The Martial Unity

One fine day on Cloudia, Rui opened his eyes.

"I have finally arrived."

It had taken a long time, but he had finally completed the four technique projects and the one thought project that he was working on. The sheer amount of time he had spent on each of the techniques of the Hypnomatrix, and the upgrade of the Godspeed technique in addition to the system of thought to objectively and logically arrive at the best distribution of technique application had finally paid off.

The offense-sabotage hypnotic technique had been the first to be completed. Perhaps it was because Rui had a ton of experience with asthma and breathing problems that he was able to finish it the earliest.

Regardless, it hadn't been easy. Even for Rui, going through every single memory of an asthmatic attack in his previous life of fifty-nine years, of which there may as well have been countless, was quite difficult. This was especially true when he had four other things to focus on and dedicated his time.

Regardless, a little over a year after he began, he had finally finished. The resulting technique was spectacularly functional, able to significantly hamper breathing. The Hypnomaster had no shortage of bringing Senior-level test subjects out of nowhere.

Depending on several variables such as the size and the physical power of the target, the hypnotic technique could do anything from sealing breathing techniques to hampering breathing significantly, causing his targets to gasp for air like they were having an asthmatic attack.

In many a case, this technique alone won him the fight!

However, the more powerful, stronger, and experienced the Martial Artist was, the less impactful and effective the technique was. Rui had designed the technique as a low-effort and low-potency technique in exchange for a lesser mental burden and a guaranteed hit.

This meant that he could absolutely ensure that the hypnotic technique would land. It also meant that it wouldn't burden his mind too much. Unlike the Greater Phantomind Void, Rui had absolutely no problem applying these techniques alongside the VOID algorithm.

He could use the Hypnomatrix while simultaneously constructing predictive models on his opponent.

Normally, the price of creating low-effort techniques was that the technique would yield fewer results. This was common sense, after all.

Less effort resulted in lesser results.

However, that didn't apply to Rui's hypnosis techniques. The reason for that was that his mind was so powerful that low effort from him still yielded a powerful result.

Less than twenty percent of his full effort may very well have been more than one hundred percent of another's. At least, this was the case as far as mental techniques went.

It was, in many ways, cheating. Rui came to learn the joys of sheer and raw innate talent. This was quite different from anything that he had ever experienced thus far.

After all, his Martial Path and Martial Art were certainly extraordinary, however, they weren't talent since he had worked extremely hard to get them. He had shed blood, tears, and sweat while working on Project Water and the VOID algorithm. To call them talent was a disservice to John Falken.

Even his earlier extreme tolerance of potions in his Academy days was ultimately useful only because he worked hard for them during the extra training hours he got from them.

However, the quality of his mind was something he had been blessed with when he was reborn and his mind underwent a second round of immense cognitive growth in his new brain. He hadn't worked for that, and it was something that could be considered as raw innate talent.

The three hypnotic techniques of his Hypnomatrix were incredibly powerful, yet very easy to use. They did a good job covering the only phase of the battle where Rui could be said to have a weakness, which was the beginning.

'Time to find out just how good.' Rui got up, leaving the meditation chamber as he referenced his internal clock in the Mind Palace. 'Right on time, I suppose.'

He had anticipated that he would be ready by this day a week ago. That was why he had taken the liberty to prepare a test to see just how good his techniques were. In order to very the power of his new techniques and paradigms in combat, he needed a worthy opponent.

There was only one.

Rui sky-walked until he arrived at a cloud field adjacent to Cloudia.

The Hypnomaster and Ieyasu had already arrived.

"Hehe... He's finally arrived," The Hypnomaster grinned with palatable excitement.

"You're late," Ieyasu narrowed his eyes. "Let's get this over with quickly. I will return to my training after I defeat you."

"Ho!" The Hypnomaster grinned even wider.

"You'll be too busy asking for a rematch to return to training," Rui retorted.

"Hoho!" The Hypnomaster's grin widened even more as he stroked his beard. "This is what I like to see! The two youngest and most talented Martial Seniors going at it. This old man is pleased to have such high-quality entertainment."

The two of them ignored him, standing at a distance of ten meters from each other.

"Mrrhm!" Master Zeamer cleared his throat. "Since both of you are here to test your growth, I shall set some stipulations. You may only use what you have learned since breaking through to the Senior Realm!"

The two of them narrowed their eyes, glancing at Master Zeamer.

"You two fought each other more than four years ago, so I'm sure you are well aware of what each other was capable of back then. Furthermore, I know what the two of you have been up to in the past two years, so I can ensure that you only use what you have been working on." The Hypnomaster smirked. "Whoever loses will be declared as the one who has made the least amount of growth in the Senior Realm. Hehe..."

Neither Rui nor Ieyasu wanted to bear that humiliation. They were both far too competitive with each other to accept such a failure, both of them were absolutely prepared to go all out and procure what they needed.