The Martial Unity

A battle between Martial Seniors.

It was not something that human beings were qualified to bear witness to under normal circumstances.

The sheer power output of Martial Seniors was so high, that death was a certainty even if the spectators were hundreds of meters away. Such was the destructive power of those who had harnessed the full potential of the Martial Body.

Of course, the Kandrian Empire most certainly possessed the powerful infrastructure needed to allow spectators to survive and witness the riveting battle between Martial Seniors. That usually came at the cost of freedom in battle.

In this case, the Martial Senior battle was not a commercial event.

Thus, neither side saw fit to bother getting spectators.

This was purely a duel for the throne.

For the future of Kandria.

Naturally, because the stakes were so high, it instantly drew massive amounts of attention not just across Kandria but from across much of East Panama as well.

"What is he thinking?!" Chairman Decker exclaimed with horror. "He had a clear path to victory in the long run, which is trying to hasten the final step with such an absurd risk?!"

Guildmaster Bradt narrowed his eyes as he studied the report, maintaining his composure.

He had to admit that, on the surface, it was an incredibly stupid and irrational gamble. There was no need to try to secure the final supporter in a month when it was known he had four years left. It was better to use long-term strategies to secure the final high-ranking government official that he needed.

However, Guildmaster Bradt knew that Rui wasn't stupid.

Thus, it meant that Rui was aware of the risks and deemed them worth undertaking. It didn't really make sense why he would deem it worth undertaking unless he was extremely arrogant about his own Martial prowess or…

"…Or there's some other important consideration that he's hiding," Guildmaster Bradt narrowed his eyes.

He had no idea what it could be. Regardless, it didn't matter. He had already hedged his bet with Rui. Not even he could afford to pull out of a faction twice in rapid succession. He had invested a lot in Rui.

"Besides," He closed his eyes. "I do not believe that the prince would have taken this course of action had he not been confident. He also, in my experience, is able to accurately evaluate what he is and isn't capable of."

He would have never won the Shionel Dungeon War, as far as Guildmaster Bradt was concerned.

"Let us wait and watch."

This was a sentiment that was echoed across the political sphere of the Kandrian Empire.

That was all they could do, after all. They were unable to intervene in the agreement, and it had already been signed and thus would unfold no matter what.

Thus, they simply waited and watched with abated breaths.

While they did, Prince Raijun was trekking up a mountain in the depths of North Kandria, where the weather was so cold that it was entirely inhospitable to all human life.

"Are we there yet?" Prince Raijun murmured.

"Some more distance, Your Highness," One of his Martial Master bodyguards remarked. "The Mine of Frosty Lava is within the depths of the mountain with the sole entrance at the top of the mountain."

"Huff…" Prince Raijun panted, narrowing his eyes. "It's worth it. If I can just get him to fight for me…"

He clenched his fists.

He knew that it was an extremely long shot.

So much so that most people would write it off.

When his staff and administration provided him with a list of the best Martial Seniors to have as his champion, they had purposefully only provided eleven because gaining the twelfth's support was almost impossible.

Yet, he couldn't help but at least try.

"It would be game over if I succeed." He narrowed his eyes as he strained forward.

The storm surrounding the mountain was difficult to tread through despite his Martial Body. It was caused by the presence of an esoteric ore known as Frosty Lava. An esoteric that glowed a smoldering red identical to lava but was actually extraordinarily cold, causing low-pressure regions in the atmosphere around it with its low temperatures, resulting in powerful wind currents due to the pressure gradient.

The result was a blizzard that was extraordinarily cold and powerful, making it difficult even for Martial Squires to travel.

"Huff…Huff…" He reached the peak of the mountain.

Ahead of him was a cave that retreated deep into the depths of the mountain.

He sky-walked down the cave, along with his bodyguards, following the winding tunnels throughout the interior of the mountain. The air grew colder and colder the closer they approached the center of the mountain.

It wasn't too long before they arrived at what seemed like a lava lake, with streaks and lines of lava flowing in and out of the lake down to even deeper depths.

The air was extraordinarily cold, stinging at even the Martial Prince's body.

Yet, it wasn't the cold that drew their attention.

No.

It was the power.

It was the sheer power that radiated from the being submerged in the supernaturally cold lake.

Prince Raijun widened his eyes as he felt deep peril from the man.

He felt his hands shaking.

Not from the cold.

But from the fear.

He gritted his teeth, clenching his fists. "I, the Martial Prince, request an audience with Sir Armstrong, the Gatekeeper of the pinnacle of the Senior Realm!"

RUMBLE!

Prince Raijun widened his eyes with shock as the mountain shook.

It tremored.

The very lands beneath them roared.

"…What is this?!" Prince Raijun yelped in fear. "Is he activating his Martial Heart?! Is he launching an attack?!"

"…No, Your Highness," One Martial Master gravely replied, meeting the prince's fearful eyes.

"That's just his Martial Body moving."

THUD

The Martial Masters grew more severe.

THUD

Prince Raijun knew, on a rational level, that he was safe.

THUD

He knew there was no reason to fear.

THUD

Yet when he beheld the gargantuan eight-foot behemoth that emerged from the lake, he could not maintain his composure.

The man didn't look human.

His skin and flesh had been conditioned so much that they may as well have been of a different species altogether.

His muscles had muscles.

His bones radiated a sense of impregnable solidity.

His body seemed to generate its own gravitational field.

The Gatekeeper had arrived.