The Martial Unity

Four Martial Masters stood among the heavens, deep in the sky.

The depth of the sky of Gaia was much like the world beneath it.

Nigh endless.

The depth of sky that a Martial Artist could reach was often considered a measure of their depth as a Martial Artist, in some Martial philosophies and disciplines.

The depth that the four Martial Masters had reached was greater than anything any Martial Squire or Senior could ever hope to reach.

However, that wasn't the only measure that they had taken to isolate themselves.

Beneath them was a barren mountain range inhospitable to most life.

Ordinarily, a cool wind current flowing across the continent would have graced them as it passed the entire region by.

Yet, no such thing could be felt.

Rather, the air was almost frozen.

Taut.

Ground to a halt.

Imprisoned in place.

The pressure that the four Martial Masters generated seemed to almost bend the world with the sheer force of mind.

"My fellow Masters..." Master Deivos broke the silence. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Cease your futile facade," Master Uma spoke. "Each of us knows precisely why we are here. We know what we saw."

"I find myself agreeing with the Decapitating Witch this time," Master Carian concurred, turning to Master Deivon with an inquisitive expression. "It is rather insulting that you would even try such paltry attempts at delaying the matter at hand."

"If anybody has an explanation to disclose..." Master Greminga continued. "It is you, is it not?"

"The only thing I wish to disclose is my displeasure at having my colleagues and peers meddle in my affairs," Master Deivon narrowed his eyes. "Since when did bishops interfere with the heritors of their peers?"

The three of them narrowed their eyes wordlessly.

It could not be denied. They were doubtlessly crossing a line that they would never dare to cross under any other circumstances. It was a taboo to meddle with the heritors of other Martial Masters.

"...'Since when'...you ask?" Master Uma spoke with a graver tone. "Since one of those heritors turns out to be the Antithesis himself!"

Her declaration was heavy.

Too heavy.

So much so that the world beneath them was unable to bear its weight.

RUMBLE!

The ground shook.

"Master Uma..." A dangerous edge appeared in Master Deivon's voice. "I would recommend you reconsider your words. He is a seed, not the Virodhabhasa himself. Spouting such nonsense can be constituted as lesser blasphemy."

"I told you to cease your futile facade," Her tone grew sharper. "We know what we saw. Against the abyssfeeder. Against the two finalists in the first and second rounds. That was nothing short of divine providence!"

She spread her arms. "Destruction of Martial Paths in one hand. A divine ability said to belong to Lord Virodhabhasa himself. Creation of Martial Paths in the other hand."

"He did not create a Martial Path!" Master Deivon snarled. "Your delusions do not comport with reality. Surely the two of you do not agree with this insanity!"

Master Carian and Greminga looked uncertain.

They were in between Master Deivos and Master Uma, the former was an agnostic, while the latter was a devotee.

They did not know what was the truth.

"He may not have created a Martial Path but..." Master Carian murmured.

"...He did empower it with his own Martial Art, propelling it to a higher Realm of power." Master Greminga agreed. "Furthermore, the destruction aspect of his power is undeniable. We witnessed the inception of the destruction. Yet he was benevolent enough to cease it just in time before any permanent damage was inflicted."

"That does not mean that he is the Virodhabhasa." Master Deivos narrowed his eyes. "This is not the first time that a Martial Artist has had their ability to practice Martial Art crippled in a fight due to some reason or the other. Are we going to round them all up and call them all by the name of the Antithesis?!"

That was a compelling argument. It appealed to the sensible nature of Master Carian and Greminga.

Yet it only fueled the rage of Master Uma.

Too much.

For a moment, the inferno exceeded her rational restraint.

She did not even bother responding to him. She had already realized that she was not going to convince those two that he really was the Virodhabhasa.

She knew it in her heart.

And her Heart promptly acted. Streaks of red lines flowed through her body.

Yet that wasn't all.

She employed a much higher force.

That day, a sight that was engraved into the soul of the land beneath them was witnessed. Every remote beast, monster, and creature gazed towards the skies.

What they witnessed was indescribable.

Master Uma's form had taken the visage of a sharp blade.

Where lesser beings once witnessed an elderly woman was a blade that shined with a lustre that defied their fathoming.

It was as though the blade was the true form of her existence. Yet it could also have been an illusion that barred the unworthy from beholding her true power.

They were unable to distinguish.

The expressions of the three Martial Masters grew severe as Master Uma committed the greatest of blasphemies.

Treason.

She rose up, flicking a single finger at Master Deivon.

Master Deivon's eyes widened as an enormous wave of vacuum flew towards him, rapidly activating his Martial Heart, raising a single finger.

One moment, nothing happened.

The next moment...

BOOM!!!!

Every lifeform within a thousand kilometers quivered.

An act that transcended lesser beings had unfolded before their very eyes.

A mountain had been cleaved in half.

It had withstood aeons of geophysical activity, aeons of ecological activity, aeons of human activity.

Yet before the might of a Martial Master, it was nothing.

SPLAT

A small cut opened up on Master Deivon's finger, bleeding mildly.

The attack had been unable to overcome his defence.

The air boiled as Master Deivon appeared to take the form of a fortress.

His eyes blazed with fury. "You have committed treason by attacking a fellow bishop without authorization."

"You have committed treason by hiding the Virodhabhasa." She accused with equally intense eyes.

Master Carian and Master Greminga had tilted to one side. Philosophically, they were neutral.

However, treason was where they crossed the line.

"Master Uma..." The two of them glared at her as they activated their Martial Hearts. "Cease. Or we will follow through on the protocols of dealing with blapshemers."

Master Uma's expression grew more grave.

She could take on Master Deivon. She could even win.

But she could not take on all three. That was suicide.

Yet she would rather die than be branded a traitor for her devotion.

The air intensified.

She was on the edge.

Master Deivon narrowed his eyes as he saw an opening.

Four words escaped his mouth.

"I offer a compromise."

It did not reverse the situation. However, he had earned their patience, even if for a moment.

"...As the aggrieved party, I will not follow through on the religious protocols, as long as you swear a blood oath on not meddling with that boy." He spoke with a surprisingly calm voice.

Her expression did not change.

Yet her intensity softened.

"Think about it..." Master Deivon spoke with a smile. "The four of us are the only Martial Artists of the higher Realm that witnessed this round, the other Martial Masters went away since their heritors were disqualified."

The three of them understood what he was trying to convey.

"The four of us should be the only ones who know the depth of that boy..." Master Deivon spoke. "If he does turn out to be the Virodhabhasa, then I don't mind sharing the credit to the three of you when we present our discovery to the Transcendent Prophet. Imagine the grace that His Holyship will bestow us with for completing the Divine Mission."

Master Uma's eyes widened, before swimming around in uncertainty.

The merits to this agreement were clear, while there were hardly any demerits at all given her position.

It was either die or be branded a traitor. Or gain partial credit for someone who she truly believed to be the Virodhabhasa.

She sighed, deactivating her Martial Heart.

A decision had been made.