Emperor's Reckoning

The image of the wild youth immediately burnt inside their mind. His fluttering black hair and his lean back. They could see him crossing his arms with a smirk on his face. The iconic smirk attracted and opposed at the same time.

The young man was capable of weaving Cecile's heart. The wild young man knew no bounds between heaven and earth. He was more confident than the sun and he batted no eyes against the status of the prominent figures.

He was the person that was said going to kill Hezar. The famous commander of the Pala Kingdom.

"Buh! Hahaha! Fighting against four-horned Hellboar alone? Are you stupid or something? Defeating one with one punch? Maybe I could do it, but him? A mortal? Hahaha!"

Hezar laughed heartily as his laugh echoed the whole Afurnae.

"My words stand true as I swore upon my blade," said Zet. The determination in his eyes was unwavering. There was nothing that could shake the youth's will and tenacity. He had been saved by the young man with the absurd power. There was no way that he could betray him and let his name be mocked by others so easily.

"Tch! He couldn't get out of that forest in time anyway, he would be devoured then because of fatigue. It's time for you mortal to—"

"You keep blabbering about my husband for quite a while now, dead man."

Hezar immediately averted his gaze before he furrowed his eyebrows. The woman with the auburn hair was no ordinary woman that he could deal with. Even when the two princes didn't back her up, she was still an immovable mountain whilst he felt like a weak wind. Able to crash but won't do a thing.

"I have significant believe, that your husband will soon meet his end then your punishment is due."

"Punishment? The only one being punished later is you. The only thing that kept you alive right now so you could spectate the tournament is none other because my husband said so," the auburn woman smirked.

"Heh, you can keep loving your dead husband."

"Hmm, you're so adamant that my husband is dead, did you perhaps do something against the rules?"

Hezar shrugged. "There is no need for me to do anything, after all, there is no way a mortal cultivator could survive against a four-horned beast."

"What makes you so sure?" Cecile smiled.

"I'm positive!" shouted Hezar as he grinned.

"Too bad..." Cecile stood up as she watched the twilight blaze.

"He is still alive, and he is well, he will come back in time," said Cecile.

"Hahaha! Keep telling yourself that! Right now, his flesh is being gnawed on so ruthlessly that his blood was his only remains!"

Cecile shook her head, "He is fine and he will come back in time because I'm a good wife."

"Huh?" Hezar was out of words as well as the spectators.

(What is she talking about? Is she out of her mind already?) thought Hilde before she scrap the thought. The woman in front of her was deeply respected even amongst the heaven. Her prowess and raw talent due to her unbelievable blessing still haunted the others.

"You see, my husband is a wild beast that even I alone can't tame. He is as powerful as he desires to be. No dragon in the sky nor tigers on earth could stop him. He is a freeman, thus when I need him..."

Cecile smirked before she flicked her finger. "I just drag him here.."

Zet's pupils slowly shrunkened as his lips pointed upwards whilst the opposite was happening for Hezar. The latter had his lips slightly opened.

"That's!" Raul exclaimed.

"So that's why she is confident," Cherie smiled.

"She has thought of it that far, huh." Hilde shook her head with a smile.

"Summoning Ruby Stone..." Rupert muttered.

The glimmering red ruby astonished the spectators with awe. There was not a single thought of the mind that she would have prepared something like that. The vibrant color only indicates that the person was linked to was fine and well.

Lumina had her eyes opened wide, "When did you..."

Cecile turned a glance before she winked.

Lumina narrowed her eyes. "You wouldn't..."

Cecile smirked before returning her gaze forward.

Porealus shook his head with a smile. (That man might act clumsy at the front but holy hell is he prepared for everything).

Ivy snorted with a smile on her face.

"Hoho!" Tael laughed as he held his stomach. "They are really the perfect couple."

Carius nodded alongside the matriarch of the Yuki clan.

---

Meanwhile, back in the forest.

Lyon didn't know that he was the only participant left and nightfall was approaching from the top of his head. He had just finished killing the four-horned beast that he punched before. The carcasses were leaning on the side of the giant tree still.

"Crap, now how do I get back," muttered Lyon. "Should I use magic? Heh, that would surprise everyone for sure, huh?"

His eyes turned sharp before he increased his tone. "Whoever you are, you better come out before I drag you out."

"I see, so you have noticed me."

A man came out from behind a tree with his hands opened. He showed no weapons but the sword on his waist. He wore clothing that Lyon vividly remembered back in the preliminary. It was the same outfit as Hezar's subordinate.

"Hezar sent you?" asked Lyon before he crossed his arms.

"That's Sir Hezar for you, but no matter," said the man before he let out a sigh. "I thought I would be able to kill you without you noticing. At least that way you won't die terribly, though, you might still be conscious when the hellboar eat you."

Lyon yawned as his eyes narrowed to a close. "Hoam~ At least you don't have a generic line."

"What?" the man furrowed his eyebrows. "Oh I see, you're getting cold feet? Hahaha, too late don't you think?"

"Cold feet? Please," Lyon smirked. "They sent you alone?"

"Two would be a waste of manpower."

"Well, you're deemed expendable," said Lyon as he chuckled.

"You have sharp tongue for a dead man!"

"You call this sharp?" Lyon shrugged. "You have no idea."

"Enough!" the man draw his sword before pointing it at him.

Lyon furrowed his eyebrows as he looked down at the blade. He snorted. "You must have come here recently. Look around you, notice any corpse?"

"Huh? What are you talking ab—?!?!" His eyes were locked against the giant beast that had its eyes closed and four missing horns. It was leaning against the tree, lifeless.

"Heh, amateur," said Lyon before he leaped forward. "You have Returning Jade Stone to Afurnae right?"

"Huh? What?!" The man immediately blocked the incoming kick as Lyon somersaulted beforehand.

*Crack!

The sword he held to block the incoming kick immediately cracked as his eyes opened wide.

(What?!)

He was sent off before breaking through a couple of trees. The heavy impact got him rolling on the ground before he strugglingly stood up.

(W-What power! Isn't he a Godhood cultivator?! I'm an Ascending God goddamnit!) thought the man as he looked at the young man casually approaching him.

(W-Who is this guy!) thought the man as he took a step back before his sword suddenly shattered. His confidence was nowhere to be found and it only took Lyon one hit to pummel it away from his body.

Lyon was smirking as he looked at the man. "You think you have what it takes to kill me?"

"Tch!" the soldier threw the sword hilt at him but Lyon didn't even bother as he let it bounce off his body.

The soldier immediately turned around before his eyes opened wide. A huge hoove was coming his way.

*Boom!

*Crack!

His entire bones immediately shattered as the blow made him go through the huge canopy and into the sky. His last gaze was the beautiful twilight before his entire body shattered upon the fall.

Lyon didn't even look at the man that fell a couple of miles away behind him. He knew that guy was dead and the Returning Jade Stone was shattered upon impact.

"Heh," Lyon smirked before he crossed his arms. "You're huge."

His height couldn't even reach the knee. This was the biggest hellboar he had ever seen. Five grandiose horns protruded as its size was only lacking by a little before rivaling the giant trees.

"Heh, maybe I will arrive late for the round, but I hope your horns can exempt me from disqualification!" said Lyon before he opened his crossed arms.

Any sane person would have run by the sight of the humongous being. The size alone could render the fright inside them.

Five-horned hellboar and a human. The unprecedented fight was about to begin before Lyon felt a tingling from his spine.

"Eh?!" Ruby-red mana suddenly burst out before encompassing him. "Wait a minute! Oi! oi!!!"

The red light shot through the canopy and into the sky without mercy. He was summoned.