"Apprentice Quarrier." Charles DiVillier addressed him at one point.
"Lord Divilier." Rui bowed, expressing goodwill.
"It is truly unfortunate that your identity was revealed in the manner that it was." Charles DiVilier sighed, shaking his head. "Unfortunately, these things happen. Though I daresay this hasn't yielded any negative consequences."
"It seems that way." Rui replied perfunctorily.
"By the way." Charles smiled. "I recall commissioning you for your unique Martial Art, in vain unfortunately. However, after witnessing your remarkable growth since the Martial Contest, I wish to extend my offer to you. Join the DiVillier Family." He said. "You will find it to be worth your time"
The guests who were listening to the conversation widened their eyes at his words.
However, Rui shook his head at those words. "I already have a family. I'm afraid I will have to decline your offer."
"It's a pity I cannot acquire you." Charles DiVilier sighed, almost speaking of Rui as an object. "However, if you ever do reconsider, I'll always be more than willing to accommodate a Martial Artist of your calbre."
"Thank you." Rui replied, ending their conversation. He didn't want to interact with Charles, especially after he learnt of the identity of his fighter.
The guests interacted and socialized with themselves, while the fighters interacted with each other. Rui walked over to the Martial Apprentices present in the room after he managed to pry himself from the guest members. He wasn't particularly interested in befriending them or anything of the matter. It was just that Martial Artists were more interesting to interact with.
Furthermore, he was only really interested in interacting with a single Martial Artist at the moment.
"Hey." Rui said to Fernan, having approached him. "Hope you're doing fine."
"Potions healed me up just fine." Fernan didn't seem to mind talking to him despite having lost his position as defending champion to Rui just a few hours prior.
"Your Martial Art is really interesting, I wanted to learn more about it." Rui admitted. "What is the name of your Martial Art?"
"I call it the Bestial Rage Style." Fernan replied.
"Interesting..." Rui eyes lit up with interest. ('So it has enough individuality to be named.')
"Your Martial Art is fascinating to me." Rui told him. "I'd never heard or even seen of symbiotic Martial Art techniques before, they're truly powerful. Can you tell me more about them?"
Fernan seemed to appreciate the interest in his Martial Art. "Most people are disgusted by them, not to mention afraid."
Rui shrugged. "Anything that can help me walk down my Martial Path by strengthening my Martial Art as it is, is worth my interest. Aesthetics or other sensibilities don't matter."
Ferna's eyes lit up at that response. "That's the right attitude to have. I commend you for being this mature despite your youth."
"Thank you."
"As for Symbiotic Martial Art techniques..." he began. "They're quite the niche field. However, it is my Martial Path. When I first learnt of these techniques in the Exploration Stage and tested my affinity with them. I just knew I had to master them, that was when I discovered my Martial Path."
"How did you test your affinity with them?"
"That can be measured with how well you're able to engage in symbiosis." Fernan replied. "The implantation of the symbiotes are not the techniques themselves. The Martial Art techniques one performs with symbiosis with an implanted symbiote are what're known as Symbiosis Martial Art techniques."
"I see..." Rui grew engrossed.
"Are you interested in learning symbiosis techniques?" Fernan asked hopefully.
Rui nodded. "I suspect I may have a decent amount of compatibility with them, to the point where it would be foolish of me to ignore them. Thus, I wanted to learn more about them. What kinds of Symbiosis techniques exist?"
"Oh, all kinds." Fernan said. "There are different species of symbiotes capable of doing different things. They're generally categorized by whether the utility they provide is extrinsic or intrinsic. Extrinsic symbiotes usually manifest something on the body, much like these arms and wins of mine. While intrinsic symbiotes manifest inside the body. They usually boost existing metabolic function or provide for metabolic functions that the user didn't have prior."
"Symbiosis techniques come after implanting a symbiote." He continued. "The quality of your techniques depends on the symbiotes available. Higher-grade symbiotes will generally have more powerful techniques for the same amount of difficulty."
"Wait." Rui frowned. "Symbiotes have grades?"
"Of course, they do." Fernan replied. "My dark eagle symbiote is a grade eight Symbiote, my arm-raiser symbiote is a grade-seven symbiote. I even have a few lower-grade intrinsic symbiotes."
Rui's eyes lit up in interest. He was much more interested in intrinsic symbiotes than he was extrinsic symbiotes. He didn't want any physiological growth of appendages on his body like extra arms or wings. He wanted something complimented his current power and potential, not something that aimed to usurp it.
"What are the shortcomings and drawbacks of symbiotic Martial Art?" Rui asked. He had already figured a lot of the answer but he wanted to confirm it with an actual expert.
"There's risks, conditions and constraints." He sighed. "That's one of the reasons symbiosis Martial Art techniques haven't taken off, there's so many disadvantages that other fields of Martial Art simply do not have. The risks include possibility of brain damage if you overburden your mental capacity since most symbiotes used in Symbiosis Martial Art techniques form neural pinks with the brain, weakness due to overburdening your stamina. Furthermore, each symbiote has their own additional risks specific to them that need to be accounted for. The difficulty of mastery is also greater because you need to develop basic proficiency and coordination with symbiotes."
Rui nodded. With all these disadvantages along with the instinctive fear disgust of putting a strange disgusting creature inside your body and connected with your mind was likely the reason that symbiosis Martial Art had not taken off.
"What are the advantages of symbiosis techniques?"
Fernan smirked. "I'm glad you asked."
