The Martial Unity

That very day, an announcement spread through the Panama Continent. One declaring the impending commencement of the Void Order, simultaneously the name of the organization that had been developed by the Kandrian government at Rui’s behest, and the name of the regime of law and order that it would impose over the Martial World.

[We, Emperor Rui, hereby announce to the entirety of Panamic Civilization that the regime of law and order will soon be commenced. The Void Order has completed all of its preparations and is now adequately armed with the power needed to enforce justice. From this day forth, the Panama Continent enters a new era of international order. No longer will we dwell in the chaos bred by Martial Art. We will harness our power for a greater purpose and achieve a higher level of civilization, unlike anything our continent has seen since its inception.

Join us in a new world.

A new era.

A new order.

—Emperor Rui Quarrier Silas Kandria]

It was an announcement that didn’t seem like it was written by a panel of speechwriters, for it was far too blunt, straightforward, and unapologetically ruthless to have been written and meticulously screened and vetted with diplomatic considerations. Others pointed to his majestic plural ‘we’ while referring to himself as proof that his ego was through the roof and that all of this was simply a power trip.

The way certain things were phrased wasn’t exactly the most inspiring and or compelling. It felt like something written by the Emperor himself without any consideration for perception.

Accusations of totalitarianism flew from those who read it, while others supported and cheered for a world where they didn’t have to live in fear of Martial Artists ever again.

The reaction of the political class of Panamic Civilization to the announcement was mixed, but more silent than one would have expected. Naturally, nations across the continent had adjusted and prepared themselves for this for the past eight months, so they weren’t exactly caught off guard.

Over the past eight months, the Void Order had been meticulously developed and fleshed out in accordance with the vision that the Emperor had shared with the world. An organization capable of enforcing laws and meting out justice in the Martial World. A regime capable of subjugating the chaos of the Martial World. Considering the sheer scale of the organization, it was almost a miracle that the creation of the organization had occurred within the span of just eight months, but given that Rui had very publicly made his vision clear, no force in the continent dared to impede the development of the regime. 165,391.

It was the number that represented the number of organizations, states, and settlements that had signed a pact with the Void Order, giving it a mandate to enforce law and order over the Martial World. Close to ninety-percent of all Sage-level nations conceded and accepted the regime without any dispute. Even if they did have misgivings, nobody wanted to earn the disdain of the Kandrian Empire or its Emperor. Nations below the threshold of the Sage Realm were too weak to even reject the regime, and they did not dare to.

It would be effortless for the Kandrian Empire to utterly crush them under its feet. Eight months into the new era of the Kandrian Empire led by the Emperor, the preparations for his vision were complete, and now, there was nothing that could impede it anymore.

On the dawn of the very next day, by Kandrian Central Time, the Void Order was in effect.

Martial Artists wearing Martial attire with a simple black circle embroidered on the fabric of the chest began swarming nations across the entire continent as branches, offices, and embassies of the Void Order opened up in each nation, with armies of Martial Artists at their beck and call.

Nations were rank-ordered from varying Martial crime levels, and whether or not it was organized or unorganized, and corresponding measures were implemented.

From simple patrols of powerful Martial Artists scouring an entire area to all-out frontal assaults on Martial mafias that existed in nations with weak power centralization. Covert operations meant to root out highly-entrenched organized Martial crime began springing up across the continent over the next week as the first wave of resistance emerged in opposition to the Void Order.

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!!!

In the Kingdom of Grahal, a nation within the domain of influence of the Kandrian Empire, famous for its highly organized crime, a battle broke out in slummy districts harboring massive gangs of Martial Apprentices.

BOOM!!!

A giant explosion launched several Martial Apprentices back as they leaped back, grimacing in pain. They gritted their teeth, regrouping together as they began launching wind blasts at the figure within the cloud of dust.

“Get him!”

“It’s just one Martial Squire!”

“We can win if we work together!”

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!!!

And yet, the Martial Squire emerging from the cloud of dust remained unperturbed, simply deflecting all their blasts effortlessly. The gap between the Squire Realm and the Apprentice Realm had increased considerably in the past five years, especially after the Unfolding. In the mere three years that had passed since the Unfolding and the emergence of true world technologies, biotechnological enhancement had risen tremendously. The technological trade agreements made between the Panamic Civilization and Genoran Elven Civilization and the Pasupati Clans of Kiriket had enabled the Panamans to enhance the Body Evolution into the Squire Realm by a significant margin.

It created a whole new set of features that were simply impossible before.

“You evil scum stand no chance against my size.” The Martial Squire sharpened his cybernetic eyes as he triggered a genetic protocol in the biotechnology of his body. The Martial Apprentices of the Grahal Gangs widened their eyes with shock as the Martial Squire began growing larger. The man’s volume began growing by a significant margin as his clothes expanded with his volume, ensuring they were shredded in the process.

“What is this?!”

“How… how is he growing even bigger?!”

“This… this is not fair!”

By the time the Martial Squire was done, he was a whole fifty-percent larger than he was in his normal state. This was the signature organic matter compression technology of the therianthropes. It was what allowed the converged beasts like the Dragon Emperor and Lord Vakratunda to maintain reasonable volumes despite the mass they possessed, and what allowed them to change size.

Even though the Martial Body could only replicate a minute fraction of the immense magnitude of compression that those two powerful beings possessed, it was more than enough to completely change the game.

“Prepare to be crushed.” He growled before launching at the Grahal Gangs in an unstoppable rampage.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!

“ARRGHHH!”

“HELP HELP!!!”

“I SURRENDER! I SURRENDERRRR!”

Within twenty-four hours, the organized Martial mafia of the Kingdom of Grahal was fully subjugated by a group of Martial Squires.