The Martial Unity

He put aside the matter for now. He didn't need to make the decision immediately. It was not an easy choice and it was one he needed to make after careful consideration of the consequences. For now, he wanted to proceed with going through the rest of the intrinsic Martial Art techniques.

[Opticorb Symbiote

Grade: 9

Difficulty grade: 8

The Opticorb Symbiote is a symbiote that enters the body through the air as a larva before entering the bloodstream. Once in the body, it travels to one of the eyeballs and begins consuming it in a slow process, breaking down the cells and tissues into nutrients and building blocks for a new eyeball. The new eyeball, when completed, connects to the optical nerve and serves as the new eye for the host. The new eye has extreme physical parameters. It is able to cleanly perceive phenomena kilometers away as well as microscopic phenomena. Its field of vision is a perfect 360 degrees. It also provides the user with heat sense as well as numerous newer forms of perceptions that allow the user to gain an extremely thorough understanding of the environment.

Its downsides are that it produces a much higher mental burden not only due to the additional link to the brain but due to the far higher influx of sensory information from the symbiotic eye into the brain. The incapability of withstanding the burden will eventually lead to strokes and seizures.]

Rui's eyes widened in interest. This was certainly a remarkably alluring symbiote as a potential option to explore. Powerful sensory prowess would certainly benefit him on his missions, that was certainly true. Although Seismic Mapping and Primordial Instinct were just fine, having the symbiote would boost his environmental awareness by leaps and bounds.

His reconnaissance capabilities would skyrocket significantly. If he had had this ability in his missions, most of them would have succeeded with far greater ease and simplicity.

He kept a note of it as he skimmed through a few more.

[Grinwich Nervesprouter Louse

Grade: 9

Difficulty grade: 8

The Grinwich Nervesprouter Louse was a symbiote that consumed and replaced the entire nervous system of the host with a far superior nervous system with a much greater amount of speed and control than ordinary nervous systems of vertebrae creatures. Downsides include a standard amount of mental and physical strain.]

Rui nodded, considering it. It was certainly alluring but it didn't really provide him with something that would truly be of use to his Martial Path or his Martial Art.

He skimmed through all of them one by one. Although there were many alluring and compelling options, none of them truly uniquely benefitted his Martial Art with great compatibility.

He sighed.

By the time he reached the end of the list, none had struck him quite as the Mindmirror Symbiote did. Yet it was also one of the most treacherous options at hand.

Furthermore, it was yet another either or option in this scenario as well. He would not be able to take any other symbiote if he chose the Mindmirror Symbiote. He would not be able to choose the Mindmirror Symbiote if he chose any other Symbiote.

The reason for this was rather simple, the Mindmirror Symbiote would likely be far too mentally strenuous for his mind to possibly accommodate any other symbiote. This assumed his mind could even handle the Mindmirror Symbiote in the first place. If it couldn't, then there was no conversation to be had at all.

"I need to learn more about the Mindmirror Symbiote." Rui murmured. He was on the cusp of entering his next training stage. He did not want to be delayed too much longer, he already had ideas of what he wanted for the other techniques he would be mastering.

He immediately pulled out his communication device and sent a message to Squire Grillogan requesting more elaborate information on the technique.

He wasn't surprised that the information had arrived within the day.

He opened the document that had been sent to him by Squire Grillogan. The document was actually a compilation of research data on the effects of the Mindmirror Symbiote. The document detailed the exact consequences thoroughly, demonstrating the consequences of the Mindmirror Symbiote on ordinary test subjects.

It had even documented the failures of the Martial Apprentices who had chosen to try and tame the symbiote.

Rui had to admit, the data was intimidating. However, he was surprised to find out that there was one recorded success of mastery over the techniques.

A Martial Apprentice called Valem Deen had once successfully mastered the symbiote. Valem was a prodigious genius with an extraordinary mind. With an extremely high recorded IQ and several other feats, his success had demonstrated that only a host with remarkable mental parameters and a high affinity could possibly master the technique.

Rui understood why the Symbiotic Sect had shown him the Mindmirror Symbiote. Rui's enhanced mind had gone far from unnoticed; they had not only noticed it but also found a powerful symbiote that only someone like himself would likely have a reasonable chance of mastering.

Of course, Rui was not foolish enough to believe that they were doing this out of philanthropy. He could see their motivations and intentions as clearly as day. By having a Martial Apprentice of his caliber master a grade-ten symbiote, it would likely increase the political capital the Symbiotic Sect had. Especially if Rui began dominating his peers if he mastered the symbiote. It would also be the most powerful technique in his Martial Art and, in their eyes, increased the probability of Rui joining the Symbiotic Sect.

If he failed, then at the very least the other Martial Sects would not gain a powerful Martial Apprentice who clearly had a bright future ahead of him.

Perhaps, this was a tad bit too pessimistic and paranoid, but Rui did not believe the truth was too different.

Still, as long as the information was legitimate, playing along may very well be his best choice.