Emperor's Reckoning

"Hm..." he could feel the hostile presence that was projecting toward him coming behind the door of his touch. Behind those glasses, his eyes slightly sharpened but not a single nervousness could be seen from his body language. His breathing was calm despite the overwhelming presence behind the door.

His lips puckered up a smile before he muttered, "I hope you restrict your presence that looks like an eyesore, can't you be more subtle? You're giving out your position in plain sight."

He didn't hear a reply but the presence only gotten stronger than before. One of his eyebrows rose (Ah, someone is not far behind the door, it seems like whoever that is, is going to attack right after I open the door) thought the butler.

He let out a sigh before he pushed open the door with a tap of his palm.

Immediately after the door was opened with a bang, a flash of metal was reflected against his glasses. It was heading toward his right chest. Noticing that the attack was not meant for being lethal, he furrowed his eyebrows before flicking the sharp object away with a ding.

The metal embedded toward the wall after a resounding crack.

He slightly pushed his glasses upward before he raised his head and looked at the group of people in the room having their faces turned grim. One figure was clearly still locked in the motion of throwing a dagger as the eyes opened in disbelief. He made a harsh swallow before turning around and saw the dagger had gone straight against the wall on the side.

"Well that failed miserably," commented the butler.

The man that threw the dagger was the closest to the door. Even at that short distance and the speed that broke air resistance like butter, the man with the glasses casually flicked it off to the side, effortlessly. Just that motion alone proved his caliber. The latter was clearly on another level compared to him.

He slowly closed his gaping mouth before standing up. His back slightly touched the chair that was his seat before making a harsh swallow. Despite the overwhelming presence of the group, he could see none of it could faze the man with the glasses.

"What is your business here?" asked the man that threw the dagger.

"Heh, you should have asked that first before attacking me, don't you think?" asked the one with the glasses.

"Sorry for the rude welcome, but none of the four of us were expecting a guest," said the burly one as he stood up.

"What business do you have with our leader?" a female cultivator stood up.

"I hope it's not hostile, otherwise, things will not get pretty like your face," said another male cultivator as he also stood up.

The butler didn't avert his gaze against all four of them as he noticed at the end of the table, an empty seat was there. With the coordination of how the chair was set, it was obvious that the one sitting with the most power was to be seated at the far end of the table, the furthest from the entrance.

"You have become more lenient."

All four of them furrowed their eyebrows as a tall man with ashen hair suddenly appeared behind the one with the glasses. Despite the large stature, he had not left a single noise of his movement for their ears to catch. The smoothness despite the rough appearance immediately made them wary. Just like the slender one, the fellow exuded out expertise, but with one look against his face, one could tell that he was some type of a leader himself. The gaze of a commander was something else.

"I don't need to hear that from the person that gave an eternal night to a world."

(Eternal night?) thought the four of them. They had never heard such a term before. Was he implying that the taller one had destroyed a world on his own? The fact that it could happen seemed so far reach of their imagination. Destroying a world was no easy feat since the natural healing of nature was massive and unmeasurable, some said that it was infinite.

(Hmph! This is probably one of their tricks to flaunt against us!)

(Saying terms that didn't exist, what kind of strategic conversation is this?)

"Oi, you, the big one."

The ashen hair furrowed his eyebrows before he took a glance against the burly one of the four that started to take steps forward with a smirk on his face.

"Hotshot, you seem like a tough guy, while we wait for the leader to come, why don't we exchange a few blows. I have been troubled in finding a worthy sparring partner, meanwhile, my allies are all too stuck up. You seem like the one that loves to take hit," said the burly one as he stood against the half-giant.

Even the tallest among the four still had to look up against the ashen hair.

The only woman in the room shook her head, "Why would you give away her position Dunra..."

"It's fine Miye," said the burly one as he spread his arms before he continued, "If they were hostile, they won't enter through the front door, and if they are really that strong, there is nothing that we can do. Might as well enjoy the moment."

The ashen hair smirked, "Dunra was it, fine, out of your insight, I will grant you a sparing, I will use two-finger and that, without even touching a single hair of you."

"Hmph," his partner took a step to the side before continuing and leaned back against the wall. The spacious room was now centered around these two that stood against each other.

Despite the words that seemed demeaning, Dunra didn't find it offending as his forehead didn't show any creases. However, the rest of his allies didn't seem to agree as their gazes turned sharp.

"Are you trying to disrespect the Guild HQ?"

"Use your full force, otherwise, punishment is due."

"You are in a world of pain if you underestimate Dunra."

Dunra slightly scorned before he commented, "You guys are all too sensitive, I'm sure he didn't mean that."

"Dunra!"

"Shut up Miye!" berated Dunra without even looking back at the woman, "This is between me and him, not the Guild HQ."

"Oh he meant that," said the one with the glasses before he courted the attention of the four.

"What did you say?"

"You're not deaf, stop pretending."

"You!.... Khg?!"

Just one glare from behind those glasses was enough to make him choked his own thoughts. He immediately palpitated as his feet trembling out of his own consciousness. Nothing was making sense for a slight second. (What... the hell.... what... is... he... don't tell me... this is his killing intent?!)

"Heh, this is going to be fun," muttered Dunra before he took a leap back and readied his stance.

"One blow," muttered the half-giant.

"Huh?"

"Give me your best art or technique, one chance. I will counter it with two of my fingers. I will not strike when you compressed the mana or whatever," said the half-giant as he put one of his hands behind his back while showing the fingers of the rest forward.

The other clearly furrowing his eyebrows but Dunra chuckled instead before he spread his legs as if he was charging the surrounding mana.

"Hahaha! Alright, one chance! One encounter! One contact! Winner takes all!" shouted Dunra.

His eyes slightly glanced down (Heh, he didn't even spread his legs and make a stance, he is really underestimating me. However, it's been a long time since someone did that, I almost lost the feeling. Ever since I made a name for myself, it's hard to find a stronger person that is willing to spar with me).

"I will not hold back, are you sure you don't want to prepare yourself?"

The half-giant was silent but Dunra knew the answer through his eyes.

"Heh," Dunra smirked it off before his eyes turned sharp.

"Kunpeng Art!" His eyes glowed yellow as the image of a kunpeng rose from his back.

"What?! Dunra you will destroy the room!"

"Tch! Goddamnit!"

"Wait wait!"

"Kunpeng Maul!" the veiny arm let out a punch forward along with the proud shout of the man.

The incoming howl of a kunpeng trembled the tower as all the cultivators in the Guild HQ vicinity heard it.

However.

Dunra's eyes opened wide as the half-giant cultivator moved his middle finger and pointed it against his thumb to a flicking motion. (You're kidding...)

*PTAK!

The air was broken against the impact of the flick before the image of the kunpeng got shredded. The force went through it and headed toward Dunra without any sign of slowing down.

(Fast!) only his thought was quick enough to accept the incoming attack.

His body was blowback toward the wall before resulting in a loud tremor as the entire frame of the wall cracked.

His partner adjusted his glasses before saying to the gasped and frozen vice-leaders, "Were he to use more than two fingers, he will die."

"Guha!"

Dunra puked out blood before passing out on the spot.