The Martial Unity

Her actions led to the loss of more than ten million lives. Smaller kingdoms on the coastline of the oceans ceased to exist as if they never were, while more powerful nations had shielded themselves from the wave with the help of powerful Martial Artists, and esoteric technology derived from esoteric sources that were nothing short of national treasures.

She never ceased to practice her technique, keeping the hole open for nearly the next twenty years. The surrounding nations had already adapted to the elevated sea levels by the time her training phase had been completed. When she threatened to leave, the coastline nations realized that her leaving would leave the whole filled up once more, which could cause a disaster on par with the original disaster that she had caused.

The coastline nations came together hours before her announced departure, and formed a treaty, known as the Umiana Treaty. Each of the coastal nations would not only deploy their Martial Artists to keep the hole that Sage Sia had created open but also create an open invitation for all Martial Artists to keep the hole open as a form of training in exchange for a training fee.

That day, countless Martial Artists of several Realms from not just the coastal nations but even nations that were deeper inland were sent to the Umiana Trench to force back the water with their Martial Art techniques. Many Martial Artists from across the entire continent reveled in the opportunity to train in such a thrilling and novel manner that they flocked in great numbers to the Umiana Trench.

In the end, the training service became so absurdly profitable that the coastal nations decided to indefinitely delay the process of slowly and gradually closing the hole. The demand for the training actually exceeded the supply of available position 'slots'!

It became one of the most popular training grounds for offensive and power supplementary techniques across the entirety of the Panama Continent!

"I've definitely heard of the name, but I never knew about its backstory," Kane frowned. "What an absurd tale! Is that how fucking strong Martial Sages actually are?! That's terrifying. Damn, maybe I should have been more careful when I escaped from my father. But I suppose it's a testament to your ingenuity and my stealth that we managed to escape my father."

Rui didn't reply to that. He had had some suspicions about Kane's situation, and those had only grown stronger as time passed, especially when he learned more about what the Martial Artists of higher Realms could do the more he was exposed to the world of Martial Art.

If Sage Arrancar wanted truly wanted Kane to return under his family's control, then he would never have been able to escape from him, ever. The Lightning Sect could be damned for all he cared, only another Martial Sage could stand in the way of Sage Arrancar, and it was clear that Kane had not earned the favor of the leader of the Lightning Sect.

He wisely did not voice these thoughts aloud at the moment. Kane truly despised his family and his father, and it was best not to poke at those words with careless speculation.

Instead, he couldn't help but heave a deep sigh of admiration for the Martial Artists that had managed to reach the Sage Realm. The simplest of courses of actions he went through from time to time like training, when done by them could affect countless lives and could rewrite maps.

"You said the Umiana Trench was in this very ocean, right?" Kane glanced at the surface of the ocean. "The sea levels are kinda shaky now that I look at it closer, but it is surprisingly stable."

"Indeed," Rui nodded calmly. "But through Seismic Mapping, I can sense an unnaturally high level of seismic radiation being transmitted through the hull of the ship to our feet, when I compare it to the seismic radiation I felt on the ship to Vilun Island, which I assume is the norm or close to it."

"I guess this is probably the closest location to us among the ones you learned about?" Kane asked. "In that case, might as well start there?"

"That's fine by me, we could make significant gains if we make the best use of this opportunity."

"You betcha!" Kane grinned. "I can't wait to see this hole."

"Then the Umiana Trench it is," Rui smiled as the ship boarded the harbor. He couldn't help but feel a wave of anticipation now that they had chosen their destination. The Panama Continent was inherently esoteric compared to the landmasses of Earth, and far larger than all of them combined. That made for a variety of exotic and supernatural phenomena that Rui never thought possible.

It made tourism across the Panama Continent a truly fascinating prospect. Although Rui had traveled outside of the Kandrian Empire many times for foreign and international missions, he had stepped into the international market that the Martial Union had managed to capture. He had never stepped into the more crazier and esoteric locations of the Panama Continent.

('When I get back, I'll tell you all about the adventures that I had.') Rui's enthusiasm gained a tint of melancholy when he thought back to the members of the Quarrier Orphanage that he had left behind. ('I'll tell you all about it, so do forgive me.')

VOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The ship's horns blew as it slowly drew to a stop at a harbor in Caracol port town. The many passengers quickly formed a chaotic line as the boarding stairs unrolled, meeting the deck.

Rui and Kane patiently wait in line even though they could have easily sky-walked down. Rui, however, wanted to avoid announcing that they were Martial Artists. If it was the case that Chairman Deacon did decide to look elsewhere, then any report of two Martial Squires having arrived from a place that was in the direction of the Shionel Confederation might draw his eyes. Even if there hair was silver and blue, instead of black and green.