The Martial Unity

At that moment, a flood of memories from back on Earth struck him.

It was a time during which John Falken had already finished the development of the adaptive evolution model that allowed the user to thoroughly adapt to anybody with the most perfectly placed counter to any given move.

One of the biggest problems he was running into was that the human mind was too slow to execute these moves before it was too late. Human movement speed exceeded human reaction speed.

That was why he had turned to prediction.

If the user could predict the movement of his opponents accurately, then he could begin his counter at the right moment.

Of course, he had eventually gone on to develop the predictive model for just that reason. However, the predictive model had not been his only option. Another serious contender for the prediction mechanism was honing and training the subconscious predictive instinct that was based on subconscious pattern recognition.

It was a very serious contender for becoming the predictive mechanism.

There was very rigorous research that statistically demonstrated the subconscious mind's ability to foresee the future. There was research that neurologically demonstrated that parts of the brain associated with the subconscious mind preemptively prepared to execute decisions before the conscious mind had even made an actual conscious decision.

It was an evolutionary neurological trait that greatly predicted survival, which was why evolution favored it.

Rui often wondered what would have happened if John had instead chosen to go with the subconscious, instinctive prediction instead of the conscious statistical prediction of the predictive model.

Well, now he found out.

It would have worked out just fine.

"Incredible…" Rui murmured. "Instinctive prediction."

"I know that the prophecy of your technique is different. It's not prophecy at all, is it?"

She stared at him with a knowing look.

A Martial Sage could not be fooled so easily.

"It isn't," Rui smiled wryly. "It's calculation. Really advanced calculation."

"Fascinating," she murmured. "I was not aware that the future could be calculated. Yet your worths are undoubtedly truthful. I sensed a tsunami of conscious thought erupting within the depths of your powerful mind during your fight with Huldah."

She closed her eyes. "Imagine what would happen if we were to combine these two techniques."

Rui's eyes lit up with a hint of greed.

"We would ascend from mere prophets to…gods," her voice grew energetic at the prospect of attaining the power that Rui had shown her.

"…It will be the first thing I do after returning," Rui heaved a sigh.

"Hmph, is the nation? Is your father that important to you, boy?" She snorted. "You're wasting time on things not related to the growth of your Martial Art."

"That's a false dichotomy, grandmother. It's not that simple," Rui replied calmly. "I am not choosing between my Martial Art and the matter of Kandria's next Emperor. Choosing to expose myself to the Beast Domain will probably do me more good for my Martial Art than remaining here and mastering your technique."

There was a reason he truly believed this.

She peered at him knowingly. "Being protected by eight mindforgers around the clock has dulled your instincts."

Rui heaved a sigh. "Yes, unfortunately. I am no longer alert or aware because there is no point in being alert or aware. On top of that, I have only fought seriously twice in the past year and a half. That is a very grave lack of real combat experience. I used to be embroiled in more conflict before I returned to Kandria. I was alert, and my instincts were sharper."

"Hm, in that regard, perhaps it would be better for you to get away from this environment," she remarked. "When do you plan to leave?"

"In some days after all the matters regarding the Silas Clan are settled."

"Then I shall be sure to prepare a prophecy for you by then."

Rui smiled. "I appreciate that, grandmother."

Days passed as Rui waited for the Martial Union to make its move.

He wasn't the only one waiting.

The entirety of East Panama was waiting as well.

The sudden increase in the Martial Sage count of the Kandrian Empire had already sent ripples across East Panama. The economic incline that this event would cause had already been felt in the first week since the arrival of the Silas Clan as the Martial Credit currency index experienced a whopping eight percent growth internationally.

This was before the Silas Clan had even met the Martial Union!

It reflected the expectations of the international community. The Silas Clan was an asset and a power unlike any other that existed in East Panama. That was not to say it was Martially the strongest, certainly not.

It was strategically the most powerful for a nation.

If not for the fact that the Kandrian Empire under the Emperor of Harmony was not hawkish or conquest-oriented, many people would be worried about what the Kandrian Empire would be capable of once the Martial Union fully harnessed the power of the Silas Clan.

Some even hoped that there would be a severe breakdown in negotiations, causing the Silas Clan to leave the Kandrian Empire.

Unfortunately for them, Rui did not intend to allow this outcome to unfold. He had earned the trust of both parties and would be serving as the mediator for the approaching conference.

And it arrived.

STEP

Master Sera Graven, the Harbinger, had arrived at the settlement of the Silas Clan in the Ilvilia Clan, wearing formal attire with the emblem of the Martial Union on the chest of her attire.

A profoundly powerful Master-level aura radiated from her. One that was stronger than all Martial Masters of the Kandrian Empire.

Naturally, she could not be ignored.

STEP

The Mindforgers of the Silas Clan had arrived before, regarding her with stern caution.

"Identity yourself and your purpose for approaching the Silas Clan."

"I am Sera Gervin of the Master Council of the Martial Union," she calmly replied, pulling out an extravagantly adorned envelope. "I am here to convey an invitation for a conference personally offered by the Sage Council of the Martial Union to Matriarch Nephi Silas of the Silas Clan. From Sage to Sage, they beseech an audience with her."

RUMBLE

The Harbinger stiffened as a profoundly power presence shook the very world around them, bending heaven and earth under the weight of her being.

STEP

Matriarch Nephi had arrived.

A single remark escaped her mouth.

"I accept."