Emperor's Reckoning



Lyon once more courted the attention of all guests at the banquet. His proud smirk hung on his face, and his robe was a bit disheveled. 

"How strange..." the ancient being inside Yuri murmured.

"What is?" asked Yuri.

"I don't know what it is, but he is... different... but I can't pinpoint what it is," 

Yuri frowned and took a careful look at Lyon. However, no matter how carefully he looked at him, nothing was different. His figure, his personality, he couldn't spot it as well.

"Lyon!" Ning's face contorted with anger and frustration as she approached Lyon. Her eyes blazed with fury, and her steps were heavy with determination. The other guests watched in hushed anticipation as Ning's voice boomed, echoing through the hall.

"No wait, he is..." but Lily's words fell on deaf ears.

Lyon, no longer rubbing his temple, smiled as he looked at the approaching lady. "Ah, Red Lotus."

Ning frowned before she stood in front of him with her hands by her waist, ready to reprimand him. "What did you say?"

"Red Lotus," said Lyon once more. "They always produce high-class fiery women, I'm amazed."

Gasps filled the air almost immediately. The guests in the banquet hall were taken aback by Lyon's bold and seemingly audacious statement. A mix of surprise and curiosity washed over their faces as they exchanged puzzled glances with one another.

Cecile chuckled by the side seeing the gobsmacked face of Ning. The latter's fire was immediately extinguished as if she was thrown a bucket of cold water.

Mavis immediately intruded in, "Ah, I'm sorry Miss Ning, I'm sure my friend here didn't mean it."

However, he too fell on deaf ears and Esmeralda was amused. Lyra sighed while Yuri still tried to spot the difference mentioned.

"Apologize!" said Ning as she coupled her fists and the Red Lotus ignited. Her presence was abundant and even Mavis had to step away. 

(Crap! She is going nuts!) thought Mavis before he darted his glance toward Lyon.

"Oh, I do mean what I said," said Lyon as he took one step closer, entering her range where the presence was at the utmost optimum. Not even his shoulders felt sore as Ning was shocked. 

(W-What's going on..?) thought Ning as she saw Lyon extending his hand. 

Lyon's hand perched on her shoulder, and he grinned. "Take it as a compliment, I've seen beautiful fairies, rarest of rare, yet Red Lotus seemed to always new generation beauty every time."

Ning raised her brows before she shoved his hand away from her shoulder. "Don't talk as if we're friends! Don't talk as if you know Red Lotus!"

Lyon looked at the palm that was shoved away before glancing back at Ning, "Serene and Blood, a clan was formed where the founder found a lotus blooming after a great war. The flower was tainted with blood to a crimson. Red is not fire, red is blood."

Ning stepped back in disbelief and her eyes widened. 

Cecile nudged his side.

"A-Ah of course, I just read some history about your great clan, that's all, haha," said Lyon as he walked past her and left her be. 

Lyon paused as he felt a curious gaze, he turned and saw Esmeralda, Lyra, and then Yuri at the corner. He was intrigued before opening his arms, "Is there anything you want to say to me?"

Esmeralda was the first one to step forward. She dared herself to approach him where her snakes cowered more and more. "There is something different about you, Lyon."

( Woman and her intuition..) thought Lyon as he smiled wildly. "Perhaps you are mistaken."

"No, my serpentines wouldn't act like this before," said Esmeralda as Lyon noticed the twin snakes peeking out from her air, but not daring to show their bodies.

"Oh c'mon, there is no need to be afraid of me," said Lyon as he extended his arm and tried to reach the snake with the finger. However, his intent to pet the snakes was not received well.

One of the snakes bit on his finger. 

"Ah..." Lyon was casual as he pulled his finger whilst the snake latched on the finger.

"Oh crap," said Esmeralda, "Lyon, quick!" she drew a medicine from her spatial ring. She reprimanded the snake before it cowered away and between her hairs then she plugged off the bottle of medicine and poured it down against Lyon's now blue finger.

Esmeralda frowned, she saw his veins getting corrupted by the venom. (How strange, the spread of the venom is much slower than usual, and he is only an Origin God Cultivator...).

