The Martial Unity

That was also something that Kane agreed with. No one ought to have been forced to become a Martial Artist if they didn’t want to. The life of a Martial Artist came with many tribulations, with the highest mortality rate that was far, far above any other field or profession in the entire world.

Training was torture, often literally, and could truly break a person. Of course, most people deemed that the benefits were worth it, but if someone didn’t want to, then becoming a Martial Artist was the worst thing that they could be subject to.

“Once the economic corridors that His Majesty is leading the development across the entire continent are fully complete, then industry will take off with a boom in all manner of professions and careers,” she continued. “We can help him take any path that he wishes. But… I would feel safer if he were a Martial Artist who could protect himself.”

Kane heaved a soft sigh, smiling wryly. “It’s far too early to start thinking about his career and adult life when he is still a baby. For now, we must simply raise him with all the love that a newborn baby deserves.”

“Indeed, I will do just that,” Fae smiled. “Sometimes I wish I weren’t the matriarch of my family. I’m not sure that I want to be the leader of my family now that I have my own baby… A drive that has driven me my entire life now feels entirely meaningless…”

Fae had grown up groomed and raised to be the successor to her grandmother, should the need have ever arisen. Although her grandmother had outsourced most of the work to her mother, she was still officially the leader because Fae’s mother was not a Martial Artist and thus was deemed not worthy of taking the reins of the family.

When Fae’s excellent Martial talent had been discovered, they had chosen to make her the next family head, and Fae had accepted the duty and responsibility her entire life, diligently training for the sake of inheriting her family one day.

And she had done just that as a powerful Martial Master.

However, it hadn’t felt as rewarding as she had expected it to be; she had expected that it would feel truly purposeful and meaningful, and it did to an extent, but…

“…but I have long grown disillusioned with it,” she murmured. “Learning Martial Art feels useless. What was the point of all the pain and suffering I went through if I was just going to park myself behind a table and handle family matters? In comparison…”

She gazed at baby Runark with a gentle affection of love, “…this little baby boy may perhaps be the most meaningful part of my life.”

Kane pulled her in closer, gently comforting her with his embrace, “…do you want to quit?”

“…I’m considering it,” Fae murmured. “There are others in the family, both Martial Artists and otherwise, who are more than equipped to run the family. I could also do what my grandmother did and become the leader in name only, but that feels… non-committal both ways, to our son and to my family.”

“…Whatever you choose, know that I will support you,” Kane promised her.

She smiled gently, standing on her toes as she kissed him on his cheek softly. “You’re sweet.”

“I’m just glad I don’t have to deal with this family business,” Kane huffed. “Leaving the Arrancar Family is probably one of the best decisions of my life. I have no intention of becoming the leader of that pit of vipers.”

His tone was serious.

“Mmm…” she nodded softly, gazing at her watch. “We have a get-together soon, so we should prepare.”

“…Right,” Kane heaved a sigh as he glanced at his watch. “Well, it will be good to meet the old gang after so long. Just a shame that… Rui isn’t here.”

Fae smiled knowingly. “He’s out there somewhere in the true world, no doubt planning for something crazy that will upend the entire world and alter the course of Gaia itself.”

Kane chuckled with a nostalgic smile. “That sounds like Rui, alright. I’m just glad that he isn’t alone without me. Given that he’s traveling with Amare, it looks like it worked out between them, after all.”

“’Love is adaptive evolution,’ was it?” Fae murmured. “What insanity.”

“It’s the kind of insanity that my father had,” Kane remarked knowingly. “It’s the kind of insanity that you need to become a Martial Transcendent.”

Kane had briefly considered what it would look like going down the same path, turning the essence of his Martial Path, evasion, into his entire being. Would that mean that he would need to abandon his family and evade them for his entire life? Is that what it would take?

Kane shook his head.

“I don’t want anything to do with it myself.”

“Do you think Rui will become a Martial Transcendent?” Fae asked with a curious expression. “I know that he is extraordinary. Perhaps the most extraordinary Martial Artist in human history, but… only fourteen individuals in human history have ever become Martial Transcendents.”

Kane smiled with absolute confidence and certainty.

“He will surpass all of them.”

There wasn’t even the slightest hint of skepticism and doubt in his voice. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novel·fıre·net

Fae smiled. “He sure is lucky to have you as a friend.”

“It’s the other way around.” Kane shook his head. “I’m lucky to have him as my friend. He changed my life for the better and helped me grow to become who I am today. And even if I no longer chase after his power, I still value the days I did a lot.”

Her smile deepened at Kane’s bond with Rui, a profound friendship unlike any other she had ever seen. “Well… I do hope he becomes a Martial Transcendent soon. It will put me and all of us at ease. We won’t have to worry about the future of human civilization if he reaches Transcendence.”

Kane nodded. “Though… I’m not entirely sure if he’ll be the first to reach it.”