The Martial Unity

Chapter 3352: The Precarious Balance of Kiriket

She appeared amused and even impressed by how much battle Rui sought. The very notion of it was likely unfathomable to an elf, who would generally have loved nothing more than to be left with her sisters in nature.

Mother Maeria’s gaze returned to the letter. “My sister seeks to have the Mothers of Nature of both our civilizations achieve Enlightenment of Oneness. With both of our civilizations enlightened, we will be able to reunite, having abandoned our ego and individuality and gaining the capacity to forgive whatever we blame each other for.”

“That will be beneficial for human civilization in the long run as well,” Rui remarked. “While I don’t mind the light elves yearning to kill me, I do mind a hostile relationship between the light elves and human civilization. If they were to gain enlightenment and then merge with the dark elves seamlessly and adopt values similar to yours, then human civilization would be safer.”

“It’s easier said than done,” Mother Vyia heaved a sigh, shaking her head. “The light elves harbor too much contempt, scorn, and hatred for other races that they perceive as lesser. The probability of them abandoning all of this is not high. Even if it happens, it will not happen soon. I don’t intend to rush into this plan that my older sister has chalked up. I respect and even love her, but ultimately, I bear a responsibility to my people, not to some grand ambition of elven reunification. I can only bid my sister good luck in her grand designs.”

She put the letter aside, smiling gently at Rui.

“Such is life.”

Rui nodded thoughtfully. “I have a feeling she will succeed. I want her to succeed. I will even help her out if she seeks me out, I am still indebted to her, after all.”

“Only time will tell, young man,” Mother Vyia heaved a deep breath. “But enough of her plans…”

She turned towards Rui with a curious expression.

“What do you intend to do now that you have come back?”

Rui fell into thought at her question. “…I haven’t entirely thought about it, but…”

He shrugged lightly.

“I will be leaving soon.”

“…That’s a shame, we would have loved to have you here for some time longer,” Mother Vyia remarked with a tinge of regret.

“I have largely accomplished everything I came here for. “I have gained proficiency in some nature manipulation and have even partially integrated it into my Martial Path. That was my primary goal when I came to Genora, and I am satisfied with the results of my training.”

He had developed Nature Breathin,g which virtually endlessly replenished his physical stamina beyond even the Blood of Solaris. Thanks to it, he now had an endless supply of nutrients through breathing alone by having nature disperse the compounds that he needed.

If not for the brain’s limits, he would theoretically have infinite stamina, for the most part.

“I also have long since achieved my second goal, which is finalizing an elven-human alliance,” Rui added. “And that has been strengthened even recently with me gaining a new step-mother.”

Rui wasn’t sure how to even feel about Mother Alicia soon to be married to his father.

“Where do you intend to go next?” Mother Vyia raised an eyebrow.

“…Probably Kiriket,” Rui remarked thoughtfully. “I wish to learn more about the Beast Path and see how I can integrate it into my Martial Art. I have been advised to visit the Gajanan Clan on the continent to be received safely by a graceful host.”

“The Gajanan Clan is indeed the most peaceful and harmonious clan of the Pasupati Clans of Kiriket,” she replied knowingly. “They will indeed greet you with the respect that you deserve as the most powerful warrior and representative of human civilization. However, I would advise you to still be as cautious as possible. You see, Samarkha is in a delicate situation at the moment.”

Rui raised an eyebrow of curiosity. “Delicate situation?”

“The Pasupati Clans are divided into roughly four factions that each have a different vision for the future of the therianthropes of the continent,” she remarked. “There are the unitists who believe in eroding barriers between clans and achieving a Greater Beast Civilization where the Pasupati Clans are united into a single entity and can leverage their collective power much better than they currently. Secondly…”

“…there are the naturalists,” she continued. “These are those who believe that instead of a uniform harmony, the therianthropes should wage an all-out war against each other, and allow natural selection to kill all the unfit. They believe in the survival of the fittest and that the law of the jungle will evolve and elevate the therianthropes to much greater heights than any other course of action. Thirdly…”

“…we have the hawks,” she continued. “And I don’t mean the avian animal. I mean those who believe in pursuing powerful military action and even conquest and imperialism to secure therianthropic prosperity and supremacy. This is the faction that invaded your continent shortly after it returned to our world.”

Rui’s eyes sharpened.

He recalled all the damage that the therianthropes had done to their continent after they attacked human civilization for some mishap regarding beasts and animals.

“Strange.” Rui frowned. “I don’t recall them attacking us right away. They actually stated that they came in peace, but would not leave without getting what they came for. This was the one who was known as the Minotaur.”

“That sounds about right,” Mother Myia smiled wryly. “Animals of the species that the Bull Clan broadly bonds with are not actively violent or aggressive, but can be docile until provoked.”

Rui’s eyes widened. “Wait… you mean to say…?”

“Therianthropes are generally regarded as the most irrational race after the giants.” She nodded. “The more they bond with a group of animals, the more they inherit certain temperamental traits from said group. You will need to keep this in mind when interacting with them in Kiriket. You cannot always expect rational dialogue.”