The Martial Unity

It was one of the many ways that negatron matter was changing the world. It completely revolutionized travel. It revolutionized the concept of effective distance. It revolutionized the concept of separation. Rui suspected that not even his father could fathom just how much the world would change in the coming years once negatron matter completely dispersed across human civilization.

Perhaps it would become ubiquitous enough that public transportation would now consist of negatron-empowered wormholes that could teleport people from one end to another. Perhaps it would revolutionize the very foundations of one’s worldview.

Gaia was a large and vast world, far beyond most people’s ability to completely explore, even if they were wealthy. But once negatron matter became omnipresent, perhaps people would start thinking that the world was actually extremely small, because continents were just one step away and just one moment away.

Perhaps people would think that the universe was small because they were just a day away, or whatever the case may be in the future.

“The world is about to change a lot,” Rui told Amare as he pulled her in closer.

WHOOSH

They teleported.

One moment, they were at sea outside the Panama Continent.

The very next moment, they found themselves in a highly urbanized city.

The sky was much darker than where they had been a moment prior, with the sun setting at the edge of the horizon, dipping under the massive skyscrapers that had been erected. They found themselves on a sidewalk, drawing attention from those who gazed at them.

The pedestrians around Rui widened their eyes as they gazed at Rui with a shocked expression. “Your Highne—”

Their expressions grew lost as Rui activated stealth and hypnosis, causing them to simply grow confused and walk away.

“This…” Amare turned around as she recognized the place they were in. “The Town of Hajin. It feels like it has changed a lot since the last time I came here.”

It had been almost a year since the two of them had been in the Kandrian Empire, and they had not set foot in the town after they left the Panama Continent for Genora many months ago.

Rui couldn’t help but feel the exact same way.

He gazed at the many automated carriages that made their way across town with a stunned expression.

The carriages floated midair, hovering over the special magnetized-esoteric tar of the road, smoothly flying several centimeters above the road without any resistance.

It was silent and clean, making the city much quieter than he remembered it, with the disappearance of the sound of loud engines and wheels on the road.

Pedestrians walked with strange little devices in their hands with screens, entirely absorbed in them, while strange little wireless earplugs were placed into their ears. The buildings were much larger than Rui remembered, featuring screens that played advertisements or promotions.

“I remember when horses were still the norm…” Rui’s eyes widened. “Wait… am I old?”

He was seventy-nine years old.

For some reason, that realization just slapped him in the face as he gazed at his hand with a shocked expression. It was especially shocking because he didn’t have any visual cues. He still looked to be about twenty-five years old, thanks to his immortality.

“Damn, I’m really old,” he cursed, taking a deep breath and shaking his head.

“Rui…” Amare muttered. “What are those things that everybody is holding in their hands?”

Rui gazed at her with a hint of amusement. “I may be old, but you are ancient.”

THWACK

He chuckled as she slapped him on the shoulder. “I forget how much of a grandma you are. Grandma Amare.”

BANG!!!

He skidded away, barely blocking her palm blow with a grin, almost hitting some unaware pedestrians still affected by his misdirection. “Kidding! You might get somebody hurt.”

The power she had inflicted was enough to explode a city, but he had smoothly dispersed into Gaia harmlessly, as she knew he would.

“I’m not a grandma.” She glared at him.

He raised his hands in resignation, even if his mischievous smile remained.

“Why did you bring us here instead of Quarrier Town?” she asked with a softening voice.

“We’ll go to Quarrier Town as well,” Rui replied, “but we have somewhere more pressing to be.”

PAT

He put an arm on her shoulder before the two of them teleported away.

This time, they arrived at a specific location within the Town of Hajin.

A large mansion.

Outside was a giant sign that declared the owner of the mansion.

[Dullahan Manor]

The Martial Senior guards standing outside the manor shook when Rui and Amare appeared in front of them. Before they could instinctively attack, however, they recognized Rui’s unmistakable features.

“…Your Highness?!”

“Your Sagehood!”

“Your Lordship!”

“I’m here to meet Kane and Fae,” Rui informed them calmly. “Can you notify them of our arrival?”

“R-Right away, Your Highness!”

Amare giggled as they scrambled over, tripping over nothing multiple times as they reached for their communication terminal. “You’re such a celebrity.”

Rui heaved a tired sigh. “I never liked it. Especially after that bastard, the Beggar Sage, turned me into a living messiah, it has been truly absurd. They don’t even think of me as a person, but instead as this embodiment of whatever religious affiliation they are a part of.”

There was nothing he could do about it, either. Each time he performed an incredible feat, the devotion and piety only grew ever more fervent and extreme. He had tried dispelling it, but it had taken far too strong a root in too many religions, whether it was the Faith of Dawn or the Virodhabhasa Faith.

“Rui.”

He immediately turned as a familiar voice reached out to him.

Kane grinned at him as he emerged from within the mansion, skywalking alongside Fae. In her arms was a young baby that slept peacefully, unperturbed by their flight as she smoothly maneuvered to ensure that she didn’t disturb her son.

Rui laid eyes on the baby with a moved expression, beholding his godson for the first time.