushed at the thought of serving her chosen liege.

“You’re pathetic,” Sage Ourlen, the Sword Demon, spat with contempt. “You’re Martial Sage. It’s pathetic of you to lust after a mere human.”

Sage Meilia glared at him. “You wouldn’t even be here if not for that ‘mere human,’ you ugly hideous beast.”

“Stop messing around,” Sage Laila, the Adamant, firmly interjected. “Emperor Rael didn’t heal us so that we can gossip around. We have work to do. We need to return to our prime as soon as possible. I don’t know about all of you, but I, for one, cannot stand my current state of weakness any longer.”

That was one thing that all seven of them could agree upon. Now that all hurdles on the path to their former power had been removed, there was nothing stopping them back from returning to their former power.

Thus, they were unable to tolerate their current state of power for too much longer, especially when they were still inferior to their seniors in the government and the Martial Union. So much so that the Martial Sages native to the Kandrian Empire regarded them as juniors who needed their training.

It was frustrating, but they had no choice.

They needed to reach their peak as soon as possible, and that was best done with a powerful Martial Sage who could push them to their limit.

However, they weren’t prepared for what was coming their way.

STEP

The arrival of the eighth Sage-level aura sent shivers down their spine.

It sent chills crawling across their skin, evoking fear that predators evoked in their prey.

“So these are the maggots that Rael was telling me about,” Sage Damian’s voice crackled with giddy excitement. “All I see is a bunch of weak shits.”

He sneered as a contemptuous gaze swept across all of them.

None of them were pleased by how much he looked down at them.

“That’s Emperor Rael to you,” Sage Meilia glared at him. “Supreme Emperor of Harmony is an acceptable title as well.”

“You bastard…” Sage Lamperel bristled as his expression crumpled with rage. “You think you can just walk in here and talk shit without any consequences? Who the fuck do you think you are?”

“It seems that the Martial Sages of the Kandrian Empire are just a little too arrogant,” Sage Laozhu calmly remarked. “We shall have to see whether it holds up when I return to my peak.”

“Hah, talking all that shit,” Sage Ourlen glared at him as his hand went to his sword. “You think you’re so tough? I’ll have you know that I earned the title of Sword Demon through my sheer skill with the blade. I was once regarded as the most skilled swordsman. I once earned the praise of Her Transcendence Transcendent Daena. I once bested-“

“You yap too much.” Sage Damian’s malicious grin grew wider.

What happened next exceeded his ability to fathom.

BOOM

A powerful blow crashed into the solar plexus before he could even parse what happened. “Argh…!” He collapsed like a cut puppet, choking as he cradled his gut.

The others leaped away from the Devil with shocked expressions as their expressions grew more grave.

None of them had realized what had happened until after Sage Ourlen collapsed.

“Hah,” he scoffed with contempt. “You sorry, excuses from Martial Sages. Are they going to help us win the war? My son could do a better job with that!”

They stiffened at the blatant disrespect that he showed them.

Yet, none of them pushed back.

The sheer amount of peril that radiated made them sick.

It prickled at their skin.

“You fucking bastard…” Sage Ourlen tried getting up as he glared with rage.

CLASP

Sage Damian grinned as he grabbed him by the neck, choking him as he held him high up.

“Listen up, you rotten, rusty relics of the past,” Sage Damian grinned. “Rael sent me here to ensure you worthless shits are actually worth shit by the time war arrives.”

His grin grew wider.

“For the next three years…” His voice grew more malevolent. “…I will show you that Hell is real.”

His eyes flickered with thinly veiled bloodlust.

“When I’m done with you maggots, you will regret ever accepting Rael’s offer.”