Emperor's Reckoning



Amidst the buzz of the crowd, Lyon's keen eyes caught a subtle exchange of whispers between the announcer and one of the officials. The official's demeanor seemed urgent, and the words spoken were too low for Lyon to discern. A faint crease appeared on Lyon's forehead as he observed this clandestine communication. It hinted at something out of the ordinary, a twist in the competition that remained shrouded in mystery. 

The announcer's voice boomed across the arena, carrying the weight of the moment. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached the final round of the Felidora Tournament!" A wave of anticipation swept through the crowd. This was the culmination of a fierce competition that had gripped the kingdom's attention.

The announcer's voice rang through the grand arena, echoing off the towering walls. The crowd's murmurs hushed, and all eyes turned to the center of the arena where Lyon stood, his posture relaxed but eyes sharp.

"As we move into the final round," the announcer wavered, "w-we have a most surprising turn of events. Lyon, the lone human contestant, has secured the first spot in the final!"

A collective gasp swept through the audience. The people had expected Lyon to excel in his performance, but this... this was beyond their wildest expectations. Some faces wore expressions of admiration, while others displayed begrudging respect, but a handful couldn't help but let out jeers and taunts.

Lyon himself was taken aback, though he concealed it well behind his confident demeanor. He hadn't anticipated going straight to the final; his path was supposed to be one of challenging battles and hard-fought victories. Yet, here he was, catapulted into the championship round.

As the crowd's emotions swirled around him, Lyon couldn't help but feel a mix of astonishment and amusement. The unexpected turn of events had left him in a unique position. He wondered what challenges awaited him in the final, but he could guess something might come up as the final duel approached.

"I think the king of this kingdom is setting up a drama," said Cecile.

"An unsung hero will rise above and defeat the villain," said Selena as she squinted her eyes at the king. "Another corrupt king."

"Every king is corrupted to a degree, much like all beings with enough consciousness," said Bapho.

"True!" said Sun as he chugged a gourd full of wine. "Mine is liquor."

"But Lyon is playing in a territory that puts him at a great disadvantage," said Shen the true dragon.

"Don't worry, he''ll manage," said Rui as she crossed her arms above Selena's head. Her eyes squinted at the young man whom she adored more than the world.

The announcer, however, had more to impart. "From the second round, only five will advance, these five include the human. Now, remember, in the arena, stepping out of bounds, being knocked out, or giving up means defeat. This is the final challenge, the battle of the strong, the culmination of days of fierce competition. Who will emerge victorious?"

Lyon smirked under the erupted cheers before he noticed an official approaching him. The official didn't speak much and his brows were furrowed as he was being led to a designated open area where he could sit on a bench and watch the match much closer than the rest of the audience. 

"What, no complimentaries?" said Lyon as the official left, but the response was a mere scowl. "Heh."

Lyon sat right in the middle of the bench. He leaned back, spread his arms, and put his right leg on top of the left one.

The crowd was displeased at his action.

"Stop being cocky!"

"Show some respect human trash!'

Lyon yawned at their insults, but he could hear a small giggle from Kesya. He took a deep long breath through his nose before his eyes caught Linnea crossing her arms and staring him down. "Hm? Is there somethin—"

His eyes widened as he saw Linnea shoving his arm away from occupying the space and actually sitting by him.

The crowd was stunned and gawked at the sight.

"L-Lady, do you have any idea what you've done?" asked Lyon as he gulped.

"Shut up and watch the match," said Linnea.

"You're walking on thin ice here," Lyon murmured before he saw Alaric sitting right beside him.

The crowd was pleased seeing Lyon being sandwiched by the two powerful captains. 

"Bah, look at how docile he turned," commented one among them.

"Heh," Lyon smirked before putting his hands behind his head instead. "Suit yourself."

"Ladies and gentlemen, for our first match in the final round, we have the formidable Kesya!" The crowd cheered loudly as Kesya confidently strode into the ring, her name echoing throughout the arena.

"And her opponent," the announcer continued, "is no stranger to the arena. A skilled beastmen warrior in his own right, renowned for his strength and resilience. Please welcome Grimclaw, ready to give us an exciting showdown!"

Grimclaw, a burly and fierce-looking beastman, entered the ring with a stern expression, showcasing his powerful presence as he faced Kesya in what promised to be an electrifying battle. The crowd eagerly anticipated the clash between these two formidable contestants.

Linnea observed Lyon's aura closely, her senses keenly attuned to the fluctuations in energy. However, as her divine sense probes reached out toward him, she couldn't help but be puzzled. There was something entirely different about his cultivation, or rather, the absence of it.

( Strange... I can't sense a single trace of his cultivation. It's as if he's devoid of any cultivation energy. But that can't be right; no one could reach this stage without having cultivated their cultivation power. What is he hiding?) thought Linnea.

Before she could delve deeper into her thoughts, the announcer's voice broke her concentration. "Begin!"

"HUH?!" Grimclaw had his eyes widened.

Kesya's lightning-fast leap left the crowd's sight. She soared through the air with incredible grace, her foot sinking into Grimclaw's abdomen like a thunderbolt. The impact sent Grimclaw hurtling backward, crashing into the arena wall with a resounding thud.

The king's eyes widened.

Linnea, Alaric, and Sylas watched in stunned disbelief as Kesya's lightning-fast movements unfolded before them. Linnea's usually stern expression wavered as she struggled to comprehend the sheer speed and power of Kesya's attack. Alaric had a look of utter astonishment on his face despite ever seeing her done it once before. Sylas, who had been quietly observing, could hardly contain his shock, and his jaw dropped at the incredible spectacle unfolding before him. The three captains were bewildered.

After a slight pause of silence, The arena erupted into cheers and applause for this unexpected contender.