Emperor's Reckoning

His black hair fluttered as he stood at the center of the room, instantly and efficiently courted all the attention in the atmosphere. No matter if they were experts or nonexperts, they stood in awe at the way the young man stood despite being so close to the target, his face was nonchalant and unfazed as if it's just a wind that was blowing against his face.

Kyoko smiled as she looked at the familiar back. (Sadly, the two snakes danced too violently that they have awakened the monster inside the den. Now then, will the seeds that they sow will actually mean anything with him being here).

Tusak smiled as he wiped the blood that came out from his broken nose with a white napkin. His smile soon showed a slight grin as he muttered, "I know he won't be asleep forever, especially not in her care."

Yunesia puckered up a smile as she muttered, "Curious, curious, curious. Looks like, he managed to escape somehow, probably the dragon woman is currently confronting her. Otherwise, she definitely won't let him go alone, especially not with just a bathrobe covering his body."

Luna shook her head as she smiled. He never ceased to amaze, especially when women were involved. It was this quality of his that was a threat to every woman in the world, especially their hearts. Innocent maidens would fall directly under his spell, furthermore, with the charisma that could even sway the moon, they stood no chance even if they have the heart of a buddha.

"Hmm... he is so cool," said Aelina with a glint in her eyes and a red hue on her cheeks.

Biane shook her head, "he really couldn't stop showing off now, could he."

Clemora smiled as she took a glance at her sister whose words were betrayed by her gaze.

Madoku let out a sigh of relief as she looked at her best friend was out of harm. The man was true to his word when he said he didn't pull any punches even against a woman, however, their cultivation level had a huge gap like a stone against a mountain. Cliff's words were hinting that they would have gone easy but it seemed that's not the case for the rest of his group.

Ayumu slightly glanced to the side of the young man who casually pulled her by the waist. Her pupils slightly dilated as the person she was coming here for was within her reach. The hope of waking her father from the seemingly eternal coma was near.

"Woah! Such fine display of heroic deed."

"What a charmer."

"Who is he?"

"He didn't come from the hall, did he? Surely not right? But that clothing."

Their opinions mixed with awe and a slight disgust since the young man's appearance was definitely in haste. Not to mention not a single carriage was heard from the opened entrance to the throne room, the young man definitely came from one of the two halls leading inside the grand palace.

Priscila furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at the young man with a skeptical expression on her face. The last time she saw him, his face was drenched in blood but the feature still stroke a familiar feeling. She glanced at his husband before muttering, "Jin.. is he."

Jin didn't lose his grin, he didn't even take a glance at his own wife before nodding. "Yeah, that's him, the very same young man our dear Cecile suddenly brought in."

Priscila slightly batted her eyelids before she spoke directly inside Jin's mind, "Don't do anything, I want to see what he is going to do."

Jin's mouth slightly twitched as he squinted his eyes toward his woman. (However, I didn't sense Cecilia nearby, what is she up to? Not to mention that dragon woman, phew).

"Hubby!"

Suddenly a figure leaped under everyone's surprised look before her arms locked into the young man's neck as she embraced him from behind. The vibrant orange hair was glimmering under the mana chandelier as she took the center stage.

Jin immediately pinched his glabella as he faced down but closing his eyes. All of this was done to evade a deadly glare from the love of his life. He knew something would happen, but he would have never thought that a woman would be so assertive despite being inside a gala.

"Ryona!"

Lyon smiled as his cheek was rubbing hers to the latter delight. The young man didn't care and was nonchalant against the looks of the onlookers. The guests could either opened their eyes to see or don't see it at all. This was one of the traits that made innocent hearts fluttered. He won't shy away from that hug, unlike those with so proclaimed noble hearts.

"Heh, looks like you are quite popular with the ladies," said the man as he stood up towering Lyon. It was in plain sight that the former was more muscular than the latter was unfazed by the fact.

"Hmm?? Bahahaha!" the man suddenly let out a burst of laughter that could contend with the lightning outside.

"A peak Divine Realm? What is this? A joke? You are one of the Crown winners? You must have ranked rock bottom."

The man didn't hesitate as he said those condescending words before leaning his face against Lyon who was still nonchalant about the former's remark.

The group that had witnessed his prowess in the East City stood silent with their hands behind their back. Some of them shook their head as they remembered the horror of the deletion of Kaiju Loh. The trashed city was still there with their landscape shifting from what was known. The island might have sunken if Cecile was not stopped by the appearance of her father and continued the battle.

"I'll tell you what, I will give you a chance, hit me, you can hit any part of my body and I won't even guard let alone evade it. If you make me staggered backward, just one step backward, I admit my loss, however," the man smiled, "I get to flicked my finger against your forehead if you couldn't."

"Hoo~ sure," answered Lyon before Ryona chuckled and step away.

Ayumu was looking at Lyon before whispering, "are you sure?"

"En, I'll be fine," said Lyon with a smile before Ayumu begrudgingly left his side.

Sophia smiled to which Luke noticed before the latter glance back against the youth that came out of nowhere. He was trying to stop the bully fiesta but it seemed like the youth didn't mind one bit about the wager.

Cliff smiled as he shook his head (What a fool).

Meanwhile, Borton was furrowing his eyebrows as he felt uneasiness inside his heart. There was something about the smirk of the young man in the center of the room that made him believe it was not a stupid smirk just to gain momentary fame before being humiliated.

"That smile, Big bro is going to pummel this guy's cockiness to the ground!" said Jugen as he took the front seat of the show.

"What is the limit?" asked Lyon.

"Hahaha, five would be appropriate, you can take as much time as you need but don't make us waiting for you for too long though, the food might get wasted otherwise," the man laughed.

"Then I'm going to use just one. After all, if I fail the first time, the other four wouldn't matter right?"

"Hm? Are you sure? Hahaha, let that be your own decision then even if you changed your mind I wouldn't."

"Heh," Lyon smirked as he opened his arms before crossing it.

His black hair slowly fluttered as a torrent of mana slowly engulfed his figure like the raging storm outside. The experts immediately batted their eyes toward the ridiculous phenomenon that was happening right before their eyes.

Cliff raised his eyebrows as Borton furrowed his. Luke's smile gradually made his teeth took a peek.

"What's wrong, you don't look so good," taunted Lyon as he could see palpitate rush his opponent had. The cold sweat was clear as day from his point of view as the latter's eyes showed a hint of regret.

"Heh, just a show!" said the man in an effort to calm himself but the eyes that constricted didn't tell a lie.

"Ayumu is he..." muttered Madoku

"No doubt about it, he is about to let out the fist that could penetrate the Heaven's Bell!" said Ayumu who had witnessed first hand how the perfect resonance was performed.

"Are you ready?" asked Lyon politely.

"Your arrogance will be gone after this! Boy!" shouted the man to gain the upper hand of the short dialogue.

"Heh," Lyon opened his arms before he retracted his right fist with one foot to the back. His forearms were charging the mana as everyone could see it trembling.

"Eat this," whispered Lyon before his eyes turned sharp and shifted colors from jade to golden in under a second as the mana that swirling around his forearm followed suit. His knuckles grazed the space around it before the man's eyes constricted as they went straight against his face.

The guests immediately went agape as a bellow of wind was heard after a loud crack. The experts felt their feet like noodles as they saw what happened right before their very eyes.

"Hah... Hah.. Hah..." the man breathed heavily as he faced the floor with his eyes remained constricted. His hand was over his head as he was in a squat position. He couldn't close his mouth properly as he was breathing through it.

He had chosen to evade the strke.