Emperor's Reckoning

The sun had reached the peak of its shift as thick clouds slowly passed by and gave a shadow shelter to the courtyard below. The courtyard was filled with all the students from the Nirvana School and their respective teachers. They all looked at the old man who was standing on top of a little platform, and a young man standing by his side.

The principal looked at the six groups in front of him with their respective teachers standing at the front most.

From the left stood a middle-aged man with a tall figure. His black hair was unkempt and his sleeveless outfit was ragged compared to the others. However, the look enhanced his muscles greatly. His eyes were closed, seeming not to care what the old man was going to say. His name was Marat.

Standing beside Marat was a woman with sharp eyes and small lips. Her figure was hidden under her oversized outfit but one could judge the defining jawline that she was thin underneath. Her hair was cut short and she had a gaze as if she had the right to judge anyone under the sun and moon. Her name was Cini.

Standing not long from her was yet another man. He stood as the tallest of them all, however, he was not as well-built as Marat. His eyes hardly opened and his long face gave out a sinister aura even without him trying. His presence was noticeable in a crowd and his attention was elsewhere. His name was Rokh.

Standing beside Rokh was a man with two weapons behind his back, a bow and a spear. His outfit was ordained with a beastly flare. His face was not as clean as the others and a bit rugged. His hair was covered by a hat made out of bear's fur. His primal presence gave out an odd feeling considering how the other dressed. His name was Yama.

Beside Yama was the person who the losers class had met before, Han. He was standing with a glove of a smile on his face and hands behind his back. He occasionally took a glance to his left and right, before making a light snort and raising his chin as if he was more skilled than the rest of them.

The last teacher present was a woman with a slim outfit and a string around her waist. The black string was used to dangle an ornament that looked like tiny blades. Her belly button was visible and she didn't mind the gazes of the people. Her face was beaming and her hands were on her waist. Her black hair was short with a little hairpin and she was the hardest to calm down among the others. The bundle of energy looked over the class with no teacher just beside her, her name was Vina.

Her brows furrowed as she looked at their gloomy faces. "What are you guys thinking about? Why so down?" she smiled as she raised her chin.

The last class was, of course, Reinhard and his friends, Noah and Rayus. They turned at the call of the teachers but they only nodded before returning their focus to the headmaster at the front.

"Tch, irritable brats," said Vina with her lips licking.

"They don't even want to try to hide it," spoke Rayus softly so that only his friends were in earshot before he sighed softly as well.

"Don't be so gloom and down," said Reinhard before he laughed at himself inwardly. ( What the hell... I don't have any high hope as well ).

"Six months," Noah muttered before he sighed, "What can we do in six months? Not one class did we ever win against."

"Let's just hope for the best," said Reinhard with a clenched fist. Even though they didn't show it, he could tell that his friends were rolling their eyes at his words. He knew it was a pathetic attempt, but he couldn't help it, it was the only thing he could do.

"Hmm," the old man's principal nodded. "I think that's all of you."

"What's this all about, principal?" asked Vina.

"Hah, it seems like someone has NOT been paying attention lately," said Han.

"What do you want, Han?" asked Vina with a frown.

"For you to pay attention to what the vice principal said," Han turned and smirked at her.

"Settle down," said Judsah. "The principal is about to announce something important."

The principal made a light cough before showing a smile. He put his hands behind his waist, "As you already know, Nirvana is an elite school in Second Heaven, so much so that we don't even need to spare Mana Essence in marketing."

"However, as you all know, again, there is one class without a teacher because the last one quit but mind you, he quit with a notice," the principal smiled. "With the graduation event, The Final Test, about to begin in six months, I dare say that it's not fair for our three aspiring youths to strive into the forest of cultivation without any guide."

( Just get on with it ) thought Han behind his smile.

"So! I just invite this dashing young man to teach at our school," said the old man with his hand raised in a direction.

Everyone immediately turned and looked over but they saw nothing but an empty field.

"A-Are you joking, principal?" asked Vina as she shrugged.

"Hahaha," Han laughed.

Cini suddenly frowned as she caught something in her view. She slightly looked up to have a better look before she frowned further ( There's a crack in the window of Old Gu's office, what happened? ). Her expression resumed neutral before she turned and looked at the principal smiling. ( Could it be the new teacher? ).

( Looks like she noticed it as well ) thought Marat as he had his eyes already opened. ( That crack must have symbolized something. Absolute control? Deliberate? Rage? I can't read it as of now but my guts tell me it has something to do with the new teacher, interesting ).

"Perhaps he is still sleeping just like you said, principal," Han shook his head. "What disrespect toward our reputation."

"Hmm? You seem to have more information than the rest of us," said Vina. "Spill it."

"That would be unbecoming of me, the principal could tell you," said Han.

The principal sighed, "Well as we wait for Judsah to fetch him, I can tell you a little bit about this new teacher. I'm sure you'll be surprised."

Judsah nodded before going toward the dorms and leaving the courtyard.

"His name is Lyon," said the principal.

"Hmmm," Vina shook her head, "Never heard someone famous with that name, where is he from?"

"Glad you asked, I was about to tell you that point, he is from the Mortal World," said the principal before the world paused.

Everyone was shocked by his words before Rokh made a light chuckle to break the atmosphere, "That's a good joke, you got all of us... well... apparently all of us except Han."

"What?" Han raised his brows with a smile, "I'm just smiling."'

"You're not as shocked as the others," said Rokh before crossing his arms, "Besides, your students are chuckling."

"He is... truly from the Mortal World?" asked Vina. "Are we that desperate to have someone to teach them that we even recruit from that place? C'mon principal, it's better to have one of us teach them, instead."

"I proposed that idea previously, but nobody raised a hand," said Old Gu.

"Hehehe," Vina scratched her cheek and avoid his gaze.

"Hush! Judsah is coming," said Old Gu before noticing his vice principal was running back frantically. ( That's not a good sign ) "What happened?"

"He's not there!" shouted Judsah.

"Hmm... how about his wife?" asked Old Gu.

"His wife?" Marat raised his brows, "He brought his wife?"

The loser class was aghast but it was only for a minute. They never had hope to begin with. ( Another unnecessary humiliation ) they thought to themselves.

"Hahaha, most likely he realized that he is not suited for this kind of thing, not only his skills but his origin as well," Han laughed with his students.

"Heh..." a smirk was heard before a shadow fell from the sky.

All eyes snapped open and froze, however, Han's eyes were trembling as the goosebumps on his nape rose to the limit. His toes curled as his lips parted. Words crashed into his throat as cold sweat instantly formed.

The rest of the teachers' necks felt as if they weight a mountain as they tried to catch a glimpse of the figure.

( This man... is from the Mortal World...you're kidding, right? ) thought Reinhard as he gulped seeing an unfamiliar figure standing right behind Han.

"Heh, I will deal with you later," said Lyon with a smirk before he turned and approached Reinhard and the other two. He smirked and crossed his arms, "Look's like I'm going to be your teacher, my name is Lyon, nice to meet you."