Emperor's Reckoning



Selena tightly gripped her blade, its gleaming edge reflecting the flickering torchlight. Her stance was firm, her muscles taut with anticipation. Lyon held his javelin with a steady hand, the weapon radiating a faint ethereal glow. His crown permeated an otherworldly aura to the scene.

Drogan, his features etched with a mix of surprise and defiance, braced himself for the impending confrontation. He could feel the weight of Lyon and Selena's killing intent, their unwavering resolve to bring him to murder. Though he had demonstrated his own power, he now faced an unyielding duo who Paradise had hidden from the face of history.

The summit seemed to shrink around them as the trio stood at a precipice, each aware of the gravity of the situation. The onlookers watched with bated breath, their hearts pounding in anticipation. The clash between these formidable forces held the potential to reshape the course of Second Heaven.

Time stood still as the trio locked into a battle of wills, their auras intermingling in an unspoken challenge. The summit felt charged with electric mana, each heartbeat echoing in the silence before Lyon broke it with half a step forward.

"Parry this."

As the javelin soared through the air, guided by Lyon's strong and precise throw, the world around it transformed into a blur of motion. The wind rushed past, causing its ethereal form to shimmer and vibrate with mana. The exhilaration of flight coursed through its metaphysical being, carrying it closer to its intended target: Drogan.

With each passing moment, the javelin's velocity increased, carrying it forward with a thunderous determination. The raw power emanating from Lyon's grasp fueled its trajectory. Its purpose was clear—to strike Drogan, to pierce through the defenses that shielded him, and bring an end to his reign

Time seemed to slow as the javelin drew closer, its flight path perfectly aligned with Drogan. His formidable presence filled its vision, but it remained resolute. Its purpose was clear—to strike true, to be the instrument of vengeance. However, it was not enough.

Drogan could clearly see it coming as he dodged to the side as his experience told him to. An efficient path to take, but not the best. His eyes widened as he saw a familiar dark blade surge toward his neck.

"I told you to parry," said Lyon as he smirked watching Selena already by Drogan's side, ready to behead him.

Drogan gritted his teeth as the runes all over his body emanated a radiant glow. Using his middle and index finger, he stroke upward and reflected the trajectory of the blade above his head as he squatted down, narrowly escaping the severe onslaught with the price of his hair.

"What!!" The three students exclaimed in disbelief as they saw the incredible flexibility of the captain of Burgeon Swan dodging Selena's deadly attack.

Drogan raised his brows before jumping back to everyone's surprise. Selena's abdomens were within his reach but he chose to retreat.

Selena frowned as she furrowed her brows.

"Hmm?" Lyon frowned as well. Drogan's act was out of the blue. ( is his body finally taking the toll of the runes? ).

Drogan smirked as he raised his chin and crossed his arms, "You are more formidable than I thought you are, Selena."

"Darling..."

"Hm?" Lyon glanced at her wife, whose focus was still on Drogan.

"I found out why he can counter my moves," said Selena.

Drogan's eyes turned sharp as his glabella's slightly pressed together.

"What? How?" asked Lyon.

"His eyes, he infused them with runes, granting him capabilities to see a few seconds to the future," said Selena.

As Selena's words hung in the air, the revelation of Drogan's ability to glimpse into the near future sent a shockwave through the summit. The onlookers, including Lyon, the kings, and the three students, were taken aback by this unexpected disclosure. The realization that Drogan possessed the power to see a few seconds ahead sparked a mix of astonishment, curiosity, and wariness.

"What?!" Lyon furrowed his brows.

The implications of Drogan's precognition abilities quickly settled upon the gathering, casting an aura of uncertainty and heightened tension. Questions arose about the extent of his powers, the implications for the ongoing conflict, and the strategies that each side would need to employ to counter or exploit this unique ability.

"How did you—" Drogan's eyes widened in astonishment as Selena's revelation hit him with unexpected accuracy. His usually composed demeanor wavered for a moment, giving way to a flicker of surprise and disbelief. The revelation that Selena had correctly identified his ability to see a few seconds into the future caught him off guard, and he found himself momentarily taken aback by her perceptive insight.

