The Martial Unity

Chapter 2697: Escalating Tensions

When Sage Kyria found the Dawnbringer and the Terrampager, she could hardly believe what she saw.

Their conditions were beyond critical.

She had just set out for their location a little over five minutes ago, moving as fast as she could with the limitations of her environment and the Nest of Terra.

And yet, her expression throughout the entire journey had been grave and severe.

Five minutes was more than enough for a Martial Sage to completely and entirely crush a Martial Master.

Yes, she was aware that the Dawnbringer was very different from any other Martial Master, but at the end of the day, he was still a Martial Master.

She harbored very little actual hope that he would be able to defend himself against a Martial Sage long enough for her to intervene. Her most realistic hope was that it was very unlikely that the Terrampager would try to kill the Dawnbringer as opposed to trying to capture him.

Thus, she hoped to intercept the Terrampager while he retreated back to base with the captured Dawnbringer and then free the Dawnbringer from his clutches.

What she didnʼt expect was for an all-out battle between the Dawnbringer and Terrampager to unfold to such an extent that it sent violent tremors across the entirety of the Nest of Terra.

Her eyes widened with shock as she realized that the Terrampager was not holding back and was actually making full use of his power as a Martial Sage. She could sense the intensity of his power with each passing moment.

Her powerful senses could even detect a battle, although hazy and unclear with the sheer distance and solid rock and land that existed between them. ”…The Dawnbringer is actually holding off a Martial Sage?!” she gasped with shock. Sage Kyria knew of the intel that the prince had fought a Sekigaharan Sage to an advantage, but she could never have fathomed that he would be able to sustain a battle after being ambushed by a Martial Sage, completely caught off-guard.

On top of that, the environment of the tunnels was one that favored the native earth-bender over some outsiders.

And yet, the Dawnbringer protected himself.

In that moment, a profound truth dawned on her. ”He must have found it. He must have gained the power of the Scriptures…!” she grew excited and even more anxious.

Now, she definitely couldnʼt allow any harm to befall him.

RUMBLE!!!

She froze as she felt the entirety of the Nest of Terra shifting.

It wasnʼt until two minutes later, when she finally reached the two of them, after finding them within the field of her senses, that she simply gaped at the two mangled Martial Artists.

The flayed Martial Sage lay on the ground, bleeding out.

He was unrecognizable.

Not to mention, compared to the Dawnbringer, he was the one who actually needed urgent care to prevent his death.

As much as she hated it, she had no choice but to help him. The Nest of Terraʼs power against the Beast Incursion couldnʼt be compromised. She fed him just enough of a healing potion and some nutrient potions to partially heal his wounds. While securing him in a handy fasten.

Even if she wasnʼt willing to kill him or let him die, she certainly could capture him.

”We can use him as a bargaining chip to squeeze as much as possible from those non-Martial bastards!” Her eyes flared with murderous rage. They softened as she gazed at the unconscious Dawnbringer with awe and respect.

She truly didnʼt expect him to be able to achieve such an extraordinarily impressive feat with his own innate power. Even if the Terrampager was the weakest Martial Sage of the Nest of Terra, he was still a full-fledged Martial Sage.

Unlike Sage Himari of the Sekigahara Confederate, he had discovered his Martial Soul more than a decade ago, having had plenty of time to grow accustomed and proficient with the Sage Realm.

”Truly, you are a pillar of hope in this Era of Darkness, Your Highness…” she muttered as she quickly fed him a healing potion and some dense nutritional potions as well while administering basic first aid.

She was certain that his mind contained the Scriptures of Terra.

Thus, as far as the Nest of Terra was concerned, he was a national treasure in and of himself.

She quickly carried the two unconscious Martial Artists with her as she set out back to base, urgently avoiding any possibility of being ambushed.

Meanwhile, the Nest of Terra was still recovering from the sheer amount of seismic energy that has washed over the entirety of the nation. All Martial Artists were mobilized to protect the citizens of the subterranean nation from the shocking anomaly that had unfolded.

Simultaneously, both factions came to learn of the outcome of the battle, and all hell broke loose.

”The Dawnbringer… won?” Consul Noteraʼs eyes widened with pure shock. ”Are you certain?”

”Iʼm certain of it, Your Excellency,” Sage Kyriaʼs voice was confident. ”They were both unconscious, but the Terrampager was in a more dire condition and would have bled out if not for my intervention.”

Consul Sergenilius gritted his teeth with frustration and shock.

He didnʼt understand.

He actually was unable to fathom this outcome.

He had been assured a hundred percent chance of success not just by the Terrampager himself but by virtually everyone else who was in on the plan.

”ʼHe canʼt fight a Martial Sage,ʼ they said.” His fists clenched with deep frustration. ”ʼHe definitely has no chance of overcoming this,ʼ they said.”

It was Consul Noteraʼs turn to grin with vindiction. ”They were wrong. You were wrong. Itʼs not just about this. But about everything! Just you watch, Sergenilius. Iʼm going to eat you and your faction alive when the Dawnbringer wakes up. With the power of the Scriptures of Terra, your defeat is guaranteed! All of our Martial Artists will become as strong as the Dawnbringer with the power of the scriptures!”

And thus, the outcome merely fanned the flames of the civil tensions.