Emperor's Reckoning

The two of them stumped as Zet kept tapping around his clothing.

The Returning Jade Stone was one sure way to let them come back safe and on time. There was another option which was on foot, however, the blazing beacon of twilight marked the impossibility.

"It must be because of you running away from those boars," said Lyon.

Ivy had her head hung down as she tightened her Returning Jade Stone in her hand. She hardened her upper lips before she opened her mouth.

"He—"

"Just take mine," said Lyon.

Ivy had her eyes wide opened wide. She never thought that he would so nonchalantly give his own Returning Jade Stone. However, this was her fault, were Zet not caring about her well-being, he wouldn't have lost his Returning Jade Stone.

"W-What?" asked Zet before he shook his head. "No, I can't do that!"

Lyon reached out the Returning Jade Stone from his pocket before he lobbed it to him.

"Ah.." Zet opened his mouth before he quickly get a hold of the glimmering jade stone.

"Big brother, you.."

"Don't mind it," said Lyon. "It's not like I cannot get away from this place."

"BUT!"

"Butt is good," Lyon nodded. "Now go, we will meet again."

Lyon turned around after taking a quick glance at the beauty.

Ivy had her supple lips slightly opened as she looked at the back of the youth. The magnificent back was not as monstrous as one would imagine from a man that could knock out a four-horned boar with a single punch, yet, the feeling of him conquering the world was not an overstatement.

"Tʰᵃⁿᵏ ʸᵒᵘ"

The meek voice was heard only by the dancing branches of giant trees.

Zet gritted his teeth before he bowed, "Thank you! Big Brother!"

Zet crushed his Returning Jade Stone. The jade light formed a mist upon the breaking and quickly encapsulated him. Jade light shot to the twilight blaze of the sky, carrying with it, the gratitude of utmost honor.

"Come back, make sure of it."

Lyon raised his eyebrows before he turned around to see another jade light had shot to the beautiful sky.

Lyon put both hands inside his pocket as he looked up, "Heh."

---

Meanwhile, back in the arena.

"Look! Someone is returning! No! Two!"

One of the spectators pointed out before the rest of them looked at the sky.

"You're right!"

"I hope we have them alive this time."

Hilde furrowed her eyebrows (Did he kill again?). She was tapping the armrest with her finger and caught the furrow of the king.

"You seem a bit restless, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, father."

The king looked at her daughter. She didn't even turn around to face him. He let out a sigh. "If you say so."

The lights crashed down against the plateau one by one. The host immediately rushed forward before the lights dissipated.

"Hah! Hah! Hah!" one of the two immediately woke up with his breath panting. His eyes opened wide traumatic. Seeing the lots of people watching him with odd expressions he started to blink.

"Hah... Hah, holy shit. I'm alive!"

"Alright, you're alive," said the host as he nodded. "Please proceed to the designated platform and give your pouch there."

"P-Pouch? Ah.. right," the man stood up before he hurried to the designated platform.

The host furrowed his eyebrows before he looked at the next participant. "Ah..."

The next one was not so lucky. He had his chest slightly caved in and his eyes were wide open. The bones inside his body had ruptured completely and he was letting out his last breath as he looked at the host.

"What happened..." The host muttered before he called out the paramedic to dispose of the corpse.

"Bernardo, Three horns!"

The number was displayed brightly with magic. Hovering at the center of the stage for everyone to see.

"Wha? Three horns? That's low!"

"Man, that's not a good start."

The royalties across the four kingdoms had their eyebrows furrowed. The number was indeed lower than one would expect. Three horns were like hunting fifteen one-horned hellboar, which was not even considered as a practice.

"This is..." Cherie Sverine shook her head.

"Does he not have shame?" said Raul as he crossed his arms. "Pathetic."

"Unbelievable..." Rupert shook his head.

Bernardo could hear the disappointment from the audience. He nervously explained. "The forest is not what it used to be!"

Hilde furrowed her eyebrows.

"It's true! Trust me! It's weird out there! My friend over there is dead! Trampled by a four-horned hellboar!"

The audience gasped.

"Four horns?!"

"Oi! Is that true?!"

Bernardo nodded repeatedly as he palpitated. The scene still haunted him down.

"T-There were two of them..."

"Two?!" Hilde immediately leaped out from her seat and approached the man. "Is that true?!"

"Y-Yes, princess! There were two hunting us down! We were strolling in the woods hunting for hellboars before that elephant-sized beast came tumbling down trees."

"Hmm... you said the forest is weird. What happened?"

Bernardo made a harsh swallow. "R-Right, the quantity of the single-horned and two-horned beast was lacking. Or rather, they didn't follow the map at all. The horns that I take are from the three-horned beasts!"

"Three horned?" Hilde furrowed her eyebrows but the audience raised theirs.

"Three-horned. Well, that just changes things."

"He is stronger than I thought."

"So all fifteen that means five beasts? That's amazing."

"Amazing Bernardo!"

The audience quickly shifted their view after hearing that he won those horns from the three-horned hellboar. However, the truth of the matter was only based on his lips alone.

"I think that we should check the forest in regard to the competition," said Hilde with a higher note.

"Objection!"

Hilde and the rest of the royalties furrowed their eyebrows as they looked at the man who quickly rejected the idea.

Her eyes turned sharp as he looked at the man standing up from the seat with his arms crossed. She muttered, "Hezar..."

Hezar had smiles on his face as he challenged the princess's opinion.