Emperor's Reckoning

The shimmering sun came basking through the little gaps that the branches made. Not a single building was destroyed as the warmth of mother nature and the gentle winds of the early seeped through the cracks and crooks. The adventurers, no the Mortal World's finest survived the sudden destruction despite having nothing to do to defend themselves other than gasping left and right.

Fresh air at sunrise never felt so good as adventurers started to populate the street with a smile as if they were in an advert for toothpaste. They hugged themselves, feeling every limb still attached to their bodies. No blood was shed except for the vile beast that harbinger chaos with their presence.

"Oh, man! I never felt so good my entire life," said one middle-aged man adventurer.

"Grateful for not dying?" jested another adventurer.

"What you know, junior?" the middle-aged man leered at him before sighing. "Though I have to admit, I never crossed something that dreadful before, I'm pretty certain that yesterday night will be the only time that I felt like a powerless baby."

The adventurers nearby laughed but those who spent time contemplating had a face, a figure in their minds. Occupying the corners of their brains with the question mark that everyone wanted to know. 'Who?'

The silhouette of the man that appeared out of nowhere and raised up to challenge the beast effectively burnt a long-lasting presence inside their memories. The youth that was clad in a cloak, courageously stood toe-to-toe against the beast that was ready to pulverize them into rubbles of meat.

The party was unknown except for the impeccable raw power that they showed. Myriad Devils were in awe and in fear. The gasps and the gawks filled the broken dome but the rushing blood from their heart believed that he was one of them. The way he presented himself, the way he showed his pure undeterred confidence was vehemently charming and inviting.

"Hey, who do you think that guy's name is?" asked one female adventurer to her two friends.

"I-I've heard that his name is Lyon something," said one female excitedly.

"Oh no, I think, I think I'm in love," the last one turned and pressed her cheeks as she squinted her eyes as much as possible, refusing to see the real world and settling in her own imagination.

"You're crazy? We can only dream, ah~" one female lamented with a smile toward the blue sky through the gaps of the branches.

"Lyon, what a daunting name!" the first one clasped her hands together before sighing. "Though, we can clearly see how Farash looked at him."

"Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! You're focusing on the wrong thing, I've heard that he has a relationship with Zelena."

"The Fang of Leviathan?!"

"N-No way, they are the perfect pair! A powerful man for a powerful woman, ah! Life is so unfair," said her friend.

"They are living in the realm that we could only dream," the second one sighed.

"You better hush though, it's not confirmed yet, but the elites say that Lyon was coming to Myriad Devils for her."

"Oh my! Can he not be the perfect male?! I can't take it!!"

"You're overreacting right now," said one female before the three of them giggled at their own leisure.

The town lived to the fullest extent as if the galore from yesterday's grand fest had no accidents. However, the man that was the talk of the town was sleeping peacefully as his entire body slid off the bed.

He fell with his head thudding against the wooden floor. His eyelids twitched before he slowly opened them. He blinked twice before realizing that he was upside down with half of his body still on the bed. He crawled forward and adjusted his posture before standing up. He tapped the dust away before smiling and looked over the bed. However, his smile didn't last as he saw no one.

"Damn you, morning people!" Lyon gritted his teeth before sighing. There was no point in fighting, he was the one waking up late. He pulled himself together to go toward the shower albeit with his back making an arc.

"No one here either," Lyon sighed before he took a long bath and relaxed. However, it was short-lived the moment he heard a knock.

"Young master, it's time to depart," said Assid from outside the room.

"I didn't even raise my legs over the tub yet," Lyon sighed. "Fine, fine."

After wearing his cloak Lyon opened the door and saw Assid leaning forward with a slight bow. "The others have been waiting in front of the inn."

"Why do all of them wakes up in the morning," Lyon grunted.

"You woke up early."

Lyon glanced over before finding Sakya walking toward him.

"Who are you?" Lyon asked.

Sakya was taken back before she furrowed her brows, "I know that you're powerful and confident about yourself but I didn't think that it would actually be arrogance. How rude!"

"Eh?" Lyon raised his brows.

"Please forgive my young master, he doesn't intend to disrespect you in any way," Assid bowed.

"It looks like he did," Sakya put her hands on her waist.

"A lot of things that we can't disclose befall my young master's fate, I hope you understand, you are, you do," Assid shared a sharp glance.

Sakya had her heart thumped against her rib cage the moment she was caught by Assid's dreadful presence. Her soul was sunk inside the torrent of cold blood behind his glasses.

Assid pulled his ominous away before Sakya managed to blink once more.

Sakya regained consciousness but still had goosebumps pointing out of her skin. She darted at Lyon who looked like he had been hit by a train.

Lyon shrugged, "What?"

"I've heard that you're leaving the Myriad Devils," said Sakya.

"Who told you?" Lyon raised his brows.

"Cecile, who else," answered Sakya before she crossed her arms. "Where are you going?"

"I have no idea," Lyon chuckled to her disbelief.

"You're really taking this lightly, aren't you?" Sakya sighed.

"Is there something to worry about?"

"What about the Daemon from yesterday?" Sakya furrowed her brows. "We're not sure how to respond if you left with Zelena away from the town."

"Hmm? It seems like there's a discussion that involves me staying here, isn't there?" Lyon smiled.

"There is no need to hide it, someone as capable as you sure knows that you are now vital to Myriad Devils," said Baiyun who calmly approached the two of them.

"That's funny, I'm just a vagrant adventurer, I have no need to indulge myself in being the protector of the city."

"You're still an adventurer," said Baiyun as he frowned. "With the White Crow being severely injured, our power has definitely decreased but our morals still float as you are still around here."

"You're the overnight star, the hope that nobody expected Lyon," a pleasant voice was heard before Farash revealed herself from the opposite end of the corridor.

( Damn ) thought Lyon as he gulped seeing the evocative garment she was wearing. He shook his head, "No wait, a minute, why can't you guys protect the town on your own?"

"Because you're stronger than us," Farash immediately answered with a smile, to the frown of Sakya.

"Even more than that, you are necessary," a shorter figure appeared as he approached Lyon. "My Dendro's Cage could only postpone but never settles."

"Moris is right," Baiyun added. "You are more than strength, you are an icon that they looked up to."

"Lyon, as much as I hate to say this, however, I wish you to stay a little bit longer, don't do it for me, do it for Myriad Devils' sake," said Sakya.

Four out of five of the strongest guild were confronting him to stay. It was an unprecedented sight with only Assid being there as the witness.

"Tell us what you need Lyon, and we will do our best to fulfill it, all we asked is for you to stay," said Moris. "With a pillar like you and your party, not even when Heaven is revolting that we will be thwarted."

"It's the highest honor, Lyon," said Baiyun.

Lyon looked at all pairs of eyes before going to Assid for advice.

"The decision is in your hands, young master," said Assid as he slightly bowed.

Lyon smirked, "Heh, I refuse."

The leaders immediately made various reactions with their faces.

"Lyon—"

"She is waiting for me," said Lyon as his eyes turned sharp. "I can't let her down, she has been waiting."

A beautiful figure with long dark hair occupied his vision. She was getting away and entered the spatial storm out of her will. Her silvery voice rang in his mind before he took one step forward in reality. No guild leaders had the audacity to stop him as he made his way outside.

Lyon smirked as the light of day braced his face. He looked down before finding his party was waiting for him with their personalities shown.

"I take it that we are going?" Cecile smirked.

Lyon took down the steps in haste, "Of course," before leading the party once again, this time with Zelena included.

( Soon Selena ) Lyon's eyes were set on the Twin Towers.