The Martial Unity

Rui’s expression grew solemn at the possibility that the Elder Tree espoused. He trusted the tree so much that he didn’t even consider that the tree might be incentivized to work against their plan if it demanded the removal of esoterics from Panama. Indeed, Rui remembered just how dependent on esoteric nutrition the Elder Tree was.

So much so that when the Beast Incursion happened and ruined the esoteric ecosystems that sustained the chemical cycles that kept the tree alive, it was forced to go into hibernation for the entirety of the Era of Darkness to almost freeze its metabolism so that it could survive.

It was deeply dependent on esoteric nutrition.

“Would you… resist an attempt at esoteric extraction of some sort?” Rui asked the tree straightforwardly with a serious tone. “Even if it comes at the cost of Gaia and all life and civilization?”

A hint of tension hung in the air as the Elder Tree remained silent for several moments.

Rui would not ask this question if he were talking to a human being or a Martial Artist. He would just assume that they would become his enemy in the future and do everything in their power to selfishly cling on to life, even if it meant the eventual destruction of Gaia.

But the Elder Tree was different.

It was a pure being.

It did not engage in deceit or deception and was a rather simple and open book to read.

Rather than try to engage in political intrigue against this pure lifeform, Rui felt it better to simply ask it directly for clarification.

He simply waited patiently for an answer.

I… am not fond of the idea of dying, the Elder Tree admitted. But… if it’s for the sake of Gaia and all life in this world, then… so be it. I am not selfish enough to forsake the world just to keep surviving.

Rui’s expression softened. “You are a noble existence. Your commitment to the sanctity of life is unparalleled. I will not forget this. I can promise you that if there is any other way to fix this problem, I will pursue it. But if it truly comes down to the most extreme solution, then…”

Then I expect you to execute it unhesitatingly. The Elder Tree affirmed. I have lived a long, long life and have seen multiple eras come and go. I do not have a deep attachment to my life. Should the need arise, do what needs to be done.

Rui nodded. “Thank you, my friend.”

However… I advise you not to share this with anybody else, human or beast or otherwise, the Elder Tree cautioned. There are many lifeforms in this continent that depend on esoterics for their sustenance. If they find out that you might act to kill them, it might put cracks in your authority over them. Authority of Alpha is not mind control; you are only relying on a genetic trait present within a vast majority of fauna to submit to more beings of the same species, higher up the hierarchy of dominance. You cannot make them commit suicide or erase their sense of self-preservation. Even during the Beast Incursion, animals on the verge of death would still try to escape.

Rui nodded. “I know the limits of the Authority of Alpha. This isn’t the first time I’ve run into this kind of problem. My father was deeply unwilling to accept this plan because countless interests were tied to it. It’s not an exaggeration to say that our civilization is built upon the existence of esoteric matter. If we have to get rid of it from Gaia, then that would be disastrous for civilization.”

I suspect this is part of the strategy of the virus-like foreign entity that you have hypothesized with the Divine Doctor, the Elder Tree remarked. We don’t know for an absolute fact that such a thing exists, but if it does, then this deep integration into the biosphere of our continent is a powerful strategy to ensure that nobody tampers with the esoteric content in the continent.

Rui’s ethereal eyes sharpened at those words. “…It’s a nasty strategy, but you might be right. If it becomes fundamentally important for lifeforms in the continent, then even if it is bad for the planet, they will not be able to get rid of it since their very life depends on it. A genius strategy to secure its own existence. But unfortunately for it…”

A hint of confidence emerged on his face. “Homo martialus never assimilated esoteric matter into its biology. A very fortunate but strange outcome. I have wondered why we never integrated it into our physiology. After all, ingesting it in one form or another is inevitable, but we never developed a biochemical dependence on it.”

I suspect that that is simply a fluke. Perhaps a very fortunate one, since that means you’re not held hostage by esoteric matter the way that I am. However, the simple reality is that even if some meteorite or foreign entity came to Gaia and integrated esoteric matter into the Panama Continent in the hopes that it would become a necessity for all life, a one-hundred percent success rate is impossible. There will always be some species, maybe just one percent of them, that filter out esoteric matter rather than assimilating it. I suspect the human species, homo martialus, is among them. By sheer dumb luck or coincidence, your kind has managed to avoid becoming dependent on esoteric matter and simultaneously becoming the most powerful species on the continent.

Rui nodded. “The virus-like foreign entity or whatever is responsible for the changes to Gaia probably never imagined that. After all, esoteric matter is very powerful, and species that assimilate the best will become the most powerful species. They probably could have never imagined that a group of primates would defeat all esoteric beasts and monsters to become the most powerful species in Panama, taking over it entirely.”

That gave both Rui and the Elder Tree a lot of clues regarding where the Martial Path and the other six Paths of power in the true world fit into the story of Gaia that they were piecing together.