Emperor's Reckoning



He arrived. His presence was different, the air in nature changed slightly. He who stood before his enemy was nonchalant, and his emotion bare. His arms crossed and his chin raised slightly as he looked down on those who sat around the table. Four of them were kings, another one was a wholly motivated bandit.

"Your presence here is quite astonishing, daring, or just a fool?" commented King Aldric.

"Hahaha, you have the balls to threaten someone in front of us kings," said King Valerius.

"As nuisance as you are, you deserve to be here," said King Corvin.

"Lyon," Nyi nodded.

"I'm afraid we have run out of seats for you," said Drogan before he unraveled his aura once more, but this time, he let the other kings feel it as well.

The kings raised their brows. They definitely felt the tremendous aura that seeped out of Drogan's figure. This was the man that aimed to rule Second Heaven, something that no ordinary people had. His tenacity was as thick as hide but his obsession far surpass those of a normal person. He reached this unbelievable height of strength through his wicked ways and the kings immediately thought of the runes under his resources.

"Kh!" Noah and the two others immediately fell to their knees. Their head refused to look up as if a mountain was stuck between the muscles in their neck.

"Did you know that... you are in my house?" asked Lyon as his eyes turned dagger.

"Hm..? Kh?!" Drogan's eyes widened before a far more superior aura washed his.

Lyon's regal-like aura burst out. The three students' faces immediately stomped against the floor. The four kings had their goosebumps rise simultaneously. Their souls were shaken no matter how much they try to control their breathing.

King Valerius glanced down to see their palms sweating and trembling, a hint of trepidation was revealed on their face before he looked at Lyon with shock in his eyes. ( Did he also use the runes on his body? ).

"Enough!" said Drogan as he slammed his hand on the table, the force behind it made an audible crack on the table.

Lyon pulled his aura out, and a condescending smile tugged in the corner of his lips. "I think, that you and I know, how pointless this meeting is."

King Aldric gulped, "Will you not listen to reason, Lyon?"

"Whatever your reason is, it has nothing to do with me, this is personal," said Lyon as his gaze didn't shift away from Drogan.

"Ah, there you have it," said Nyi as he sighed and used the table as a support to stand up. He turned back and stood by Lyon's side, "It's either you're with us, or against us."

"Don't act so hasty now, Lyon," said Drogan as he revealed a smirk, "you better behave yourself."

Lyon frowned, "What are you talking about?"

"You think I expose myself in danger without any plan? Despite how I look, I do have the plan to strict your movements from doing something rash," said Drogan.

Corvin looked at Drogan, "Don't tell me, Drogan, did you...?"

"Do you understand, what I'm saying?" said Drogan as he fixated his gaze on Lyon.

A heavy silence settled upon the three students as Drogan's words hung in the air. Their eyes widened in shock, their minds struggling to comprehend the weight of his insinuation. The realization washed over them like a cold wave, sending shivers down their spines.

Their gazes darted between Lyon and Drogan, searching for answers in their expressions. Fear and concern etched deep lines on their faces, mirroring the turmoil that churned within. 

He had been warned by Lenu before, that Drogan will use underhanded tactics to win if he must. The bandit always seeking the most efficient way to deal with his foes and now...

Lyon's hands shook before his head hung down. "Did you send one of your men to Mortal World?"

Questions swirled in their minds, their thoughts racing to piece together the puzzle of this unsettling revelation. How had Drogan come to possess someone so dear to Lyon?

"I did," said Drogan as his voice echoed. "I'm sure that he has too much fun since he hasn't returned yet. Believe me, I will take care well of the person that he captured as I care for Refl, my dear old friend."

Selena furrowed her brows as she frowned. She noticed Drogan's words were off a little. The man sent to the Mortal World had not returned yet, meaning there was a chance that the man was captured by Cecile.

She knew the auburn-haired well, the one called War Maiden at her prime. The latter won't necessarily waste an enemy until she got what she wanted out of them if possible. With Graham, Assid, and the frenzy Kesya, it was highly unlikely that Cecile could be killed or faced a far worse state.

