Emperor's Reckoning

Lyon took a deep breath before his eyes opened with a hint of playfulness. Facing the mountain he had to overcome, he didn't show any doubts of him failing.

Principal Khafai immediately cupped his hand toward Sophia and the other two, "Thank you for your generosity."

"Oh? Are you really that confident in winning?" asked Sophia with a smile.

He burst out laughing while holding his chest, "His power in illusion is indeed magnificent, but in terms of raw power, he is no match for Faust."

Old Dan nodded in agreement, "Yes yes indeed, his forte is in illusion, that dragon looked so real I thought it was the real thing."

She looked at the old man, with the same look she gave the principal before turning away and asked the other overseer, "What do you think Van?"

The bald man was surprised by her sudden question. He was musing the whole time for the 'illusion' that Lyon came with.

"Hmm, I can't say."

"Hahaha! Just say it, it's alright!" shouted Old Dan before he laughed widely.

"Well, my opinion does not matter anyway, might as well see it with our own eyes."

Van looked at Argeon's back who was still standing and looking at his lone student on the arena. (I'm sure you have a plan, otherwise, you wouldn't be here, isn't that right, my friend).

Khafai furrowed his eyebrows as a hint of displeased appeared on his face. Nobody knew what he was thinking nor did anybody want to inquire.

"What are you fooling around for? Chanting a little prayer for a miracle? Hahaha!" taunted Faust.

"You might want to take a step back, otherwise," Lyon smirked without finishing his word.

"What did you say?!"

"Just give up kid," shouted Khafai from his seat before continuing, "Might as well conserve the power you have for the real competition later."

"Hahaha!" Argeon replied.

"What's so funny?"

"You actually thought he would listen to you? How pathetic, he didn't even listen to me!"

The crowd had black lines over their head. This was clearly not something one would be proud of. Only him and a select few would shout that lines with pride.

"Well, what are you waiting for handsome thief?" teased Sophia.

"If I broke it, will I have to compensate for it?" asked Lyon with a smile as his hand rubbing his head.

"Hahaha!," the crowd laughed at his remark. What a ridiculous question to ask, the stone would definitely regenerate itself without any needed aid. It's simply indestructible.

"Heck, look at this guy! Hahaha, hey your ace is quite someth- huh?" one of the crowd want to ridicule the group from Nostria but the words stuck on their throat as he looked how serious they were.

"This is, quite bad isn't it?" said one of the boys from Nostria.

"Yeah, if he destroys it, will he offend the Treas family? Not to mention the cost of the rock," said one of the girls from Nostria.

The other crowd couldn't believe that they were actually sure that Lyon would destroy the rock.

"My, aren't you a jester? Oh, handsome thief, if you manage to break the rock, not only you will not be compensating it, I will give you Treas Very Very Important Person ring, the most coveted and honorable VVIP ring!"

"Whoa! That's a prize even more valuable than the winner!" exclaimed Van.

The Treas VVIP ring was without a doubt a privilege from the gods. They will enjoy the highest respect, the utmost rares of treasures, and the discounted price that could make men rich again. Not only that but Treas will generally support and act as your backing if the situation demanded so.

However, this was a double edge sword attempt. If Lyon didn't manage to break the stone he would only waste his energy and revealing his strength to the masses.

(So if I destroyed this stone I would get a VVIP ring that god knows what its do? Sounds like a waste of ti- WAIT A MINUTE! If I have this ring, wouldn't I mingle with the highest of the highest class of beautiful women? Well, this will not be a waste after all!) thought Lyon with one of his noses bleeding.

Sophia and Luna furrowed their eyebrows at the same time (You just thought of something dirty did you?).

Wiping his nose with his arm Lyon whispered, "Grandpa, do you think I should enter that form?"

"Nah, just the blessing is enough," answered Grandpa Long as he grinned.

"Alright!" shouted Lyon before he made a fist with both hands.

"Sure, you don't want to step back Faust?"

"Hmph! What can you do with your measle cultivation levels?"

"You better order your ace to step back Khafai," said Argeon.

Khafai furrowed his eyebrows, "What are you talking about? Your ace should just give up already, doesn't he know he is the clown of your little circus?"

"You will eat those words dearly," laughed Argeon.

Just as Khafai about to insult him even further, a flash of interest suddenly made his eyes turned to the arena as the other principals did the same.

The three overseers furrowed their eyebrows as they looked at the same youth in the center below. All the experts of the crowd immediately took a sudden interest at what their eyes were seeing.

Chloe opened her eyes as she looked the young man who she encountered back in the lesser world. It was evident that they did not 'spar' with their full strength but the sight of his transformation in front of her was not just any flashy gimmicks.

"I knew it, those scally arms, that fluttering green hair, a creature only spoken in legend! A True Dragon!" shouted Van in excitement.

"There it is! Big brother's blessing form!" shouted Jugen.

Lyon smiled as the mana surrounding him gathered like a torrent before gradually turning greenish. Taking a step back, he pulled his right arm to amass the ultimate force. The veins in his arms were bulging as the mana fueled it albeit it was not visible because of his uniform. His right hand was shaking as he looked at the stone right in front of him.

The crowd was gulping as they cannot anticipate the strike. Faust took a step back as he swallowed his saliva, his feet were shaking before he couldn't take another one.

"I-Impossible, a-a dragon?!" Faust stuttered.

Lyon's eyes flashed before they turned green. The image of a true dragon behind him was staring down at his opponent with a wild grin. Its whiskers were fluttering like the ocean wave, its teeth and talons were ready to shred them to pieces.

"Faust! Get out of there!" shouted Khafai before he plunged toward his ace.

"Too late!" shouted Lyon before his eyes turned sharp.

As his palm stretched out, a coiling dragon swirling his right arm before striking toward the stone.

Faust pupils immediately shrunk as the strike approaching the impact. His complexion turned whiter and whiter by the bright attack as his hair was fluttering against it.

"True Dragon Art: Palm of Shattering World! Hah!!"

*roar

*boom

The roar of the dragon was heard loud and clear before the loud impact of the art. Everything in front of him instantly turned to rubble as the smoke reached the clouds.