The Martial Unity

Rui headed back engrossed in thought. There was a lot consuming his focus and attention. There was a lot on his mind.

Naming his Martial Art?

What name ought he give it? Several generic names popped into his head but none of them really stood out to him. Headmaster Aronian had told him not to hastily pick one, and to only pick one that really satisfied him.

Rui shook his head. He wasn't feeling particularly inspired right now, so he put it off. He could spend more time on the matter later on.

Then there was the issue of the Martial Sects, this was quite the interesting issue. Frankly, Rui would not mind joining a powerful Sect as long as they gave him a good enough deal. Otherwise, he would rather steer clear of the issue. However, easier access to techniques of a particular Sect was quite attractive.

However, he ran into a dilemma. He was an all-rounder; wouldn't that mean it wasn't particularly a good idea to practice the techniques of one particular Sect?

Perhaps he should have asked headmaster Aronian to refer him to an all-rounder Sect, though he highly doubted such a Sect existed.

Or whether it was even possible to join without a voluntary invitation from the Sect's end.

Ultimately, he lacked too much information. But that wasn't necessarily a problem. Headmaster Aronian was simply informing Rui to help him stay aware of the issue. So that he could be prepared mentally to some extent if he ever did run into one of the Martial Sects.

But asides from that, this wasn't an issue that required his attention any further. He would cross that bridge as and when it came.

More importantly, there was the issue of the Martial Contest. Rui needed to get his shit together for it, otherwise he would lose. He could not afford to be distracted.

Not that it was easy to get distracted.

He was going to fight the strongest fifteen Martial Artists of his generation!

How could his mind possibly wander to other things?

What could possibly drown out his enthusiastic excitement for the event?

However, even if he focused on it, there wasn't much he could do about it at this stage. The Martial Contest was in the middle of the Martial Festival, he had no time to improve by any meaningful measure at all. The stage for growth was over, now he could only make the best of whatever he had. His confidence wasn't as high as he would have liked it to be. The fact that there were four people in roughly the same tier of strength; Kane, Nel, Fae and Hever, was not particularly reassuring. It meant that his current strength level, while in the upper echelons of his generation was still some ways away from the peak.

The other representatives in the Martial Contest would no doubt at the very least of a similar level to himself, to potentially much stronger.

He would likely have as hard of a time against them as he did against the likes of his friends.

The question was, what could he do in the two weeks before the arrival of the Martial Contest?

There wasn't much point in training, but at the very least he could condition his mind to be at its absolute peak.

Over the next two weeks, the very least he could do is sharpen his focus and concentration to their absolute limits onto the Martial Contest.

Clear out all distractions.

Clear out everything else.

Focus only and only on bringing out his very best.

"Hey." Kane waved at him. "You're back, that was quicker than I expected."

He had been waiting for him.

"Yeah." Rui told him. "There wasn't much to it anyway."

Kane nodded, not asking the details.

"So." He continued. "What's the plan? You need a sparring partner?"

Rui wondered about that. "If I feel like it. I'll think about it. I'm definitely shutting myself out from all other activities. I want to immerse myself and bring myself to my peak before it's time for the Martial Contest."

Kane nodded. "Sure thing. I won't be taking any missions in that time. So, you can just call me for anything you need okay?"

Rui nodded. "Thanks."

"Don't worry about it." Kane waved his hand. He had been hating the arrival of the Martial Contest, but the moment Rui had been chosen as the representative of the Hajin branch, his attitude took a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn. He knew Rui had been aiming for this from the very start and wanted to see his friend do well. He was excited to see Rui's performance.

"The others told me tell you the same thing too." Kane added, remembering. "You beat us, and are now going to represent us, none of us mind helping you going all the way and becoming the Martial Champion."

Rui smiled. He was blessed to have good friends.

"I'll give them my gratitude when I see them."

"So when do you plan to start your isolated training?"

"Now." Rui replied. He had nothing better to do. Nor anything more important to do.

"Are you planning on abusing potions again?" Kane sighed.

"I'll get a good night of sleep before the commencement of the Martial Union." Rui said.

"Gotcha." Kane replied. "Alright see ya. Let me know when you need anything."

"Sure."

*   *   *   *   *   *

"Young miss."

"Hm?" A short petit girl turned, facing her attendant. She had short brown hair and silver eyes that sparkled with vibrant curiosity.

"The results of the chosen representatives of the other Martial Academies were just sent by Master." The butler informed, holding a letter up.

"Oh, finally!" She said, delighted, reaching her hand out for the letter.

She immediately began pouring over the letter, mumbling as she read the letter. "Ohh.. Hm Hm. Ferlicia was chosen as the representative of the Ferlos branch eh? I get to see her after so long then~ Ah Ian was also chosen as a representative, tsk, expected but still annoying. Most of this is going as predicte- Hm?"

Her eyebrows knitted in surprise as she read the final name. "Wait, Kane isn't the representative of the Hajin branch? Who's this Rui Quarrier?"

"He's a young commoner Martial Apprentice who defeated young master Kane in the preliminary contest." The butler replied.

"Heh~ Kane lost to a commoner boy?" A mischievous smile lit up her face. "Hehe, more ammunition to tease him with. I wonder how strong this boy is though, to defeat Kane. In the Hajin branch, only Fae and Hever were at the level where they could have defeated him."

"His record is a perfect win streak, he is undefeated." The butler added.

"Something to look forward to then."