"It's fine, thanks," said Lyon. "Ouroboros, how intimidating." he smiled.

Esmeralda was puzzled but his gaze already laid elsewhere the moment she was done.

"Dear guests, I'm sure that some of you are baffled by what just happened, but rest assured that everything is under control, I asked something too divine for the seer to seek, thus the side effect," said Lyon with a smile before he looked at the seer, and winked.

The effortless pass over of attention toward Lily, left her blinking blankly for a while. Then she regained composure, "Y-Yes, this is indeed an accident that shouldn't occur, but please don't let it disrupt the nature of the banquet."

Old Gu quickly followed up as he saw the chance, "Well then, on the seer's behalf we must continue the festive of the banquet!" he raised his glass of wine and tossed, "for the seer!"

"For the seer," said Cecile as she tossed up, then the others slowly followed.

"For the seer!" the other guests roared before chugging their wine down. Lyon nodded in gratitude toward his wife as the attention was lifted off of him. He gazed back at Lily but the latter was already occupied by the young king, Ning. 

He smiled and walked toward the balcony before he found a lone figure basking under the moonlight. However, the hood that she wore couldn't hide her identity from him, especially at the banquet.

"Teacher," said Lyon before the figure turned around.

"Lyon..." Karina smiled before the two of them stared at the moonlight together.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" asked Karina as she tried to grab it with her hand, but all there was, was a stump.

Lyon's gaze turned gloomy as guilt washed over him. "Yeah, it is... but sadly, this will be the last night in Second Heaven for a long while."

Karina turned her glance toward him. She saw the determination inside his eyes as if he could conquer the moon itself by sheer will, and his hair fluttered by the benevolence of gale. His face turned radiant and resplendent as her eyes widened with a tint red hue on her cheeks.

Karina sighed before looking at the moon once more.

"Huh, what's wrong?" asked Lyon.

"Nothing, I just can't believe that we are going to do something outrageous," said Karina "and the guests had no clue at all about what's going to happen."

"Hahaha, true that," said Lyon. 

"Are you not afraid of the retaliation?" asked Karina. "Those young masters, I don't think they would like it if we're gonna do it."

"I won't be so worried about them, but my name will be famous— I have a feeling that it would bring more trouble than it should, but as long as Graham and Assid guarding the Mortal World, I can rest like a baby," Lyon smiled.

"Heh, you got it all figured out huh," said Karina. 

"But I will stay longer in Hell, and I think you should too," said Lyon. "The reason is obvious."

Karina's head hung as she was faced with the options. She knew what being in Hell meant but also what staying there meant. The gate between Hell and the Mortal World is still sealed, and opening it poses a great risk of Seraph cultivators descending down from Paradise.

"Jugen would understand," said Lyon. "Besides, it's not like it would be for eternity."

"Yeah, but it's not easy," said Karina.

"It's going to get easier in the future though," said Lyon as he stared at the moon with a sharp gaze.

"Lyon... you mean..."

"How long are you going to listen to a couple's conversation?" asked Lyon as he turned around and leaned on the ledge of the balcony.

"Huh?" Karina turned around and saw no one before a figure walked into their view. "You are..."

"You must have found quite a way to escape Mavis's chatter, what did I do to earn your fancy, Yuri?" asked Lyon before he smirked and sat on the ledge.

Yuri stood with a frown before he stepped closer to the couple. (A lady with no signals of mana, and a missing forearm...) Then he averted his glance toward Lyon. 

"I have a feeling of unease radiating from you," said Yuri.

"Did Mavis tell you that," said Lyon before his next words sharpened, "Or was it something inside you that told you that?"

"What?" Yuri had his eyes widened.

"You can see me, boy," A black kirin immediately formed on the balcony. Height twice as Graham and its body was riddled with golden veins and mane. Its hooves had fluttery golden clouds and eyes radiating with golden wisdom.

"And you can see them," Lyon grinned as four mighty gazes emerged out of thin air already surrounding the shocked black kirin.