Emperor's Reckoning



Nyi's eyes widened in disbelief, his respect for Lyon growing even further. He had witnessed Lyon's strength and prowess before, but this victory against an elite poison master like Esmeralda was on a whole different level. It was clear that Lyon's power had reached astonishing heights, and his determination had proved unshakable.

Lyra and the other young masters stood in awe, their eyes fixed on Lyon as he stood victorious on the stage. The disbelief was evident in their expressions as they whispered among themselves.

"He won," Lyra mumbled, her voice tinged with surprise and admiration. A man from Second Heaven had just outdone one of the young masters of Sixth Heaven albeit it was hardly an all-out battle, he still won against her. He whose name was only known from Mavis's mouth.

The audience was torn between shock and admiration. Many were in awe of Lyon's display of strength and skill, but others hesitated to cheer him on, considering Esmeralda's prestigious background as the young mistress of the Ouroboros Clan. The tension in the air was palpable as they grappled with conflicting emotions.

Reinhard and Noah exchanged glances, both equally amazed by Lyon's performance. "He really pulled it off," Reinhard said, his voice filled with admiration. "I didn't think he could do it."

Rayus helplessly smiled as he thought that he knew the limit of his teacher. "Again, he broke my expectations yet again!" he said inwardly. His gaze filled to the brim with admiration as he saw his teacher on top of the center of the cracked stage looking at his opponent with a smile on his face.

"Please forgive my husband, he tends to do things over the top," said Cecile as she let go of her shoulder and walked in front of her before showing a smile.

Esmeralda took a keen interest in Cecile before Selena stepped in front of her view.

"Darling, is not someone you should mess with," said Selena before returning to her seat with Cecile following behind.

Mavis couldn't contain his excitement and admiration for Lyon's victory. With a wide grin, he was the first to leap to his feet, clapping his hands vigorously. The sound of his applause echoed through the arena, and soon, the rest of the audience joined in, their applause growing louder and more enthusiastic with each passing moment.

The entire venue was filled with the thunderous sound of applause, a resounding acknowledgment of Lyon's incredible feat. Even those who were initially hesitant to cheer for him couldn't help but be swept away by the sheer awe of his victory.

"Interesting," Esmaralda mumbled to herself as a mischievous smile appeared once more. She leapt forward and the moment her feet thud against the cracked stage, the clapping gradually diminished.

Esmeralda outstretched her hand and she noticed that Lyon was looking at her hand with furrowed brows. "What's wrong, Lyon? Afraid of shaking my hand?"

"The last time, I got close to you, you turned into two," said Lyon with a smirk.

"Oh that's the wrong way to see things, don't you mean, double the fun?" Esmeralda winked at him.

Lyon smirked, "Double the fun, double the risk."

"Now you're speaking my game," said Esmeralda before following a little giggle. She pulled her hand down before Lyon suddenly reached for hers and leveled it up. "Oh?" She was shocked by Lyon's decision.

"Heh, your snakes are glaring at me if I don't," said Lyon as he glanced at the snakes hissing on her shoulders.

The applause grew louder, and the tension that once filled the air dissipated completely. The audience was now fully on board, cheering for both Lyon and Esmeralda's impressive skills.

Esmeralda gracefully made her way back to her seat, passing by the young masters sitting nearby. Her demeanor exuded a sense of confidence and mischief, and she couldn't help but listen in on the banter among the others.

Ning, with a hint of amusement, couldn't resist chiming in, "Oh, Esmeralda, always the one to keep things interesting. You must have been holding back a lot, weren't you?" Her words carried a playful tone, but there was a glint of resentment in her eyes as she looked at the poison master.

Esmeralda chuckled softly, not denying Ning's assumption, "Well, a little mystery adds spice to life, doesn't it? Besides, it wouldn't be fun if I showed all my cards so soon."

Ning smirked, raising an eyebrow, "I suppose you're right. But don't underestimate your enemy."

Esmeralda's smile widened, "Oh, I'm well aware of his capabilities. That's precisely why I chose him. It's always thrilling to test the waters, don't you think? And I also wanted to see how interesting he is since Mavis sold him so much."

