The Martial Unity

Chapter 3346: The Power of the Strongest

The realization caused an excited smile to emerge on Rui’s face as pitch-black eyes flared with enthusiasm.

She was strong.

Truly strong.

Worthy of her position with the top ten most powerful entities in the true world.

Now he wanted to fight her.

He wanted to see which one of them was stronger.

”Don’t even think about it, young man.”

Mother Maeria directed a knowing gaze towards him, having finished her work for the time being.

While there were still plenty of giants left here and there across East Genora, Mother Maeria had finished the vanguard of the attacking force with her own personal power and that of the power of the East Genora Flora Network. The other Mothers of Nature and light elves were more than enough to take on the remaining.

”You were aware of the impending light elven attack on you ahead of time, weren’t you?” She gazed at him knowingly with raised eyebrows. ”The same reason you teleported to me of all places. You knew that I wouldn’t harm you. If so, the fact that you voluntarily didn’t prepare for an ambush indicates to me that you’re extremely irrational when it comes to violence. Even now, the lust for battle with me lingers in your eyes.”

Rui shrugged with a wry smile, not saying a word to defend himself.

She shook her head. ”You will get yourself killed with that attitude one of these days. You are indeed strong, but you are not the strongest. Without that Sun-eyed state of yours that led you to rest for three months within my body, you would have died then and there. Your nominal power is not high enough for you to walk around with the arrogance to think that you’re invincible.”

”I suppose I can’t refute your words, but you see...” Rui grinned. ”That only makes me more excited to explore the true world. I’m happy that there are people like you and Anthea who can truly push me to my limits. I’m happy that there are others who are even stronger than I am.”

She heaved a sigh. ”I suppose this must be a trait of you Martial Artists. Your propensity for violence is not something that I can look favorably upon, but your power is not something that can be denied either. As for your desire for a battle with me, put the thought aside. If the Mothers of Nature of East Genora find you here, it may invalidate all the reformations that I will now be attempting to do. Their hatred for you is still strong, since you have killed their sister, even if in self-defense. You will not only not be able to have a fight with me alone, but you will be unable to escape East Genora.”

Rui heaved a breath, shaking his head. ”I wasn’t seriously considering a fight with you for the sake of it. I’m not that irrational either. Still, it was an alluring possibility, admittedly.”

He gazed at her with a knowing expression.

”How strong are you compared to the other top ten?”

”...” She fell into thought. ”I’m not sure, it’s not something I think about. But if I had to say...”

She stirred. ”Most likely in the middle, even within East Genora. If not for my extreme environmental advantage, I would have ranked at the bottom. For example, if the Suneater were awake and had partaken in this invasion, I’m not entirely certain I would have been able to emerge victorious, even if we had still won the broader war collectively thanks to our Resonance of Nature and terrain advantage. Even if we have had bad performances recently, I do believe that elves are largely invincible in our territory. After all, the giants only managed to cover two kilometers into elven territory despite three months of continuous suicidal all-out assaults.”

Rui’s eyes lit up at her words. ”You are still only in the middle, if not the bottom? That’s hard to believe.”

”Old man Anthea would have ranked at the bottom, having long been greatly weakened since his prime. However...”

She directed a knowing gaze at Rui.

”The next generation’s supreme commander will undoubtedly be the strongest humanoid being of our world for quite some time, based on the intelligence that we have gained from the dark elves regarding Anthea’s Legacy. That will be a problem that you will have to deal with.”

Rui smiled excitedly. ”I can’t wait. I’m eager to see how strong Anthea’s descendant will be when he or she eventually comes to challenge me. Until then, I’m going to travel the true world, looking for challengers to fight and overcome. It’s going to be a busy next few years for me.”

His attention returned towards her with a curious expression.

”What about you? What do you plan to do from this point on?”

Mother Maeria’s eyes grew hazy as she fell into thought.

”I have so much to do that I almost do not know where to begin. But for now...”

A hopeful smile emerged on her elderly face.

”I hope to reform the light elves from scratch. I will seize control of this civilization more actively and steer us away from a xenophobic, hateful, and egotistical culture. I will have to teach them about their true nature. I will have to pass on my teachings not just to the Mothers of Nature but also to each and every light elf on this continent. And one day...”

Her elderly nature-green eyes lit up with optimism.

”One day we may achieve Oneness together.”

”...I see,” Rui remarked with a resigned tone. ”In that case, I’ll avoid stirring up trouble for you, for the time being. Still...”

A mischievous smile cracked at the edge of his mouth.

”I look forward to battling you someday.”

”I do not.” She shook her head. ”I disdain violence. I only maintain my edge in it because nature is as ruthless as it is harmonious. But, if you truly wish for it, then perhaps one day I will humor you, after you are welcomed on this continent and civilization.”