The Martial Unity

“…I don’t think I have ever heard of such an attempt to combine Martial progress with scientific progress other than the Esoterist’s MECHAs,” Rui remarked. “Though this is different…”

The Blood Cult’s goal was actually more of a goal that could be fulfilled by scientific pursuit. However, in order to maximize their research fruits, they basically brainwashed Martial Artists into becoming obsessed with blood from a young age so that their Martial Paths would be relevant to blood.

“All so that the research organization can combine the intuition and instinct of Martial Artists with scientific inquiry,” Rui remarked with a fascinated expression. “…I have never heard of a research organization do this.”

In other words, the Blood Cult was actually pretending to be a Martial organization.

It was a scientific organization that used Martial Art and Martial Artists as tools of scientific inquiry.

It was a Martialocratic Martial supremacistic organization in name only.

Its true purpose was to serve the goal of ‘elevating blood to godhood.’

It was a genius way of harnessing Martial Artists to make much greater progress with their research.

“…And yet, despite Martial Artists being reduced to tools of science, it still somehow became a Sage-level powerhouse,” Rui turned towards the Blood Lord with a raised eyebrow. “Doesn’t it bother you? That Martial Artists are being used as tools for a greater agenda?”

The Blood Lord grinned wildly. “Not at all. That’s where the genius of the plan comes in. I, too, am deeply emotionally invested in the goal of elevating blood to godhood. I will readily submit to being a tool to aid in that direction. The same is true for our other Martial Artists as well. Our brainwashing is powerful and intense, starting from birth, you see.”

Amare’s expression grew disgusted at his gleeful words.

She hated the way they seemed to treat their own people and themselves. It hadn’t even been an hour since they entered the Blood Cult, and she had already hated everything about it. Rui, on the other hand, was morbidly fascinated.

He was aware of science’s efforts to leverage Martial Artists in their scientific inquiry, but it was very difficult to do so. There were problems, such as Martial Artists being averse to scientific progress because it usually meant technology catching up with Martial Art.

The Martial Art-science divide was partly why scientific progress and Martial progress competed with each other rather than cooperated. MECHAs, as an exception, were very recent developments, historically speaking, and came about by the Esoterist’s genius as opposed to cooperation between the scientific and Martial communities.

The Blood Cult, on the other hand, had entire skipped this issue by brainwashing its Martial Artists and scientists into aiming for the same goal that would, allegedly, benefit everybody.

Thus, there was simply no friction.

As they walked by countless laboratories and facilities, Rui spotted Martial Artists and scientists mingling about seamlessly conducting eerie and creepy experiments surrounding blood.

“I see,” Rui’s eyes widened. “No wonder the Blood Cult managed to become a Sage-level powerhouse. It’s actually understandable because it has managed to harness science into Martial Art with remarkable synergy and harmony unlike any other state.”

Not even the Kandrian Empire had managed to fully avoid the science-Martial Art schism, and yet, the Kandrian Empire was still far more progressive in this matter than virtually any other Sage-level powerhouse.

“However, you do deny other forms of technology,” Rui objected to fully accepting this as truth. “For instance, you have rejected siege weapons.”

“That is true,” Blood Lord Vrukshus readily admitted. “The fact of the matter is that it is impossible for absolute harmony. Though, that might change with MECHAs. On top of that, the broader the focus of Martial Artists and scientists, the more of a difference there will, facilitating the schism between Martial Art and technology to widen. ‘Elevating blood to godhood might not be clear, but it is very specific. It doesn’t allow for too much a schism to occur within it.”

Rui stirred at the explanation, digesting it.

“Truly fascinating,” Rui muttered. “I suppose that is one more reason to keep an eye out for MECHAs, because they fuse technology and Martial Artists far smoother and better.”

“That is true, we are already collaborating with the Esoterist to create MECHAs that allow for the implementation of the Martial Artist’s blood in the MECHAs,” Blood Lord Vrukshus grinned which excitement. “It will be fun to see what kind of monstrosity we cook up.”

Rui’s eyes widened with shock. “Implementing blood in MECHAs?”

“MECHA Martial Artists will become the strongest Martial Artists in the world in the future,” Blood Lord Vrukshus remarked knowingly. “I do not wish to be left behind this trend. Yet, at same time, it cannot take away from our goal of elevating blood to godhood. It will take time to ensure that the results come our way.”

Rui realized that while the man came off as creepy and eerie, he was actually soberly rational with a calm and collected head on his shoulders. On top of that, the Blood Cult which seemed extremely irrational and unhinged on the surface, was actually quite pragmatic and tethered to reality in the way that they did things.

Of course, brainwashing its Martial Artists to become obsessed with blood was quite extreme, and their fundamental goal was questionable at best.

However, it wasn’t the most extreme thing that Rui had seen in his travels. After all, he had visited nations that has simililarly extreme beliefs and ways of life like the Gen Temple, or the Solaris Kingdom or even the Nest of Terra.

The Blood Cult had much worse aesthetics, without a doubt. “We project a certain level of lunacy.”

The Blood Lord gazed at him like he knew exactly what Rui was thinking. “You see, the best way to stop people from going after our research is to scare them away with projected madness.”

Rui’s eyes widened with shock. “You mean, the valley filled with rotting human blood and the bloody handprints on the wall?”

Blood Lord Vrukshus grinned. “It’s all a ploy to keep people away from our research.”

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