Emperor's Reckoning

After not so subtle meeting with the queen of the Sverine Kingdom, Lyon made his way back to his inn. The whole trip was uneventful. Only a handful of unpleasant gazes greeted him. However, he couldn't care less for the lot. The night ended with him entering the room where Assid had prepared for him prior.

Chirping birds could be heard as a clam breeze made the grass rustle a serene hymn. The start of the next round was nigh.

Everyone came out from their inns to go to the arena. Afurnae immediately turned to bustle as the various cultivators were excited about the second round. Not to mention how ridiculous it was for the first round to end with full domination from the mortal cultivators.

Especially the brazen youth.

"Hoam!, why is it morning already," said Lyon as he scratched his back. The slouching young man was nowhere near the description of what he did yesterday. There was not a single overbearing aura from the way he walked. He was more like a drunk old man who can't handle hangovers in the morning. The procrastination feeling hummed from the steps that he made.

The people immediately made way for him and his group. Though he was lacking the bearing, the result was still etched in the board. There was nothing that they could do, the man was a madman, insulting him would get them killed instead. He blatantly dares to outright give his intention in killing Hezar. No mortal had ever seen being so brazen before.

"There he is..."

"Do you think that he actually scored that high?"

"Most of the last winners said that he was lucky finding the corpse of hellboar, you know, a pair might fight each other and die and he was there to collect it."

"But that's insane luck!"

"I know, but... I don't know anymore."

Lyon smirked as he put his hands behind his head as he walked toward the arena. There was one thing that was sure by the way he walked. He carried the pride, the pride that was suffocating for First Heaven. He came out of nowhere with bringing the dawn of the sun.

"Good luck!" Cecile gave him a peck before she left him.

Lyon opened his eyes wide before seeing her and the three generals left. He snorted with a smile.

"Huh?" He noticed that Lumina was standing in front of her.

The dragon woman smiled before she pulled his collar.

The supple lips crashed against him as his eyebrows raised.

The world froze for a moment, even the onlookers were caught by surprise. The budding jealousy flared as they refused to believe that a mortal could have such beauty by his side, especially after he had reigned Cecile, the woman that even the two princes couldn't have.

Lumina didn't close her eyes but neither did he. They both stared at each other before they grinned after both lips were apart from each other.

"All out?" asked Lumina as she smiled.

"You think they can handle it?" asked Lyon with a smile.

"You, jade-haired woman!" A contemptuous tone was heard.

Lyon and Lumina both furrowed their eyebrows as the onlookers stepped away to make way for the person.

A figure was walking with royal dignity and a draconic aura. He had golden blonde hair and was the prince of the famous Golden Dragon Kingdom.

"It's Prince Rupert..."

"Are they going to fight..."

"The round has not started yet, Lyon will be in a pinch if he does some—"

*Pak!

The atmosphere immediately froze as the resounding slap conquered their ears. They couldn't believe their eyes as words stuck in their throat with their mouth gaped in disbelieve. Not a blink was found as they looked at the prince of the Golden Dragon Kingdom had his face looking at the ground.

Rupert had his eyes opened wide as the tremor from his cheek subsided. He was a highly respected prince. Not once in his life that he has ever been slapped. Everywhere he went, people would have bowed or smiled or both. There was not one time that he was being disrespected, not even by his fellow prince or the two princesses.

Consequences.

The word rumbled inside their mind as they hold their chest. Their heart thumped as to what was to come. There was no chance in hell that Lyon would get out unscathed.

"Gr!" he gritted his teeth before he glared at the mortal who just backhanded his face with his left hand, even the motion was still locked as the latter looked down on him.

"You!" muttered Rupert before a pair of soldiers came rushing behind him.

The pair wore a golden plate and had the sigil of their kingdom carved on their armor. They were all middle-aged with cultivation power that was worthy of protecting prominent figures such as the prince himself.

"You trash mortal what are you doing?!" said one of the soldiers as they stepped forward and stood in front of the prince.

"Kowtow and cut your hand, mortal!" said the other as they flared out their golden dragon aura.

The immense pressure would have brought anyone to his knees in an instant. However, the young man in front of him didn't even flinch as he furrowed his eyebrows.

(What the...) thought of one of them as he looked at his partner who had the same disbelieve. Out of four kingdoms, Golden Dragon Kingdom was the mightiest of them all, especially their undaunting aura.

Lyon smirked as he gently let go of Lumina's embrace. He took one step forward with his arms crossed and chin slightly rose as he towered the two soldiers.

Rupert furrowed his eyebrows. He knew, He had personally experienced it, how Lyon withstood his raging aura like it was nothing.

"You dare use that tone addressing my woman, blonde lizard?" said Lyon as his eyes sharpened.

His bearing immediately shifted. It was a moment ago that he was looking like a good-for-nothing drunk young man with slouching back, now, he suddenly turned dauntless.

---

"Heh, whatever happened to that guy?" asked Porealus as he took a good look at Folcre. The First Heaven's favorite was not looking well as he kept his arms crossed. "He looked like he was being ripped off, oh he noticed me."

"Oi, you mortal cultivator, where is he?" asked Folcre as he glared at him. "He didn't run, did he?"

"Huh? Who are you talking about?" asked Porealus as he feigned his understanding. "Zet is over there."

"I'm not talking about him!" said Folcre as he raised his tone.

"Alright, alright, no need to be so scary," said Porealus. "Why are you asking about him, furthermore with a sour mood, did he do something to you outside the arena?"

"Grr!" Folcre furrowed his eyebrows, "No, I just thought that he would be here, but I guess he is scared."

Folcre turned around and left Porealus.

"Tch! What's up with him? Is like Lyon cheated on him or something, Oh... OH! Hahaha!" Porealus could get a rough idea. (Knowing him, he must have done something that left the guy sour)

"Speaking of which though, where is he?" asked Porealus as he looked around. "Where is he? Zet!" he beckoned over.

"Hm?" Zet raised his eyebrows before he answer his call. "What is it? By the way, have you seen big brother?"

"Ah! I guess you don't know either," sighed Porealus.

"Huh?"

"I thought you know where he is, let's ask Ivy," said Porealus before he beckoned the woman, "Iv—"

"Welcome to round two!!" The host shouted at the top of his lung to merry the arena. "I see that the participants are ready and eager to start the round!!"

"Shit," muttered Porealus, "It's about to start, you don't think that he overslept did you?"

"I mean, the possibility is really high," said Zet as he smiled wryly.

Meanwhile, Wanda Sverine was furrowing her eyebrows, "Did he overslept? Heh, must have gone too hard on himself." She crossed her arm.

"Hm? Is something wrong?" asked her husband before the queen shook her head.

"Did Pala do something?" muttered Cherie.

Hilde furrowed her eyebrows, "Something's wrong here, Rupert is not—"

"Oi, something is going on outside the arena! Come quick! It's Lyon and Prince Rupert!" one of the spectators announced before he left the building first.

"W-What? What did he say?"

"It's Prince Rupert and Lyon!" one of them got up before he followed the way outside.

The host raised his eyebrows, "Heh? What?" he was confused seeing people rushing out. He had never seen such development before.

"Let's go," said Porealus as he nodded at Zet.

"En," with his hand on the hilt of his sword they both rushed outside.

Hilde was speechless before she blinked once and stood up. "I need to check this one, father."

She left even without the king nodding.

Cherie stood up before she got Wanda's approving nod.

"Tch! What now?!" Raul stood up.

The event outside suddenly garnered more attention than the second round itself.