The Martial Unity

“Argh…”

“Help me…!”

“My leg…! My leg is trapped!”

In a city deeper into East Kandria, a large number of Martial Artists and other helpers began sifting through rubble as they extracted survivors and the wounded.

The cries of pain and agony from those who had managed to survive, the cries of grief from those who lost family and friends, and their entire life built over many years and decades hung in the air.

“AARRRRGGGHRRHRHRHR!!!” A screeching woman fell to her knees as Martial Artists recovered the corpse of a young infant who had passed away from the tsunami that swept Kandria. Her agonizing scream turned into a grinding, choking sound as she clasped her dead baby, wailing uncontrollably.

The Martial Artists around her simply stood helplessly as they watched with dark expressions. Not even the bright and warm light of the afternoon sky could disperse the darkness that had begun to settle in the mood in the air.

“Come on…” one Martial Squire among them quietly gestured to his subordinates. “There are still survivors trapped underneath the rubble. The housing of his city had an airtight underground cellar that was meant to allow for instantaneous emergency safety, but the longer they stay there, the more likely they are to drown or suffocate. Comforting the living comes after we have rescued all the living.”

The Martial Apprentices around him gritted their teeth as they clenched their fists. They had been among the people who had been in East Kandria when the tsunami hit.

Never before had they felt so hopeless and powerless in their lives. They themselves had managed to barely survive the tsunami when it was at its strongest, thanks to their power as experienced Martial Apprentices, but the ordinary citizens of the Kandrian Empire were not the same.

They didn’t stand a chance, even when the tsunami had been considerably weakened by distance. To think that all of this was caused by a single gesture from a top-ten pathwalker, one that didn’t even have any effort or malice exerted into it.

“We’re all insects living in a world of gods,” one Martial Apprentice muttered with a voice of deep frustration and self-loathing. “The outcome of the future of our entire world is driven by the actions of a small group of individuals, and within them, beings who can only be described as gods have complete control over lives.”

Another woman beside him, lifting rocks, snorted. “That’s always been the case, hasn’t it, Jaryu? Even before the Era of Unfolding, the Panama Continent was dictated by the decisions of a handful of powerhouses. Now, we’re in a bigger world, and the group of people at the top is even more powerful, and their actions are even more impactful.”

CRACK CRACK CRACK!

Jaryu shattered a chunk of rubble with a single fist, heaving a deep sigh. “I suppose that’s true. It just feels like the impact that they have on our day-to-day lives has grown larger and larger ever since. All the events that have happened in the past year have been driven by these so-called ’top-ten powerhouses.’ Including…”

His expression grew complicated. “…His Highness.”

The woman beside him directed a pointed glance at him as the air tingled with tension. Jaryu remembered that talking ill about His Highness in the presence of his friend was not the best idea, but thankfully, she was not as dogmatic as others of her kind.

“Am I wrong, Sarin?” He turned towards his friend with a pointed gaze. “He triggered this war, perhaps for good reason, and since then, all major events have been dictated by these gods among pathwalkers, aside from some exceptions like the Emperor of Harmony.”

“You are not wrong, but the solution to that is to get stronger.” Her eyes sharpened. “I was thinking of settling down and starting a family one of these days, but with how dangerous the world has become, I think I will wait until after I have at least become a Martial Squire. You should do the same. Rather than blaming our greatest benefactor for what you admit might have been a good decision, focus on what you can do and uplift yourself to the point where you’re less exposed. We would have died if not for His Divinity, after all, you and I only became Martial Apprentices thanks to him.”

Jaryu nodded as his expression softened. “I know… it just… sucks that so many people have to suffer as a consequence of the actions of a top-ten powerhouse and then he just disappears and leaves us to deal with the consequences of his actions—”

RUMBLE

They froze as the world shook.

A wave of power that could not be described as anything other than divine washed over them.

A wave of water.

WHOOSH

It brushed past all of them, almost indistinguishable from reality even for Martial Artists. It was gentle, warm, and encouraging in contrast to the harsh, sharp, and overwhelming water of the past.

It made them feel like they were being embraced by a god.

As if he reassured them that they were going to be just fine.

That everything would be alright.

“Ah…” Sarin fell to her knees as she pulled out the locket of her necklace from within her Martial Attire.

It featured the horizon of an ocean with an emerging sun on its surface.

She was a believer in the Faith of Dawn.

“May you bring Dawn to all of us.” She offered a solemn prayer to the deity that she worshiped. “Please, aid those who suffer with the might of your divine power.”

Suddenly, they bore witness to what could only be described as miracles.

“My leg!” One man shot up with a stunned expression. “My leg is healed! The pain is gone!”

“My broken arms are perfectly fine again!”

“I can see once more! My eyes have returned!”

The medics at the scene widened their eyes with shock as they bore witness to their injured patients growing rapidly healed with each passing moment.

“This…” Jaryu’s eyes widened with shock as he turned towards the sky.

Despite the enormous distance, the presence of the Dawnbringer was so enormous that he sparkled like a star in the sky. In that moment, a surge of pious admiration swept over him, emerging from the depths of his heart.