The Martial Unity

Rui spent the next few days talking to several people about the recent revelations. Friends, family, acquaintances, benefactors…

They had different insights to offer.

"Drive alone is indeed enough to walk down one's Martial Path, however…" Headmaster Aronian had told him with a knowing look. "Momentum can help you tread that path even faster. It is precious and does not last forever. Neither does your youth. Consider what ascending the throne will do it."

He abstained from telling Rui what choice he ought to make. He did, however, warn Rui of how precious the momentum that he had accrued in recent times.

"Had anyone else told me that they could follow their Martial Path and rule the Emperor in a manner befitting the heir of the great Emperor of Harmony, I would have laughed in their face," Master Vericita smiled gently as she petted Rui's head. "However, I would be unable to laugh if it was you, of all people, who told me this. Your mind is innately the most powerful that I have ever seen in my entire life. I believe that you, of all people, may be able to do the impossible and walk both paths."

It appeared that Master Vericita thought highly of him.

She wasn't the only one.

"I cannot begin to imagine how difficult ruling an Empire must be," Master Ceeran had remarked when Rui consulted him. "The sheer tribulations of mind that the Emperor of Harmony must have overcome to not only bring this Empire back from the brink of civil war, but also then turn a civil war into civil harmony. I do not believe that most Martial Artists are able to fathom how difficult it is. However…"

He had turned towards Rui. "I believe you have the ability to succeed the Emperor of Harmony. I believe that you have the power to surpass him. Thus, if you decide to become Emperor, I will support you with every ounce of power I am able to muster."

"…Thanks," Rui smiled. "I will keep your words at heart."

He wasn't the only one who offered more clear opinions.

"In the past decade, I have worked hard in completing missions from clientele through the Martial Union," Master Zentra had plainly informed Rui. "Do you know why?"

"…No?" Rui tilted his head.

"I've been seeking the Neinhart Nectar Potion," Master Zentra remarked, closing his eyes. "It's a potion that increases the precision of motion of the consumer by an order of magnitude. I believe that it will allow me to reach a territory of control that has previously alluded to me due to a lack of talent. Unfortunately, the Neinhart fruit only grows in Sage-level danger zones in the Beast Domain. In other words, it requires a Martial Sage to acquire it. That is why I've been working hard to earn enough credits to commission Her Sagehood, the Flickering Elder, to procure a fruit for me."

He turned to Rui. "The Emperor would be able to get his hands on it within a month with a single command."

Rui's eyes widened as Master Zentra calmly conveyed the benefits of becoming Emperor.

"That is what you will be giving up if you choose not to ascend the throne," Master Zentra calmly explained. "Remember that whenever you feel like you do not want to talk about it."

It was a powerful argument and rhetorically compelling, even Rui had to admit. However, they weren't the only Martial Masters that Rui had taken the liberty to consult.

"Hehehe, you should become Emperor," Master Reina smirked.

He had finally had a chance to speak to her when he returned to the Great Jrava Mountain Range.

"Why?" Rui gazed at her skeptically.

"Because it's the most entertaining option for me."

"Your selflessness is truly tear-jerking," Rui snorted.

He turned to Master Gurren. "What do you think?"

"I support it as long as you put more research into the astronomy department."

Rui heaved a sigh, palming his face, earning a chuckle from Master Reina.

"A man who walks two paths is an incomplete man, my entertaining pupil," Master Reina smiled. "You would be happier if you dedicated yourself to solely one path and abandoning the other rather than having some kind of narcissistic, arrogant faith in your oh-so-brilliant supernatural intellect."

She gave him sobering advice that made Rui consider the viability of walking two paths at once.

Everybody he spoke to had their own opinions.

Most people gave him sensible but ultimately useless redundant advice. It did not take a genius to realize what most of them told him.

He actually found Kane's thoughts to be more insightful than the generic advice. The greater the diversity of thoughts he had, the better he would be able to make a choice.

Several days later, he found himself sky-walking high in the sky, overlooking all of Kandria.

The nation was so gigantic that not even at this height could he see from one end to the other.

This was the nation that he had the opportunity to rule.

It could be his.

If he wanted, he could be Emperor of Kandria.

If he wanted, he could be the second-most powerful man in all of East Panama.

His word would be law.

His desires would become reality.

The very best of what this world had to offer would be offered to him with a bow.

The power to accelerate human civilization.

The power to drown it in the flames of war.

That was the power that he had the opportunity to take.

A profound euphoria overtook him at that realization. It seeped through his body, heart, and mind.

When he opened his eyes, his decision had been made.

Later that day, an announcement was made.

It spread through the Empire in a heartbeat before racing outside of the Empire and across all of East Panama.

A single statement from Prince Rui Quarrier Kandria.

"As the final prince of Kandria, I, Rui Quarrier Kandria, hereby announce my bid for the throne of the Kandrian Empire."

Yet, while East Panama was rocked into an uproar by his declaration, Rui found himself standing before Sage Sayfeel in the empty throne hall. The Martial Sage regarded Rui with silence, waiting.

Rui stared at him deeply.

His eyes, filled with determination, bored into the Martial Sage.

A single demand escaped his mouth.

"Tell me where the Divine Doctor is."