( I'm sure that it's churning inside you, now flare! A raging prey always overlooks stuff, it goes for a cultivator too! ) thought Drogan as he slowly coupled his fist. ( If I can take you out here and now, then there is no need for a larger-scale war, you don't know how happy I am to see that you joined the summit as well ).

Nyi frowned, "Drogan!"

King Aldric sighed, "Ah, I should have expected that you will do something dirty like that."

King Corvin sighed as well, "From Second Heaven to Mortal World, is like a giant to an army of ants, though, now will you settle down and listen to rea—!?"

Corvin's eyes opened wide in disbelief as he saw Lyon was already in mid-air atop the table. He caught his gaze, full of blazing glare and his entire body was encompassing killing intent. In that half a second he knew that Lyon was determined to kill Drogan right there and then.

"?!" Drogan raised his brows as he saw Lyon coming. His eyes widened and immediately he took his thick arms to cross before him. Both runes embroidered on his arms glowed as veins bulged.

Rui's glare was overlayed by Lyon's before he kicked Drogan right at the center of the crossed arm.

Drogan gritted his teeth before his huge body broke the chair that was etched to the ground and the sheer power behind the blow sent Drogan hurtling backward, crashing into the wall with a deafening thud. The force of the impact caused debris to rain down, burying him beneath a heap of rubble.

The sound reverberated through the assembly hall, echoing with a thunderous boom that seemed to shake the very foundation of the ancient fortress. Outside the hall, the guards stationed nearby were jolted from their posts, and their attention snapped to the sudden disturbance.

The guards, swiftly drew their swords, their instincts kicking into high gear. Their training and duty compelled them to protect and maintain order in the face of potential threats. However, they knew that the summit will likely be disastrous from the start, yet, they didn't know from which kingdoms were the enemy and from which were allies.

Rew looked at the other kingdoms' guards with wariness. He was the leading man of Elyrianth's guards so he had to maintain the order of his men, to be hasty would mean death.

Lyon stood atop the table, his commanding presence instantly capturing the attention of everyone in the hall. His hands clenched into tight fists, his gaze fierce and determined. The other kings, their faces a mixture of surprise and awe, couldn't help but be taken aback by the unexpected display of power and authority.

"Ah," Corvin snapped back into reality and slammed his hand on the table, "What's the meaning of this, Lyon!"

Drogan emerged from the rubble with a slow and deliberate pace, his battered form a testament to the intensity of the clash with Lyon. As he stood amidst the debris, his eyes gleamed with an unyielding determination that refused to be extinguished.

The hall fell into a heavy silence, the air thick with tension and anticipation. The other kings watched with a mix of surprise and wariness as Drogan gathered his composure, his presence commanding attention despite his disheveled state.

"I'm afraid, it's far too late for discussion, King Corvin," said Nyi. "I will drop the pleasantries, state your side." Nyi drew his sword.

The three students looked at each other before nodding as they drew theirs as well. Despite nervousness clouded over them.

"Do you know what Leander lacks? Desire to grow," said Valerius as he laughed and stood by Drogan's side.

"Runes is more than just a potential," said Corvin as he stood on the other side.

However, Aldric remained seated despite the heat of the situation. His eyes scanned the environment carefully.

"I see," said Nyi as he shook his head, "It's a shame then."

"Now you get what you want," said Valerius as he laughed. "Young King, the next time we meet, it would be life and death, I will have to apologize to Leander later."

"Lyon, you just made a big mistake," said Drogan before his eyes caught something moving.

"Cleave," Scarlett swung with a deliberate and controlled movement, descended slowly as if defying the laws of time.

Drogan and the other two kings immediately faced death approaching as they saw the sword stopped just a tip above the floor. Their hair fluttered as the ground beneath her sword split open, creating a deep chasm that snaked its way through the halls of the fortress. The very foundations trembled, and the walls cracked under immense force. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring the once-stately surroundings.