Emperor's Reckoning



Niamh materialized in a burst of red light, his body intact but his face contorted with anguish and desperation. His eyes scanned the surroundings, struggling to make sense of the unfamiliar scene before him. As his gaze fell upon Lyon and Selena, a mixture of relief and disbelief washed over him.

"Oh, thank the heavens! Captain, you've summoned me back," Niamh exclaimed, his voice trembling with a mixture of gratitude and confusion. His eyes darted to Drogan's remaining half of the body, realization dawning upon him. "No... You... you're gone, EEEK!"1511  words1

Enjoy!!

The great founder of the Burgeon Swan lay dead beneath Lyon's feet. The most powerful being he had ever encountered, the one that had the arsenals to make Second Heaven kneel before him, died from a youth that heralded from the place that brought disgust to his tongue.

Niamh, his body bearing the scars of his past torment, stood before Lyon and Selena with a mixture of fear and desperation in his eyes. His voice trembled as he spoke, the echoes of his painful experiences still haunting him.

"Lyon... Selena..." Niamh's voice quivered, his tone filled with a mix of anxiety and trepidation. "I... I have endured great suffering at your hands. The torment I faced in the mortal world under Cecile's orders was beyond comprehension. I was pushed to the edge of existence, trapped in a cycle of pain and rejuvenation."

He paused, his voice growing softer. "But... I never wanted any of this. I was merely a pawn, caught in the machinations of forces greater than myself. The fear that gripped me then still lingers, and I can't bear the weight of it any longer."

Niamh's eyes darted between Lyon and Selena, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his face. "Please... spare me from further pain. I beg of you. I will do anything, anything you ask. Just let me escape this endless cycle of suffering. I have learned my lesson, and I no longer wish to be part of this relentless cycle of vengeance."

His voice trailed off, filled with a mix of desperation and hope. "Lyon, Selena, have mercy. Grant me the chance to find redemption and forge a different path. Spare me from the horrors that await me if I continue down this dark road."

As Niamh's plea hung in the air, his body trembling, he awaited Lyon and Selena's response, hoping against hope that they would show him compassion and grant him a chance at redemption.

"And they call me the heartless one," muttered Selena before a burst of killing intent erupted from the man beside him. She darted her glance in surprise as she saw her darling albeit battered, still had the determination to end yet another Origin God Cultivator. 

Lyon stepped forward and every fiber in his muscle protested but his heart was unyielding. His soul was burning with killing intent, despite being incredibly unfit for another fight. His aura exploded as Second Heaven seemed to bow at his presence.

"Darling do—" Selena's words were cut off by a dragon coiling around her neck softly.

"Let him," said Shen the True Dragon whose whiskers waving. Despite being a corporeal figure, his eyes showed pity as he looked at his favorite grandson

Sun, albeit half drunk, and red blush covering his cheeks, crossed his arms as he sat on top of Selena. He looked at Lyon with a hint of sadness. He was a powerful being, yet he can't do anything but watch and give him the blessings of Devil Ape now and then. He was still waiting for that drinking promise that he made, at his previous demise.

"Rui... let the boy do his thing," said Bapho noticing the concern in Rui's glance.

She pouted as anguish washed her over, the last time she saw him like this, was the last time. However, she too understood what Lyon was feeling. His loved ones were threatened, and now the one responsible for that had appeared. She closed her eyes in resignation, and let whatever happened, happen, but just this once.

Niamh's heart pounded in his chest as Lyon advanced towards him, his presence overwhelming and menacing. The sheer power emanating from Lyon sent shivers down Niamh's spine. The fear in his eyes was unmistakable, his body trembling with a mixture of terror and desperation.

Niamh's trembling legs gave way beneath him, causing him to stumble backward in a futile attempt to create distance between himself and Lyon. The weight of Lyon's imposing aura bore down on him, suffocating him with an overwhelming sense of dread. With every step Lyon took, the air seemed to grow heavier, as if the very atmosphere was quaking in fear.

Niamh's voice cracked, betraying his desperation as he pleaded for mercy. "Please... spare me," he stammered, his words coming out in fragmented gasps. "I beg you, Lyon, have mercy! I never wanted any of this. I was just following orders... I didn't know what they would do to me."

Fear etched deep lines on Niamh's face as he continued, his voice barely audible amidst the tense silence. "I've seen things, Lyon. Unspeakable things. I've been through hell and back... over and over again. I never wanted to be your enemy. I never wanted any of this. I was forced... manipulated. I'm just a pawn in this game."

His eyes pleaded for understanding, searching Lyon's face for a glimmer of compassion. "Please, Lyon, see the fear in my eyes. I am at your mercy now. Spare me, and I will disappear. I will never trouble you or your loved ones again. I will do whatever it takes to make amends."

The tremor in Niamh's voice betrayed his genuine fear and remorse. It was a plea from the depths of his being, a desperate cry for a chance at redemption. As Lyon stood before him, weighing the options, Niamh could only hope that his words had reached the core of Lyon's humanity, appealing to the flicker of mercy that still lingered within.

"Did you kill anyone on your trip?" asked Lyon.

"No! No! Absolutely not! I would have never!" said Niamh.

"Did you hurt anyone?" asked Lyon once more.

Niamh's eyes flinched, a flicker of recognition crossing his face as he remembered the encounters Lyon referred to. The woman with fox ears, who possessed a fierce determination, and the orange hair woman with unparalleled strength. Their faces flashed before his mind's eye, their images etched into his memory.

Lyon immediately noticed the hesitation, he saw the deceit in his eyes. His killing intent surged as the man before him was weaker.

"No wait! Your wife already impaired my cultivation, I am now weaker than those from the Mortal World!" said Niamh in desperation before hammering words that stemmed behind his brain emerged.

'Hubby will kill you.'

He knew it was too late, the man in front of him didn't have any shred of mercy left. He gritted his teeth and turned around as quickly as possible before running away as his life depended on it. However, he had no trees to hide as they were all obliterated or washed away by the torrent created by the shockwave. Tears ran down his cheeks as his steps got heavier from the previous one. All what-ifs situation ran through his mind playing like a record, however—.

The sound of a thunderous explosion filled the air as Lyon's arm propelled forward, unleashing the javelin known as Hajinseh with an eruption of power, trailing with four different types of mana haze. The ground trembled beneath the force of his throw, and the very air seemed to crackle with electricity as the lethal weapon streaked through the sky like a comet.

Niamh's eyes widened with a mix of terror and realization as he glanced back and saw the javelin hurtling toward him. At that moment, time seemed to slow down as the world held its breath. The javelin found its mark, piercing the air and closing the distance with unrelenting speed.

With a resounding impact, Hajin struck Niamh's fleeing figure, penetrating through his back. Niamh's body couldn't even convulse in time before his life was extinguished. His body fall with a thud and a horrific hole on his chest where his heart was.

Lyon's triumphant smile gradually faded as his consciousness wavered, his body exhausted from the intense battle and the surge of power he had unleashed.

"Heh, you got me worried there..."

He swayed unsteadily, his vision blurring as he fought to remain upright. Just as he was about to succumb to the darkness, Selena, ever watchful and protective, swiftly moved to catch him, her arms wrapping around him in a secure embrace.

"You always do things excessively," said Selena before she smiled. However, her moment of tranquility was abruptly interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps and voices drawing closer to the heart of the battlefield. Her brows furrowed in concern as she heard the commotion. Without hesitation, Selena swiftly disappeared from sight, utilizing her unique abilities to move silently and swiftly through the chaos.