The Martial Unity

It wasn't too long before the Masters were fully settled in. A non-Martial Artist entered the room, taking a stand on the podium, smiling at the various Martial Masters. "Distinguished Masters of the fiscal committee, I hereby commence the three hundred and fifty-forth fiscal assembly of the Martial Union. In the interest of saving time, we shall get right down to the agendas of the day. Without further ado."

The speaker glanced down at a list. "The first agenda of the day is proposal AM362, a priority induction motion from Master Zentra."

Behind him, a screen came to life, displaying the details of the official motion.

"Motion to induct Senior Quarrier as a constituent of the fiscal committee."

Nothing had changed, but Rui felt a lot of weight on his shoulders, feeling the attention that the Masters were giving him. He wasn't the most fond of being the center of attention at such an important meeting.

"As per protocol, both the proposer of the motion and the constituent nominee are entitled to a speech," The speaker calmly declared. "After that, we shall commence the voting on the matter."

The speaker turned to Master Zentra.

"I decline."

"Very well, then, Senior Quarrier," The speaker turned towards Rui. "Would you like to exercise your right to address this committee?"

"Yes," Rui replied, standing up. "I most would."

"Very well then, I call upon Senior Quarrier to the stand," The speaker nodded. "You have precisely two minutes from the moment you start."

Rui heaved a deep breath, heading down to the speaker's stand as he beheld the Martial Masters of the Martial Union. It was almost surreal as they directed their undivided attention.

Yet his voice cut through the atmosphere, cleaving it in half.

"The power of thought is greater than you can imagine."

His words earned a mild reaction from the Martial Masters.

Not only did he not begin his speech with a respectful address to the gathered Martial Masters, but he had brazenly made a declaration that implied he understood thought better than the Masters of the Martial Union!

"To many of you, thought is merely a Realm of power, an element of your Martial Art," Rui calmly continued. "But to me, it is more than any of you could even begin to fathom. Thought is the source of my power. It always has been. My Martial Mind is yet to be completed and unlocked…but do not presume that limits my understanding of thought."

He eyes all the Martial Masters in the Martial Union. "You all may have adopted thought, but I was born in it. Molded by it."

A few Martial Masters widened their eyes, stunned at the sheer audacity of the brazen declarations of the impudent Martial Senior.

"Each of you has a choice," Rui replied calmly, growing more confident. "I offer thought. Not to each of you, no. But to the future of Martial Art. Bodily power is a power that has already been explored to its depths. There isn't much left to be found. It has reached its limit, and I say that as someone who has made the singular greatest contribution to bodily power."

His words pricked at many of the Martial Masters who had an affinity for the Squire and Senior Realms rather than the Master Realm. Unfortunately, his statement was rooted in absolute fact. These sects with an affinity for the Squire and Senior Realm were extremely grateful to Rui for the Hungry Pain technique. A fifty-percent jump in power was almost unprecedented historically.

"And now, I offer to enrich the Martial thought as I did Martial Body," Rui replied. "The distinguished Masters of this committee is far from lacking in insight. I'm sure each of you understands the weight of my words simply by looking at me, at my mind."

He had long learned that Martial Masters were able to somehow detect thought or something similar to that. He still didn't understand how or why, but he knew that Headmaster Aronian had long detected something akin to a prototypical Martial Mind within Rui at a young age.

"I hope that this committee of Masters accepts my humble offer to spread the seeds of thought in exchange for the resources I desire. I hope that Your Masteries deem me worthy of investment for the sake of the future. Thank you for taking the time to listen to me." Rui brought a hand to his fist, bowing to the Masters, before heading off stage.

An applause ensued, yet Rui was unable to figure out how much was obligatory and how much was sincere.

He had decided to avoid the kiss-ass speeches that they were undoubtedly accustomed to receiving. Instead, he decided to be bold yet truthful. Truthful to an edge.

Soon, he would find out whether or not he had done a good job. At the very least, he didn't seem to have angered any Martial Master. He would be sure to have noticed that. It did seem as though they were taken aback, yet it was not easy to scoff his words away because there was more than just an ounce of weight. It was substantiated and even known, especially since he returned.

From the testimonies of many Martial masters to their own senses and the well-known rumors of the incredibly intricate and almost scholarly Martial Art techniques that were rarely seen in the Martial world.

Considering the records of him doing such things extended to his Apprentice days, it was just a testament to how aberrant Rui was as a Martial Artist.

He had the capital to say what he did and get away with it.

Now, it was time to see if it was a good idea to do so. Perhaps he just ruined his chances of getting into the committee with this little bold stunt of a speech.

It remained to be seen very soon.

"And now, we shall commence the voting session," The speaker calmly continued. "All in favor of the motion to induct nominee Rui Quarrier into the committee?"