His desire to find Martial Artists who could push his Martial Art and the ambition that served as the driving force for his Martial Path to the limit became much greater. He could see that Squire Meera qualified as one of them.
However, there was another Martial Squire who also qualified. He had not forgotten about Ieyasu, the man was quite incredible and easily qualified to be champion material in continental contests such as this. None of the other six Martial Squires could hold a candle to a man who easily defeated Martial Seniors without their Martial Hearts. He had actually managed to fend off the four Martial Seniors targeting Senior Leonil. The fact that the latter survived despite being weaker than Senior Xanarn who almost died spoke volumes about his prowess.
Unless some other circumstances shifted the game, these two Martial Artists were his only hope as far as Martial Artists went.
If that failed then he wasn't sure how viable it was for him to find the challenge he sought within human space.
If they fail then… perhaps the Beast Domain will be my only hope. His eyes narrowed. He had seriously considered entering the true Beast Domain at the heart of the continent during his decade-long journey away from the Kandrian Empire if need be.
It was the latest frontier. A region of nature that was so perilous that humanity had decided it was too difficult and costly to endeavor fully exploring and colonizing. This actually spoke volumes of just how absurdly dangerous the Beast Domain was. He knew what Martial Seniors were capable of, and when he extrapolated it to Martial Masters and Sages, the fact that the Beast Domain could fend off the likes of those monsters meant that it was quite formidable.
Furthermore, the abyssfeeder arose from the Beast Domain, perhaps he would find similar challenges to overcome.
Where did he say these Abyssfeeders were found? A Lost City Danger Zone? What in the world is that? Rui frowned.
Regardless, this option was only if no Martial Squire in the human domain could do the job. He could only cross his fingers and hope for the best.
The event ended as the injured contestants were taken away for more extensive medical aid. Many of the Martial Artists required quite extensive treatments to restore them to their peak for tomorrow.
The medical aid alone took some time, thankfully, it appeared that his arm had been preserved when it was chopped off, something he was grateful for. Healing his old arm was a much better solution than regrowing a new arm. The powerful medical treatments ensured that the arm was surgically reattached to his body without any problems.
"Congratulations," Master Deivon said to him, smiling before his expression became a tad bit more sullen. "…And I'm sorry for your loss."
Rui wasn't even too surprised that the Martial Master seemed to have figured out exactly what had happened during the fight with the abyssfeeder.
He shook his head. "I will have other opportunities."
Master Deivon looked pleased that Rui had not let this miss dishearten him. He decided to offer some good news to Rui to help cheer him up.
"I have prepared a medical and surgery team equipped with all the medical instruments, machines, medicine, and potions that they will need to nurse your patient back to perfect health," Master Deivon informed him. "I made sure to deploy the best of the best. They will be able to restore her, just as we agreed. You have fulfilled your end of the bargain, frankly, you have over-delivered. I am already satisfied with the capital that I have gained as your patron."
Rui had not forgotten that he had fulfilled his part of the agreement.
"Please keep me posted on all the updates in regards to her medical treatment," Rui replied. "I need to get some rest."
"You don't need to fight in the main tournament tomorrow, you know," Master Deivon informed him. "You can if you want to, but you don't strictly have to."
Rui shook his head, and a hint of determination flashed through his eyes. "I will fight. Fighting her on such a grand stage may give me what I need."
Master Deivon immediately understood who and what he was talking about. "Champion Meera is most certainly a worthy opponent. Still, it's a shame you weren't here two contests ago."
"Why do you say that?" Rui asked with a raised eyebrow.
"The previous champion… was cut from a different cloth entirely," Master Deivon sighed with admiration. "He defeated the current champion four years ago, it's a shame he never participated after that. He may very well have been the perfect solution to your predicament, as would you be his."
"Hm?" Rui raised an eyebrow. "Considering Meera is champion, I'm assuming she beat him two years ago?"
"She didn't. He didn't appear for the tournament last year, or this year for that matter. No one knows where he is or what he's doing. Perhaps he's dead, perhaps he's already a Martial Senior. Or perhaps he lost interest because he was too strong, much like yourself."
A faint possibility entered his mind.
Unlikely. Rui shook his head inwardly. There are more than a million Martial Squires in the world, it could be literally anybody...
Regardless, he could only work with what he had before his eyes. He hadn't felt it before, but the third round really put things in perspective.
He had arrived. He was ready. Evidently, the individuality of his Martial Art and its ability to squeeze out the best of his body had already reached a stage where he could reach his Martial Heart. He needed to seriously start considering his breakthrough. He had entered the tournament with a more ambivalent and ambiguous attitude, still riding the high from having completed the Metabody System, satisfied with its enormous success. But this third round washed away all of that.
He was no longer happy with just that.
He was at the cusp of a higher Realm of power, he could almost taste it. He was not going to be satisfied until he claimed the power that rightfully belonged to him.
