The Martial Unity

It wasn’t a statement that one would expect from the leader of a Sage-level nation.

A Master ruining everything for someone of his power?

Yet, Emperor Rael understood all too well how such an incredibly powerful Martial Art could ruin everything from him. “If he copies Rui’s Martial Art…” He grew immersed in thought. “Then we might lose this war outright.”

He didn’t need to inform them of why this possibility was so devastating.

The promises that he made to all of his allies involved Rui’s breakthroughs.

The Flickering Elder grimaced at his words. “We must warn the young Master before it’s too late. If he ends up fighting this copycat without knowing about his ability, then we are done for.”

“No…” A lazy smirk of amusement appeared on the Sloth Sage’s face. “Informing His Highness will only make things worse.”

“We can’t hide this information from him,” the little girl hissed at him.

“No, he’s right.” Sage Sera smiled wryly. “The Void Prince will want to fight him at all costs. I found it rather eerie that they have the same eye color and hair. It is strange, to say the least. There were times when their domineering power reminded me of each other. Once His Highness gets his hands on my report, we won’t be able to stop him from fighting this copycat.”

“We definitely must not allow them to fight with each other. In fact, we need to keep them as far away from each other as possible,” the Flickering Elder declared. “Hah!” the Drunk Dame snorted, glaring at the diminutive leader of the Lightning Sect. “Do not think you can control people however you want to! If the Void Prince wants to fight him, then he should be allowed to fight him, as far as I’m concerned.”

“If his Martial Art gets copied, then it might ruin everything we have worked hard for,” the Flickering Elder reminded her. “Do you know how many Masters we have lost? Why did they die? Just so we can squander their sacrifices by indulging the young Master’s battle lust?”

“They certainly didn’t die so that you can use their sacrifices to emotionally manipulate us!”

RUMBLE…

“I’m not manipulating anyone.” The Flickering Elder’s being distorted with speed. “Do not dare repeat those words, or else—”

“Or what?” the Drunk Dame snorted as her tone grew dangerous. “Just what are you going to do?”

“You don’t want to find out.” The Flickering Elder glared at her. “But I will not tolerate someone slandering me.”

“Hah, you ain’t gonna do shit, you bitc—”

“Enough.”

Emperor Rael’s powerful voice cleaved through the Drunk Dame’s pettiness.

His stern eyes flashed back and forth between the two Martial Sages. “I expect leaders of the Martial Union to behave with more dignity and control.”

The two of them huffed silently but relented.

“…Still,” the Sloth Sage commented with a hint of disappointment at the loss of his entertainment. “It is a problem.”

“Not an insurmountable one,” the Emperor of Harmony spoke confidently. “However, it will ruin everything if it isn’t targeted appropriately. To do that, we need to reckon with the facts of the matter.”

He raised a finger. “First, I’m sure everyone has surmised that this is Edward’s solution to deal with the Rui problem that has been undoubtedly plaguing them.”

Dealing with Rui’s tactical dominance on the battlefield and the strategic benefits of his one-man-army power, as well as the golden goose of breakthroughs that he was, was one of the enemy alliance’s largest agendas.

Without those two, the Kandrian Empire would be much weaker on the Master-level battlefield and far weaker in the battle for allies.

Emperor Rael had wondered how his enemy and rival would deal with Rui, but now his solution had become evidently clear.

“This copycat is his solution without a doubt,” the Emperor of Harmony continued. “He intends to have this copycat fight Rui, copy his Martial Art, and then kill him. If this is accomplished, it will be no different from the Britannian Empire stealing a trump card that used to be ours and making it their own.”

The grim light in their eyes made it clear that none of the Martial Sages were pleased by this possibility.

“Naturally, we cannot allow this to happen,” Emperor of Harmony spoke with a calm tone. “The issue is that we have no easy solutions.”

He heaved a sigh. “I’m afraid that hiding this information from Rui is not only impossible but foolish as well.”

The Flickering Elder. “But why? If he learns about it, his personality will drive him to lust for that battle. I do not know who this copycat is, but it is clear that his Martial Art is at the same level of absurdity as that of the Void Prince.”

“It is impossible because Rui has intelligence sources that will inform him of this development even if we hide it from him,” the Emperor began. “On top of that, if we hide it from him, then he will just be caught off-guard rather than prepared. That is even worse and will increase the probability that he will die.”

“…Then why not have him stop participating in the war with some excuse? If the two don’t meet, then this entire thing will be solved.”

“If it were that simple, then I wouldn’t care at all.” The Emperor of Harmony heaved a sigh. “But Rui will not tolerate being forced to sit out. The whole reason he went to the Shionel Confederation a week ago as its ambassador was precisely because he wanted to fight in the war. And I gave him my word. I cannot take it back now.”

His expression grew grave. “Had I known that this would have happened, I wouldn’t have done that, but alas, even my analytical prediction and prophecy have limits. Especially when we abuse the latter on a daily basis as much as we do. I think my mother-in-law might kill me and then kill herself if I put one more duty on her shoulders.”

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