The Martial Unity

The Master Council did not convene lightly.

After all, the hundred-and-eleven Martial Masters of the Martial Union represented a titanic amount of Martial power. This was enough Martial capital to wipe out countless nation-states from existence and wreak havoc across human civilization.

Even when they weren't completing operations or missions at the behest of the Martial Union, their very presence was an asset.

A deterrence.

They were needed to deter the many potential enemies and hostile predators that Kandria had made simply by virtue of being one of the powerhouses of East Panama.

If not for them, Kandria would experience war and invasions.

Without them, the other three Sage-level powerhouses of East Panama would smell blood in the water and tear down the upstart powerhouse.

That was why the hundred-and-eleven Martial Masters of the Martial Union rarely concentrated in a single place.

To gather was no different from leaving entire regions of the vast territory of the Kandrian Empire vacant and undefended. It left such a void in the distribution of power that the Martial Union, according to protocol, informed the Kandrian Border Patrol Force and the Kandrian Security Agency well ahead of time of such gatherings so the two forces could be prepared for the voids in security that the Martial Masters would be leaving behind.

That was why the Master Council did not convene lightly, and whenever they did, they did so partially and often through projections.

Only the most important and significant matters could make each and every single one of the hundred and eleven Martial Masters converge to the Martial Union headquarters in the Town of Vargard.

The return of Prince Rui Quarrier Silas Kandria was one such matter.

Within the depths of the Vargard headquarters of the Martial Union gathered each and every single Martial Master.

Not a single one of them dared to miss this historic gathering.

Not even the fiscal meetings of the Martial Union had a hundred-percent participation rate.

Yet, this particular meeting did.

Among the many distinguished Martial Masters that were seated across the extravagant committee hall were Master Ceeran, Headmaster Aronian, Master Zentra, Master Vericita, and many others.

Even the inscrutable Master Gurren had deigned to partake in his very first Master Council meeting.

It only added even more weight to the solemn occasion.

"Masters of the Martial Union."

A powerful feminine voice drew their attention.

Each of them directed their gaze towards the voice that beckoned their attention.

They found themselves gazing at Master Sera Graven.

The Harbinger.

The very most powerful Martial Master in the Kandrian Empire.

The sole grade-thirty Martial Master in the entire nation and one of three in all of East Panama.

Her very existence was one that brought about fear at all those who gazed at her.

"Today, we gather for a long-anticipated event of extreme importance and significance." Her eyes sharpened. "You will have to pardon me in my dismissal of formalities. We are faced with decisions that cannot be delayed."

Her tone was unyielding.

"The Void Prince has returned."

The air grew heavy.

"...Not only has he returned from his escapades into the Beast Domain, he has returned a true Martial Master."

Her words shook them.

It shook them physically.

Mentally.

Emotionally.

The sheer magnitude of what she had just informed them could not be overstated.

At that moment, the air boiled tumultuously, churning under the weight of the emotional turmoil of more than a hundred Martial Masters.

"IMPOSSIBLE!" One Martial Master bellowed with an aghast expression. "How can he have broken through to the Master Realm at the age of thirty-five?! It's impossible!"

"On what basis do you assert your words?!" Another exclaimed with disbelief. "How can you expect us to believe such nonsense?!"

"Do not insult us, Master Sera. Breaking through to the Master Realm before his first century? Come now."

"It is especially absurd considering the Martial Union has already firmly established that the Void Prince's journey to the Master Realm will be more difficult than any other Martial Senior to have ever existed."

A myriad of voices began erupting from the Master Council, expressing disbelief and incredulity at the Harbinger's words.

Yet, a single voice cleaved through all of them.

"Hah, what a bunch of losers you lot are."

Master Ceeran grinned vindictively as he raised his voice loud enough to ensure everybody heard him.

In just a moment, he drew not only their attention but also their ire.

"How dare a junior Martial Master insult this cou—"

"—Shut up!" Master Ceeran glared at them. "You have no idea who you're talking about. If it was anybody else, I, too, would be unable to believe it. But if it's His Highness…If it's Rui…"

A grin lit up on his face.

"If it's him, it's possible. Anything is possible."

For a moment, there was a stunned silence at the gall of the young Martial Master.

Yet, his words were not unsupported.

"While I condemn Master Ceeran for his uncouth conduct, I am inclined to agree with his words."

The calm words from the elder Headmaster Aronian gave pause to the many Martial Masters who had reflexively denied the notion of the Void Prince having broken through to the Master Realm.

"Might I add…" He continued with an erudite tone. "…that while it is true that His Highness will have faced a much more difficult path to the Master Realm, I would like to remind this council that His Highness began cultivating thought in his Martial Art at a much younger age. In fact, in hindsight, I suspect he had a nascent system of thought from before he joined my Martial Academy."

His words, intended to calm them down, merely added more fuel to the fire.

"How can that be possible?!"

Yet, there were more.

"I do not doubt the unprecedented and supernatural affinity for thought that the Void Prince has," Master Vericita sternly declared.

"The arrogant boy has the capital to reach the Master Realm faster than anybody, arrogant as he is," Master Gurren begrudgingly chimed in.

"I am inclined to agree that things that are ordinarily impossible are well within the realm of possibility when it comes to His Highness." The composed voice of Master Zentra echoed through the hall.

The Master Council had been split in two.

Those that believed it was possible and those that didn't.

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