Emperor's Reckoning



The city was still in shock from the aftermath. Drogan appeared and delivered a message that was supposed to be passed around throughout all of the Second Heaven, yet the expected rebuttal came too early. Drogan miscalculated and didn't expect that they would abstract the entire coliseum for a chance to save Refl from his clutch, at least, that's what the city had thought.

Now wrecked coliseum had settled down a little from the chaotic event. Rayus and the two others were waiting in the room from the previous inn. Their heads down with arms crossed, none of their faces had a speck of cheer on them.

"Ferece... that bastard is still nimble as a rat," said Rayus.

"Yeah, I guess our cultivation level is still inadequate to challenge someone of his level," said Noah as sighed whilst facing the ceiling.

"Three Origin Gods against one at max level is not enough to bring him down," said Reinhard as he gritted his teeth before launching a punch against the wall behind him. "Fuck! We finally met him and yet!"

"Calm down," said Rayus. "You saved Noah from death."

"Yeah, Reinhard," said Noah. "Without you, I might be under the dirt by now— speaking of which, whatever happened to the guy you're supposed to be protecting?"

"Edward?" Reinhard raised his brows. He sighed, "I have no idea."

"What? That's your client," Noah answered.

Reinhard stood silent with his head lowered.

"What are you looking at the floor for?" asked Rayus. His brows furrowed before he grabbed one of his shoulders, "What happened?"

"I... just killed an innocent man."

Noah and Rayus froze with their pupils shrunk. Their jaws slightly slacked before following a gulp. 

Reinhard's hands shook as he tightened his lips. His eyes tremored and his shoulders stiffened. He just defended a man but at the cost of another man's life, of which he was supposed to be on the side of the latter. 

( What should I say... ) thought Noah as he looked at his friend bowing in sin. He had never killed an innocent man either. He averted his glance toward Rayus but found him in the same spot as himself. 

The two couldn't make up words to console his friend. 

Noah raised his brows as a glint of idea flashed before him. "Hey, why not asked the teacher about this?"

Rayus snapped back. He looked at Noah with a nod. "I agree, he needs to know."

"Huh..." Reinhard looked up with his eyes already filled with regret. "What.. what should I tell him?"

"That you just killed an innocent man?" asked Rayus. 

"Heh... you think it would be that easy," muttered Reinhard.

"Where is he anyway?" asked Noah.

"He should be inside his room with the madam," said Rayus before leading the way. 

Soon they found themselves in front of a room inside the inn. Behind this door was a man that clashed against Drogan and actually made them flee. 

"There you are!" 

They were surprised by the violent voice coming from the hallway. They looked over to see Edward fuming with rage and stomping his way toward the group. 

"I thought I hired you to protect me!" said Edward with his finger a breath away from Reinhard's face. "But you fucking left! You stupid child!"

"I..." Reinhard was lost for words.

"Enough! I don't want to hear your excuse!" shouted Edward. "Get the hell out of my way! Move! All of you! I need to speak with your teacher!"

Edward pushed the three of them away before taking a deep breath. He raised his fist and banged on the door a few times. "Open the door! Open the door!"

The hard knock traveled throughout the entire inn and the guests below were looking at the stairs and ceilings.

Rayus and Noah gulped as they looked at Edward getting impatient. However, they all suddenly heard a click. The knob slowly turned before the door was pulled open from the inside.

"Ah, finally," said Edward before seeing a sole of a foot for a flash second before sinking into his face. Edward was propelled and broke the wall before dropping to the floor. The loud noise shocked all the guests with few gasps could be heard.

Lyon stepped outside before crossing his arms. He looked at the unconscious Edward on the floor not even giving a glance toward his students that was standing by the side with gulps. "Do you know manners at all?"

"Ah Lyon, I finally found you!" 

Lyon averted his glance to the side and saw Lenu running from the other half of the hall. Lyon sighed, "What do you want?"

Lenu glanced at the figure that had his eyes spinning on the floor. ( That's Edward! What did he do to piss him off? ) thought Lenu before shaking his head and looking at Lyon. "I have a message from Refl."

"A message?" Noah muttered.

"Huh?" Lyon raised his brows.

Selena was sitting by Lyon's side with Refl on the other end. The students were standing behind the two of them and Edward was left sleeping on the soft carpet outside the room.

"What message?" said Lyon.

( He is a bit different from his usual self ) thought Lenu before opening his mouth. "He said something about you need to go find Burgeon Swan as fast as possible."

Lyon furrowed his brows, "Why?"

"Because you might lose something or someone that you love... if you don't," said Lenu.

Lyon's eyes sharpened and was inches away from harming Lenu's soul. "Elaborate."

"E... They might have an item that enabled them to go to the Mortal World," said Lenu. "As I said before, Drogan is not a chivalrous guy, he is a bandit, and he will use any power within his reach to weaken you."

"The Mortal World..." Lyon muttered.

Lenu leaned forward a bit, "We both are in the same situation Lyon. We have the same goal... if you don't stop Drogan, we both will lose something valuable."

However, Lenu's persuasive words only give birth to something else different entirely. A smirk that he almost forgot was formed right in front of him. Lenu's brows raised with a slight gaping.

"Heh, if they can go to the Mortal World, then they can try," said Lyon before crossing his arms. "But if he did, I will make sure to end him," his voice was dark and cold.

"But your loved ones?! Are you willing to risk their safety?" asked Lenu.

"I don't think you understand the situation well," said Lyon. "The sides that are risking their safety is them," said Lyon.

Lenu's eyes widened. ( Don't tell me, there are other monsters there in the Mortal World as well?! ).

"I'm not the strongest in the Mortal World, Lenu," said Lyon. 

Rayus and the other two raised their brows. ( He is not the strongest in the Mortal World? Since when did that place give birth to a monstrous cultivator?! ).

"You're kidding..." muttered Lenu.

"No," said Lyon before showing him three fingers, "I know at least three."

Three. The word froze everyone but the couple in the room. The terror of the simple numerical word brought them stiff shoulders. Three cultivators that had the power to excel even Lyon, such thought never crossed their minds until now.

"B-But, will they be willing to protect your loved ones?" asked Lenu, "We are talking about Burgeon Swan here, they might come in groups to capture—"

"They will," said Selena before she revealed a cold glance. "There is currently no safer place than the Mortal World."

"What..? H-How can you be so sure...?"

"Because they are loyal to my husband," said Selena. "After all, they were once taught by him."

Reinhard, Noah, and Rayus had their eyes widened. The three cultivators that were stronger than their teacher was none other than the teacher's own students. The power that could trample on the Nirvana's School prideful lecturers, a power that exceeded even that, all came from the aloof man that was sitting right in front of them.

"Your students... you say?" asked Lenu with a gulp.

"Apparently so," said Lyon. "One of them is playful, one of them is silent, and the other is proper, but each of them could tear apart Drogan if they wanted to... added to that, she is also there."

"She...?"

"The woman who used to be called the War Maiden," said Lyon with a tinge of pride on his face. "My wife, Cecile Torga."

"Y...Your wife...?" Lenu looked at the woman beside him before gulping. He saw her obliterate one of the camps of Burgeon Swan, solo. Yet, there was another woman who existed at par with her level. 

"As much as I hate her smug, she is indeed a bit capable of leading," commented Selena on the side.

Lyon slapped his thighs, "Lenu, my group and I will advance at our own pace, you do yours."

"B-But..."

Lenu found himself outside the room with the door clicking behind him. "Eh?"