Lyon stretched, as he mumbled, "I suppose I need to go back to my seat."

Lyon was focused on the other teachers already sitting in their designated seats and an empty one was left. He frowned, before clicking his tongue, "That seat looks boring."

He darted his glance over and saw that Cecile and Selena were sitting side by side with the rest of the group. His eyes light up, as they noticed that Kyoko, Ryona, and Karina decided to come as well. He leaped before standing in front of both of his wives. He grinned before squishing himself in the middle.

"T-Teacher, I think you're supposed to sit over there," said Noah as he pointed out the empty seat that was reserved for him.

He looked in his direction and noticed that the teachers were a bit shocked mixed with flusters. "Are you kidding me? This spot is the best, look," said Lyon as he extended both arms and pulled his wives together. "Hahahaha!"

Cecile, though a bit perplexed at Lyon's moment of childlike excitement, couldn't help but smile, finding his antics endearing. On the other hand, Selena snuggled up to him willingly.

The sight of Lyon with the two women in his arms sent ripples of jealousy and admiration through the crowd. Many were envious of his ability to have such powerful and beautiful companions, while others admired the deep bond they shared. It was a scene that spoke of triumph, love, and resilience, capturing the hearts of those who witnessed it.

Just as the atmosphere around them grew warmer, Kesya approached from behind and joined in their laughter. She leaped and wrapped her arms around Lyon's head in an affectionate gesture. Her laughter mingled with theirs, creating an aura of camaraderie and celebration.

"What lecher," said Lyra as she frowned looking at Lyon hogging the three beautiful women.

"You're no fun Lyra," said Esmeralda as a mischievous smile hung. 

Ning's frown deepened as she observed Lyon's happiness, feeling a mixture of irritation and envy. Mavis, on the other hand, smiled wryly, perhaps amused by the entire situation. Azleid's astonishment was evident on his face, taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. However, it was Yuri's reaction that differed.

Yuri's keen eyes locked onto Lyon as he carefully analyzed the moment when he unleashed his mana burst. The sight was nothing short of astonishing. Four distinct torrents of mana surged through Lyon's body, each emanating a different hue and essence. It was as if four powerful forces coiled and gathered within him, waiting to be unleashed.

'That man is bizarre... be careful...' said the voice inside of him.

'You were surprised, Excellency, what shocked you?'  asked Yuri.

'The four colors that you saw for a glimpse, those were far from ordinary.'

'Isn't he using a blessing like I do? What kind of mystical beast mana has that combination of color?'

'It's not a singular being, it's four.'

His hands trembled slightly, and he had to clench his fists to steady them. The revelation before him defied everything he thought he knew about cultivation. How could one person wield the four blessings at once, seamlessly blending them into a harmonious whole? It was something he had never seen or even heard of before.

'Which ones?'

'There is no mistaking that jade hue, a True Dragon.'

Yuri's eyes opened wide as his pupils shrunk in disbelief.

'It's incredibly rare for those races to even contact with any other being. The next one is the golden hue, it's from a Devil Ape. A monstrously brutal mystical beast that excels in martial prowess, most of them reside in Hell.'

( Mystical beast from Hell? He earned their blessings? ) thought Yuri as his gaze fixated on Lyon.

'The gray one, is unmistakably apocalyptic, perhaps the Seven Horns Calamity Goat, and the last one... grrr! It must be the Moon Hare!'

Yuri frowned before glancing over at Mavis. "Mavis."

"Hm?" Mavis turned. 

"Tell me more about this Lyon guy."

Mavis chuckled softly as he noticed the curious glint in Yuri's eyes. He could tell that his fellow young master was intrigued by Lyon's enigmatic presence, and it amused him to see Yuri so captivated.

"Well, Yuri, Lyon is quite the character," Mavis began, leaning back in his seat. "He's not your typical cultivator, that's for sure. There's an air of mystery about him, and he has this uncanny ability to surprise everyone around him... especially he has a trait that only a madman has."

"Huh?"

"Dare to defy," Mavis grinned.