The Martial Unity

STEP

STEP

STEP

Emperor Rael’s gait was stiff and measured.

It was tense.

His expression was calm, yet the light in his eyes was fierce.

Over the past two days, the preparations for a nigh complete mobilization of the Upper Realms were hastily being achieved. It wasn’t easy getting all these Martial Masters and Sages free of commitments and ready for something that might evolve into the single greatest war that East Panama has ever seen.

The Martial Union, in particular, struggled to get all its people in one place. It needed to pay severance packages for many agreements that were binding their powerful Martial Masters.

Yet, as painful as it was, they went ahead of it, freeing all their Masters and Sages of all commitments for an untimely and hasty callback and redirection.

Over the past two days, Emperor Rael had spoken elaborately to all allies who demanded an explanation for the shocking and unnerving events that had been unfolding around in East Panama.

As someone who was relying on his immaculate track record and reputation of credibility and trustworthiness, he needed to ensure that he quelled every last hint of dissatisfaction to ensure that none of his allies would even consider leaving the Kandrian Alliance.

He reassured them that no more attacks would follow temporarily while also making them drool with promises of highly generous repayments when the war was over.

One by one, each of them grew satisfied with the concessions that Emperor Rael made to keep them happy.

It was only after two days of a rapid-fire emergency talk that Emperor Rael had finally been freed from the endless number of people on his docket with whom he needed to speak. Almost.

There was one final conference on his itinerary.

One final meeting.

STEP

He arrived at the conference hall, taking a seat on one end as Sage Sayfeel faithfully stood behind him, alert to protect his liege from any and all threats at all times.

The doors shut as the royal communications team activated the projector before him.

WHOOSH

It projected a three-dimensional image of none other than the prime minister of the Britannian Empire and the chief strategist of the East Panamic Treaty Alliance.

The greatest rival and enemy of the Emperor of Harmony.

The two men gazed at each other with powerful eyes.

The air boiled with peril.

It churned with tension as the two most powerful men in East Panama faced each other for the first time in decades.

“You look just great,” Prime Minister Edward chuckled. “The Divine Doctor must have fixed you up really well.”

“You look terrible,” Emperor Rael’s tone was chillingly composed. “Poor health compromises cognitive performance. You wouldn’t want to lose a war because you didn’t look after yourself well enough, would you?”

“Just enough of a handicap for you.”

“Bold words for a man who has never beaten me.”

“If you are so confident, then why don’t you send the Divine Doctor to the Britannian Empire?” Prime Minister Edward smiled. “Afraid you’ll lose if I return to my prime?” “Tempting offer. I think I’ll refuse.”

“Hah, like father like son,” the man snorted.

|| ||

A moment of silence overtook the atmosphere as the two men regarded each other with grudging respect.

“Why did you seek dialogue with me, Edward?” Emperor Rael’s rich voice softened ever so little. “We may not hate each other. We may even regard each other with respect and familiarity, but that does not change the fact that we are absolute enemies. If I happened to run into you without any bodyguards on either of us, I would choke the life out of you then and there with my own two hands.”

The air grew frosty with his cold words.

It tingled as the atmosphere grew electric.

A chilling smile appeared on Prime Minister Edward’s face. “I just called to tell you that this is

the end.”

Emperor Rael’s eyes sharpened at his words.

“Once the boy copies your lad’s Martial Art, it’s over.”

His smirk grew wider. “And nobody can stop him.”

The fire in his eyes flared. “Not even you. Not even all those precious treasures that you somehow managed to get your hands on will save you. By this time tomorrow, your son will be dead, and his miraculous power will be ours.”

His expression grew cruel with bloodlust. “Say your goodbyes to him while you can. The next time you see him, his blood and entrails will be spread across the battlefield.”

Emperor Rael rarely allowed his inner emotions to be displayed raw to the world.

This time, however, his expression crumpled with a hint of vengeance as he directed a menacing glare at his rival. “You underestimate my son. He will eat your little copycat alive and then spit him out. Just like he did all the other Martial Artists you threw at him one after another. We will obtain yet another victory. Our final victory to emerge from this war as the ultimate victors.”

The smile on Prime Minister Edward’s face widened. “Hah, I’m looking forward to making you eat your words when your son is dead, and you lose all your allies.”

His expression grew more serious and somber.

“This is it, Rael. This is the end of the road. No matter what happens tomorrow, our rivalry that began three hundred years ago will finally come to an end. And rest assured…”

His eyes grew ferocious. “I have no intention of losing.”

BZZT!

Edward cut the call, sighing as he leaned back on his chair.

He truly believed what he said.

The war was converging upon a singularity that would make or break everything.

Tokugawa Ieyasu was his one and only card left.

He didn’t have anything left if it failed to pan out.

KNOCK KNOCK

“Sir, you have a package,” his assistant frowned, walking in. “An extremely well-secured and

sensorily isolated package that bears the Imperial Britannian Seal.”

Prime Minister Edward frowned. “Who’s it from?”

His assistant scratched his head with confusion.

“You, sir. It says here that the sender was none other than Prime Minister Edward Del

Germont.”