The Martial Unity

And it was precisely at that moment that the masks of many leaders cracked completely.

Their eyes widened with horror as their expressions crumbled with grave reckoning. Chills crawled across their skin as shivers ran down their spines.

Her words inspired despair.

Quasi-Transcendent beasts.

Beings who were just steps away from reaching the pinnacle of all life. They possessed unfathomable godly power and would all but effortlessly erode away all of human civilization if not for high-grade and peak Sages. Just the mere thought of all these extraordinary threats joining the beast tide was enough to terrify almost each and every Sage-level powerhouse.

“I am unable to estimate the timeline for the emergence of these apocalypses in beast form,” the Ecologer admitted. “They could come right this moment or a decade later. But they will come. There is no doubt that that is inevitable.”

Her words crushed any hopes of this horrifying reality not unfolding.

“And, when they come, they will target the Sage-level powerhouses,” she remarked. “When that happens, naturally the high-grade Sages of human civilization will rush to intercept them far away from their home nations. Considering that Sage-level beasts need to ideally be intercepted ten thousand kilometers away, these creatures will need to be intercepted hundreds of thousands of kilometers away for the destruction that they will spread to not reach nations. Even if they don’t target Sage-level powerhouses, they will still destroy most of human civilization elsewhere.”

Her words were brutal and lethal blows to the psyches of many leaders who were already reeling from her previous news. She was right.

This was indeed much more horrifying than just the news of a prolonged Beast Incursion. At least that was a chronic threat in the long-term that they had years to prepare for. It was devastating, but it was not the end.

The news of the quasi-Transcendent beasts and monsters, however, was too much for some leaders to tolerate. They broke down then and there, sobbing at the devastating news that the Ecologer had brutally delivered.

“If they come…” Sage Jinryong Namgung of the Namgung Dynasty narrowed his eyes. “We will hunt them down.”

Widely regarded as the most powerful Martial Sage in North Panama, the words of the Reverend of Reckoning weighed on all of them. It cut through the gloom in the air.

“I am not doubting your power, Patriarch of the Namgung Dynasty,” the Ecologer calmly replied. “You may win, but your battle will leave half of humanity in ruins. In fact, it is very likely that a battle involving a quasi-Transcendent will be so ruinous that even if you vanquish the beast or monster as far as possible from home, you will still end up destroying your home nation due to the sheer range of destruction emanating from the battle. Even if that doesn’t turn out to be the case, the battles that your peers face will surely destroy your homes.”

“…” Sage Jinryong Namgung narrowed his eyes at her words, but didn’t refute them.

It was the truth, unfortunately.

It wasn’t a question of whether the Martial Sages of human civilization could defeat quasi-Transcendent beasts; they certainly could. The question was whether they could protect human civilization from the apocalyptic destruction that their battles would spread.

And the answer was very clearly no.

“Consider the most destructive battle that recently unfolded in East Panama,” the Ecologer calmly continued. “A battle that featured forty-two Martial Sages spawned a calamity that almost destroyed all of human civilization if not for the Knight of One of the Britannian Empire single-handedly ending the threat with his Transcendent power. What do you think would happen if dozens of quasi-Transcendent beasts and monsters emerged from the Beast Domain and unleashed all their power on all of humanity?

A wave of murmurs erupted from the leaders of human civilization.

Only the highest echelon of human civilization was aware of this extraordinary and historic event that had recently unfolded.

“T-Then why don’t we plead with the Martial Transcendents and ask them to help us in these apocalyptic times?”

The flimsy tone of the leader of an Apprentice-level nation chirped up from the sea of leaders spread across the entirety of the enormous conference hall.

They all turned in his direction, immediately causing him to sink in his seat.

“Martial Transcendents cannot be persuaded.” Sage Queen Lianiala Solaris’s cold voice spread across the entire conference hall.

As one of the most powerful Martial Sages in West Panama, she too had an extraordinary amount of authority and influence in all of human civilization.

“Amitabha, that is so.” Bodhisattva Maitreyi, the most powerful Sage in South Panama nodded with closed eyes. “We cannot allow beasts to overrun mankind.” The Martial Pontifex of the Cardinal Council of the Virodhabhasa Theocracy Declared with a profound tone. “We must verily survive until Lord Virodhabhasa arrives to save us from this calamity. Only They possess the power to protect us from this power. Only the divine Antithesis may deliver us unto salvation.”

“Your god is naught.” The vice president of the Esocline Federation readjusted her spectacles. “We must rely on the solutions that the Esoterist has surely prepared for us to overcome this calamity.”

“HOW DARE YOU INSULT OUR GOD, INSOLENT GIRL?!” the Martial Pontifex roared with rage and fury.

“I am inclined to agree with the Vice President,” Prime Minister Edward’s cold voice seconded the woman. “We need real solutions, not fictional ones.”

“The blood our Martial Artists spill will give rise to warriors that far surpass those that perished,” Lord Sage Vrukshus of the Blood Cult calmly remarked. “I say we use this opportunity to condition human civilization to become stronger. Survival of the fittest is a law that we cannot avoid. If we are to become stronger, then the weak humans will need to die for the strong to survive and breed to give birth to stronger. That is how we strengthen the blood of our people.”

“I’m inclined to agree with the cult lord.” The Gujincan, Sage Asmodeus, swept his black hair back even as his black eyes gave chills to those who beheld them. “The Beast Incursion is, in some ways, a gu for all human civilization. It will make us stronger so that we are equipped to survive. It will cut away the dead weight that ninety-percent of human beings are.”

His words were chilling.

They were revolting to most of the gathered leaders.

“You want to destroy most of human civilization in some sick desire to accelerate our evolution?!” President Raymond roared. “Have you lost your mind?!”

“I agree with the Gorteuan President,” Consul Sergenilius calmly added. “That is a preposterous proposition.”

“I, too, am opposed to allowing the quasi-Transcendent beasts to raze humanity in order to accelerate our evolution,” Emperor K’uk’ulkan of the Marinaera Empire growled. “Only a monster could suggest such a horrible outcome!”

“The Council of the Hive renounces this path.”

“I am for this outcome,” Elder Deliliana’s gaze remained inclined upwards as she gazed down on all those around her. “May humanity prevail.

“The Sekigahara Confederate opposes this initiative!” the fourteen clan leaders shrieked. “We cannot allow meager beasts to overrun human civilization!”

“Weaklings have no voice in this discussion.”

“What did you call us?!”

The atmosphere grew perilous as the highest leaders of human civilization fought for the future of human civilization. They began bickering and arguing increasingly aggressively even as the discussion went nowhere.

“I have a solution.”

Emperor Rael’s rich powerful voice cut through their boiling conflict with a sharp tone. His golden eyes sharpened as he drew the attention of each of the leaders of human civilization.

“A solution of harmony,” he continued. “One that will bring us all together and fulfill all our desires and concerns.”

They narrowed their gazes at his words, but remained silent in regard for the most powerful leader of the most powerful nation.

“Hear me out…” he began.

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