"That explains it," said Bapho.

"Clearly," said Rui. "No one can match my speed, especially not a boy with tattoos on his calves and thighs."

A mix of emotions washed over Drogan's face - surprise, intrigue, and a tinge of wariness. He had kept his foresight ability hidden, believing it to be his secret weapon, but Selena's astute observation shattered that illusion. A realization dawned upon him that Selena possessed a depth of perception that he had not anticipated, and her understanding of his unique power unnerved him.

As the shock settled within him, Drogan's expression hardened, and his resolve grew stronger. He realized that Selena's revelation had exposed a vulnerability, potentially putting him at a disadvantage in the upcoming conflict. The knowledge that his opponent was aware of his foresight ability added an additional layer of complexity to the battle that lay ahead.

( It must be at that instance ) thought Drogan as he remembered how vulnerable she was after his counter but chose to retreat instead, yet it was bait to affirm his ability.

He frowned, "You are indeed a capable cultivator, far more worthy than your whole homeland. I never thought that this day would come in Second Heaven, but so be it, what can you do? Now that you know my abilities, it only restricts your actions more than necessary."

"What I can do?" muttered Selena as her muscles tout once more. Scarlett was rattling.

"Heh," Drogan crossed his arms as he saw the blade wouldn't settle down. "You might be a masterful swordswoman, but that sentient weapon of yours knew bet—"

( Huh? ) His eyes saw the future, blade after blade was forming surrounding Selena at rapid speed. He snapped back into reality, "Hymn!"

He quickly leaped to the sky and went to the thickest cloud in the blink of an eye, leaving the onlookers in disbelief.

Selena was surrounded by ten copies of Scarlett, hovering and spinning. The pinnacle of sword technique. The Sword Hymn.

"Incredible," said Rui. "She is capable of summoning ten hymns with one breath, heh, reminds me of a certain snake."

Selena nodded up before the swords hymns launched like homing missiles toward the thickest clouds.

Drogan hiding in the clouds activated both eyes, "Two, four, six, eight, ten!"

His stance was ready as he closed his eyes.

"Two!" He deflected two. "Four!" he deflected four from four directions. "Four!" He glared openly as he slapped the last four incoming sword hymns aiming at his heart in a streak.

Then a momentary vision caught another sword hymn aiming at his heart. ( Another?! )

"Agh!!" Drogan swerved his body to the side as much as he could before his enhanced body felt a stinging burn on his right chest. His skin was penetrated as a shockwave occurred, scattering the whole cloud.

Drogan's eyes widened the moment he saw his right chest. It wasn't a sword hymn, it was a spear, but no ordinary spear, he knew that weapon, a javelin that he chose to dodge early on. His gaze swerved a bit before he saw Lyon hovering not far from him, with his hair fluttering and his eyes like those of a goat.

Drogan's adrenaline surged through his veins, numbing the pain and fueling his determination to escape. Though Lyon's javelin had dealt a blow, Drogan's years of training and battle-hardened instincts kicked in, providing him with the confidence that he could outpace his pursuers.

A foresight appeared inside his mind and he already had to dodge to the side even before Selena could slash down from the empty space. He had never used his abilities to run away before, but he needed to do it now.

"Stop right there!" said Corvin as he had his saber by his hand.

King Aldric looked up with furrowed brows at the brazen act of his fellow king.

( Nice Corvin! ) thought Drogan before another foresight appeared and his eyes widened. ( What...? )

Selena slashed at Corvin but the latter quickly parried it with his saber. As the metal left a defining rung of the clash, five sword hymns were formed above him. The latter's eyes widened in disbelief as immense death descended on him. The sword hymn crashed down and penetrated his head and body to the hilt as he was pushed down to the ground, sentencing him to death.

The air grew heavy with shock as the onlookers stared in disbelief at the lifeless form of the fallen king. Silence filled the summit, broken only by the soft gasps and murmurs of those witnessing the unthinkable.

Meanwhile, with Drogan's ability to glimpse into the future, he used Corvin's downfall. Seizing the opportunity, Drogan made a calculated move, evading the stunned onlookers and disappearing into the shadows in mere seconds.