The Martial Unity

Rui had worked during the time that the Martial Master had engaged in his little star-gazing session to create a proof of concept. It didn't need to function properly then and there, it just needed to work enough for a night's work into it to convince the Master that it was worth getting his hands on.

"And you're sure that this can be turned into a domain technique with even greater telescoping power?" The Martial Master inquired, shocked.

"Indeed," Rui nodded.

"Then we must create this technique!" The Master exclaimed. "I will be able to peer into the nature and structure of the universe with this technique!"

Rui raised his eyebrows, a little flummoxed. "I don't mean to be too rude with my inquiry but, if you care so much about astronomy, then why didn't you become an astronomer? They are able to learn much more about the universe than most Martial Artists."

"Hmph, your words betray a modern outlook," He snorted. "I am three hundred and twenty years old. Back then, astronomy was hardly a thing. Back then, we did not even know that the small twinkling stars in the sky are all in fact individual suns that are unfathomably far away from us. The only people who learned the most about what were those with the best vision, in other words; Martial Artists."

"I see," Rui replied, turning to the sky. "I respect and understand that. The universe is, in fact, wider than anybody can possibly fathom."

Rui wondered if anybody in the world understood just how gigantic the universe was. It was a fact that he had learned in high school, and had grown numb to. But every once in a while even he could not help but gaze into the universe and wonder what was out there.

It was the human spirit of curiosity.

But alas, he was born too late to explore the seas and born too early to explore the universe.

"You say that as if you what's out there," The man replied, raising an eyebrow.

He did, but he didn't say that.

He shook his head instead. "Let's get started. The sooner that you teach me the foundation of domain techniques, the sooner I can give you the ability to peer into the universe farther than anybody else."

"Okay. Let us begin immediately then," Master Gurren got to both feet, determined.

Rui stood up before his Martial Master.

"What do you know about the field of domains?" Master Gurren asked Rui.

"All I know is that it involves control and manipulation of a larger part of the environment," Rui replied.

"If you know only that much, then you didn't need to come to me," Master Gurren snorted. "The Martial Union has enough to give you the basics and some half-decent techniques."

Rui shook his head. "I want the best of the best."

He knew from experience that Masters could impart a foundation that was much better than if he tried learning from techniques from the Martial Union. He would not be nearly as lethal an assassin if not for the foundation that Master Reina imparted to him.

He would not be nearly as much of a powerful hypnotist if not for the foundation that Master Zeamer imparted to him.

He was hoping for something similar from Master Gurren. The two of them relocated to a barren mountain with no

"A domain is simply a slice of heaven and earth that is under your control or influence," Master Gurren began. "We control heaven through our breath. We control the earth through our bodies. With breath and body together, we control heaven and earth together, creating a domain around us within which we can trigger certain effects."

"I see," Rui murmured. "Interesting."

"Naturally, not all techniques need to manipulate both heaven and earth," The Master informed Rui. "Most techniques lean towards one, only truly powerful domain techniques manipulate both at once. Those that do gain complete dominion over the world.

He paused for a moment. "At the Upper Realms, there are even aspects and planes of our reality that can serve as the foundation of a domain technique, but as a Martial Senior, you only possess the power to manipulate heaven and earth, and that is enough for any Martial Senior."

Rui nodded, listening attentively.

"Let us begin with why anyone even bothers with domain techniques," The Master calmly explained. "After all, there are other forms of environmental manipulation even without domain techniques. Domains were developed much later, born out of a combination of environmental manipulation techniques and breathing techniques. Why even bother with domains if the only difference is area of effect?"

That was a good question. Rui personally pursued domain techniques because he felt as though they had good synergy with his Martial Art in concept.

If he could adapt his environment against his opponent, then he would, in theory, be expanding his adaptive evolution to a dimension that he thought was not possible before.

However, that was the extent of the reasoning behind his drive to learn domain techniques. His reasoning was not the reason why domain techniques were pursued, even if they were niche.

"Offensive domain techniques offer the highest hit rate out of all domain techniques," Master Gurren explained. "These techniques are extremely difficult to avoid since they cover a large area. The probability of landing an attack is thus extremely high since it unreasonable to evade them for long, if at all."

Rui nodded. He too had ultimately failed to avoid the attacks of the domain Martial Artists that he fought despite using the Metabody System.

"Good domain techniques do not sacrifice too much potency for the area of effect," The Master explained. "A natural disadvantage of domain techniques is that their power is distributed across a large amount of area, thus the potency is often weaker than even long-range techniques. A bad domain technique dilutes it too much, while a good domain technique either minimizes the dilution greatly or makes sure that the impacts of the technique in combat are worth it."