The Martial Unity

Kane stared at him with a shocked expression, stunned into silence. Rui had done the absurd and even impossible before, but this was different. This felt like he was violating the very fundamental rules of Martial Art and getting away with it.

“Infinite stamina?” A faint murmur escaped him. “Such a thing is even possible…?”

Rui nodded. “The blood of Solaris. Black holes. Flora nutrient supply. I was already an extreme stamina freak in the past. The greatest hurdle to my stamina has always been the price of the Master and Sage Realms. Now, I’ve found a way to overcome both of them. There is no physical limit to how long I can fight. Not anymore.”

Kane stared at him like he was an alien, before heaving a deep breath and simply shaking his head with a wry smile. “You’re as insane as ever, man. I knew that, of course, but this… this is something else entirely. I can’t believe you’re able to break the laws of Martial Art.”

“It’s because I compensated for the shortcoming of my species with another species,” Rui replied. “It’s like the sentinel race. They are a hybrid of giants and tekvores, and the strengths of both negate the weaknesses of the other. The size of giants gets rid of the volumetric limits to how much technology they can fit inside their bodies, while the machine-like rationality that comes with replacing greater and greater parts of your body with technology negates the irrationality of giants. Thus, sentinels are superior species that have the strengths of their ancestors, but none of the weaknesses.”

Rui gazed at his translucent hands. “A similar thing has happened with me. My evosapien side gets rid of the shortcomings of my Martial side. And my Martial side gets rid of the shortcomings of my evosapien side.”

“What shortcomings do the evosapiens have, again?”

“Each time they use their genetic adaptive evolution, they burn their lifespan,” Rui replied. “The average evosapien can live for around two hundred years, but the strongest of evosapiens only live for half of that. But the ones who reach a high state of life could actually live as long as elves if they didn’t use their genetic adaptive evolution. Its drain on lifespan is one hundred times worse than the Martial Heart.”

“I see…” Kane muttered as his green eyes lit up with understanding. “But you’re immortal. So it doesn’t even matter. You can get rid of that shortcoming very easily. Man… that’s just not fair.”

Kane turned to the skies with an expression of alarm. “Ref! This one is cheating!”

The universe did not deign to respond.

Rui huffed with a brief smile on his face. “Funny, but I really need to go and see this through. Thanks a lot for being here when I needed it, Kane. You’ve made me feel better, as always.”

Kane smiled back. “Anything for you, my friend. I’ll let everyone know you’re dealing with something important.”

Rui nodded.

WHOOSH

He teleported to the Continent of Samarkha, home to the giants.

One moment, he was in a forest that was bathed in the light and warmth of the morning sun. The very next, he found himself in a barren land with the afternoon illuminating the entire continent in a harsh heat and light.

WHOOSH…

A dry, hot breeze brushed over him as he descended upon the continent.

Yet, his eyes were fixed on the person he had come to collect.

An unconscious Amare peacefully slumbered on the ground, her body and face exhausted and wounded. His expression darkened at the sight as he knelt by her side, brushing his hand across her face.

She had fought the Suneater by herself for hours, holding him off by her own power until the traitor had attacked her when she was already exhausted and wounded.

A tinge of regret flickered in Rui’s ethereal eyes as he considered crushing Ieyasu’s skull and killing him anyway, but ultimately decided to stick with his extraction and exploitation plan.

The man would love nothing more than death, and after everything that had happened, Rui was not kind enough to give him exactly what he wanted after all the pain and suffering he had contributed to.

His expression softened as his attention returned to Amare.

He leaned forward, gently kissing her on her forehead as he picked her up like a princess, before teleporting away.

WHOOSH

He arrived in luxurious personal quarters in the Kandrian Empire that served as the abode to a highly important guest and protector of Kandria.

“Amitabha. A hint of relief emerged on Bodhisattva Maitreyi’s elderly face as Rui appeared before her. “My daughter is safe and well.”

She drew closer to Amare, who slept peacefully in Rui’s arms as she relaxed in the knowledge that her daughter was merely recuperating. Rui placed her on the bed in the room, taking the time to make sure she was comfortable before tucking her away.

“Mmm…” Amare turned, wrapping her body around his arm.

A small smile cracked at the edge of his mouth as his severe expression softened.

He would love nothing more than to cuddle with the woman he loved at the moment. His heart, still heavy with the burden of guilt and grief weighing down on it, could use some love and affection.

But… he had responsibilities, burdens, and callings. Now, more than ever, he couldn’t afford to simply take things as easily as he had up until that point.

He leaned in once more, kissing her on her forehead warmly before gently extricating his arm from her grip.

Bodhisattva Maitreyi turned her attention from her daughter to him with a darkened expression. “…May your father have attained nirvana and have broken free from the eternal cycle of reincarnation.”

A wish of goodwill colored in the worldview of Genism, but one that comforted Rui nonetheless.

“Thank you,” he replied, still gazing at Amare with an affectionate expression. “I would love to be here with her, but…”

Bodhisattva Maitreyi directed a pointed gaze at Rui. “She would not appreciate if you forwent all of your responsibilities just to watch her sleep. Go. Do what you must.”

Rui nodded.

WHOOSH

He teleported away, this time appearing in the skies above the Great Nam Ocean east of Panama.