The Martial Unity
chapter-2056

While his first victory was technically his first battle against a Martial Master, Rui was not interested in counting that. It gave him absolutely no meaningful experience against other Martial Masters.

If anything, he almost wished he could request a rematch for the lower third against someone he could test himself against.

Alas, the contract specified that the results of these matches could not be undone.

With two victories in the bag, he had secured the second-best outcome for himself. Even if he lost the third match, he would only be subjected to a punishment where he would have to compensate for their losses with Martial contributions.

Frankly, this was not a bad outcome as far as he was concerned. Making contributions to the Martial Union did not consume extra time or energy since he would just be sharing things that he had already worked on in the past.

He closed his eyes as he absorbed the experience of his first Master-level battle. His opponent was undoubtedly strong. It didn't seem as though she had a particularly low compatibility against him. She had managed to push back even after he developed a predictive model on her with the VOID algorithm and the Angel of Laplace. Additionally, she managed to neutralize the battle even after he shifted the battle to a long-range one against her using the Void Pathfinder technique, despite being shackled with Breathing Crucifix.

It took a combination of Hypertrophic Surge and Yggdrasil System to put her down for good. It was a good battle where he was forced to fight seriously, which was enough to win the battle.

'…I can't say for sure because she might be less compatible with me than others in her grade, but I suspect that I am at least grade nineteen,' Rui mused to himself.

"We have reached the third duel."

Sage Sayfeel's raspy voice drew his attention.

"Your final opponent will be…" Sage Sayfeel narrowed his eyes. "…Master Grais of the Lightning Sect."

An elderly Martial Master arrived at the battlefield, garbed in the Martial attire featuring the Lightning Sect's crest.

Just his sect and Body told Rui everything he needed to know about the man.

"Master Rui…" The elderly Martial Master gazed at him with a disapproving expression. "I will not hold back against you."

Rui shook his head. "I wouldn't want it any other way."

Unlike the previous two opponents, Master Grais did not seem to bear too much of a grudge against him, even if he wasn't particularly fond of Rui either.

"Master Rui, would you like to exercise your right to consume healing and rejuvenation potions before the fight begins?" Sage Sayfeel asked.

"Yes." He nodded. He had taken some damage in his fight against Master Zereela. Her Martial Mind had allowed her to crack his bones upon contact, which had healed but drained him of vital stamina, as did the entire battle and the Metabody System.

"As you wish."

Immediately, Rui was supplied with the finest rejuvenation potions, which brought him to his very peak.

"Now then," Master Grais narrowed his eyes. "If you are settled, then let us commence immediately. I am eager to experience your touted power for myself."

He took a highly aggressive maneuvering stance that resembled that of a sprinter. Rui didn't need the VOID algorithm to tell him that the man was undoubtedly going to dart for him the moment the battle began.

He took a neutral stance.

"Begin." Sage Sayfeel commenced the battle.

WHOOSH

As predicted, Master Graise surged towards Rui with extraordinary speed, arriving before Rui in the briefest of moments. A targeted knuckle punch surged towards Rui's throat, threatening to strike his neck.

As predicted by his predictive model.

WHOOSH

Rui had already dodged it before it had arrived.

Or so he thought.

POW!

Rui's eyes widened as he barely managed to throw up a guard against his opponent's attack trajectory, which shifted abruptly, crashing into his guard without so much as missing a beat.

Yet, before he could even breathe, his opponent's other hand already surged for his eyes, threatening to take them out.

"Speed Void."

WHOOSH

Master Grais' eyes widened as Rui just barely managed to move out of the way, managing to avoid losing his eyes.

Yet, Rui was hardly done. 'Temporal Disharmony.'

Rui immediately brought out the two most powerful anti-speed techniques that would undoubtedly hurt the Martial Master significantly.

"Do not underestimate me." BOOM!

Rui's eyes widened as he felt a surge of pain emerging from his abdomen.

"…what?" A whisper escaped him as he glanced down.

The man's fist had instantly buried itself deeply in his solar plexus.

It had happened so quickly, that even Rui's sense of pain was late to react.

He didn't understand.

He didn't have time to.

BOOM!

The world rotated as a second blow crashed into his skull out of nowhere. For a moment, Rui was frozen midair, upside-down.

Yet, the man was just beginning.

'Steps of Lightning.' The man narrowed his eyes, activating his Martial Mind once more. 'Shadow Transmission.'

BAM BAM BAM!!

Powerful blows crashed into Rui before he even comprehended what was happening. He guarded his vitals, trying to withstand an onslaught from his opponent as his mind surged into thought.

'…The predictive model isn't predicting each of these attacks.' He gritted his teeth. 'In that case…'

POW

Master Grais' eyes narrowed as his attack bounced off of Rui uselessly. His outer skin and flesh had grown thicker and darker as Nemean Blossom was activated to the fullest.

"Tough." Master Grais narrowed his eyes. "Then I shall just have to whittle you down bit by bit!"

The man disappeared as he surged towards Rui with remarkable agility, arriving before he could even begin to comprehend.

It was as though Speed Void and Temporal Disharmony were entirely ineffective against him!

POW POW POW!!

The Martial Master weaved in and around Rui beyond his awareness, peppering him with countless strikes, one after another.

Yet, Rui never yielded his guard, waiting for the right moment.