Emperor's Reckoning

The nearby window was broken beyond repair as the wind from outside wildly came in. The guards were unconscious on the floor while there appeared to be blood leaking from their mouths.

The sound of coughing from Duke Armand was heard before his eyes opened wide as he saw the scene in front of him.

The green scales that empowered the young man's body brought fear to those around him. His green eyes stared deep into the prince's fear-stricken eyes, not caring for the people around him. The duke was trying to asses the situation as his experience suggested, but he couldn't look away from the figure in front of him.

The prince struggled like a fish on a chopping board, but no matter what force he muttered, he couldn't breakthrough. His body instinctively screamed to get away from Lyon's grip to no avail.

"You better stop right there old man," said Lyon while keep staring at the prince.

The duke was surprised to hear his words and glanced at the entrance to see a drenched king. He valiantly held Gungnir as he was pointing at Lyon's back before pointing it down.

"Choose Weiss! Take me to them, or should I flipped the entire Luderia upside down for searching them myself?" said Lyon as he tightened his grip.

The prince struggled to breathe as he could feel that with just a little more push, his neck would snap. (I'm a proud Half Divine Cultivator! How can a mere Soul Cultivator be this strong?!) thought the prince.

He had it all, resources, training, skills. He was born a prince with sufficient talent and said to be the next in line to be the ruler of Luderia. The prince was ahead of his peers, the people believe that he could probably unite Deo under Luderia's name.

"One more step and you will make Luderia a battlefield!" shouted Lyon.

The prince knew who he was referring to as he took a glance at his calm father. His father was bound with endless experience throughout his life so he bet that his father knew how to act in this ludicrous situation.

"Let's not be so hasty here young man, everything can be reasoned," said the king.

The first step to negotiating with an angry young man was to make it realize that there were peaceful ways to settle things. This was the thought that the king had.

"Your persuasions would lead you nowhere old man. You only talk about reasons when it only benefits you, Rowland is better than you at this," replied Lyon.

The king was surprised by the name mentioned in Lyon's word. "To think that you even know Rowland..."

Lyon only smirked before averting his gaze back toward the prince, "What it's going to be?"

"F-father..." the prince helplessly pleaded for help.

"Take him to them, don't worry I will follow you two, besides it is your wrong in the first place, let this be a lesson," said the king.

The king knew there was no other way around except obliging Lyon's demand at the moment. This was the safest bet he could take.

"Y-you heard royal father, now release me," said the prince.

"Hmph!" Lyon let go of his grip before the thudding sound was heard.

The prince continuously coughed as he took a feel of his sore neck. "Hurry up and go!" said Lyon as he kicked the prince.

The king twitched as his emotion escaped his calmness, however, he stood silently despite it. This was the most disrespectful thing that ever happened to him as king and as a father, one could only imagine how strong his mind was.

The struggling prince managed to get up and guide them albeit the sluggish walk.

The four of them, including Duke Armand, walked through the castle before going down spiral stairs. The light source they had were torches that were planted on the wall along the way.

The king furrowed his eyebrows as they walked down, he knew that this part of the castle was a prison for criminals. He suddenly had a bad feeling about all this.

As they got to the end of the stairs there were two men guarding a huge door made of wood. these two men appeared not to be the soldiers from the castle as they didn't wear any of the silver armor, nor a symbol that proved they were one. They wore thin clothing without sleeves while having a dagger on their waist.

"Ah, Boss! You come to visit the two newly added beauties?" said one of the men with a wicked smile on his face before noticing the other three figures behind him.

"Ah, you are not alone? Even Duke Armand is here? Wait, is that the king?" said the other.

"What is the meaning of this Weiss?" asked the king to his son. He never remembered hiring such men as guards for the prisoner before. It was obvious that they were local bandits from the way he looked and acted.

"Save your squabbling for later," said Lyon as he kicked Weiss to continue his walk.

"Hey, what are you doing to our-" the man had not finished his word before his head was separated.

*thud

The body fell as the other bandit took a step back with his fear-stricken eyes.

"Eeeek!" screamed the bandit as he saw his partner died in the blink of an eye.

The king furrowed his eyebrows as he could only see a blur where the killing happened. (Such ludicrous speed! I'm a full-fledged Low Divine Cultivator and I still couldn't keep up!).

*creak

The huge door was pushed open as a wide hall full of cells on each side was presented to them.

The king was surprised to see that the prisoners were having a leisure life despite staying behind the cell. They were not chained, in fact, the cell wasn't even locked. They got sufficient stuff that could make the commoners riot.

While the king was surprised by reality, Lyon furrowed his eyebrows as his gaze landed at the cell at the end of the hall.

Two figures were held on the wall by the chains that bind their arms. Their clothing appeared to be tattered as bumps and blood painted their limbs. Their head dangled down as their hair covered their face.

In the blink of an eye, Lyon was in front of them, breaking the cell in the process.

Sensing a presence one of them lifted their face.

With her right eyes shut and blood seemed to be leaking from the edge, she looked at the figure in front of her. "L-Lyon? T-thank god you are safe..." said Biane with the best smile she could give at the moment.

*thump

Lyon's eyes opened wide as his pupil shrunken.