Emperor's Reckoning

The shout startled even those outside the restaurant. The passerby had only begun taking a stroll after the heartwrenching second round which ended in another utter defeat for the First Heaven, now, a very familiar voice was heard.

They all gulped as they took a glance over the luxurious restaurant that only certain people could afford.

"Hey, I think that's!!"

"En, it's him alright."

"Let's check it out!"

"Forget it! Don't you see the group? That's the Pala Kingdom! The recruited past winners are also there."

The cultivators immediately shook their heads. They could only watch from a distance as the event unfold. There was no telling what would happen but they could feel the same scrounge of amazement as they had their goosebumps rose the moment he took the eleventh step.

The man of the hour was still shaking his head as he vehemently breathed. He still couldn't believe her words but he somewhat felt that she was not lying about it.

"Gr!" Raul gritted his teeth before he called out his name once more. "Lyon!"

"Huh?" He raised his head before looking at Raul and the bunch on the entrance. "What?"

"Tch!" Raul was pissed but he turned up a smirk. "Why are you here?"

"To eat you dumbass what else am I supposed to in a restaurant? Cook? Well... I mean yeah, but, I'm here to eat!" said Lyon.

"Watch your words junior!" said one of the past ten winners.

"Who are you?" asked Lyon as he raised his eyebrows.

The group was lost for words. The man talking was one of the past winners from the last tournament, the same one that Lyon was undertaking now.

"Listen, I have not eaten since morning alright! I was strolling the night yesterday, you can ask Folcre over there if you don't believe me, now, where was I, oh right, I'm here to eat good food not to shed blood on this lovely carpet. If you have some decent respect, then by the gracious of your mother's tits, pick a table or fuck off."

Lyon shooed him away with his hands without any regard for the latter's status. He grabbed another drink before gulping it down. The words coming out from Cecile's lips still brought shivers to his spine. It was clear from his cold breath that he was not ready for anything like that.

However, Prince Raul and his group were taken back by the unruly words that were spouted out of the mortal cultivator's mouth. He might break first and second round's records, but those things didn't earn him the right to be rude to him.

He was still the prince, the person that one day would succeed the throne of the strong Pala Kingdom. They had accumulated more power than the other three and their aggressive method could be seen even by a beggar on the street.

Raul gritted his teeth as his aura flared. However, everyone knew that it was incomparable toward the man that not only equally stood against the four kings but actually overcome them.

"You and your foul words!" said Raul as his handsome face was no more.

"Sorry for the wait, young master."

Assid comes out with a huge tray that looked like he should use two hands instead of one. It was an extravagant meal. Extraordinarily exquisite. One could see the glaze and one could smell the blaze of perfect temperature. The seasoning mix that was unmatched even in heaven, even the ones that had no sense of smell could be drawn by a twitch of their nose. However, what made them truly worthy of an emperor to eat, was that one could hear the crisp crack of the duck skin as it releases soft steam of heat.

Lumina was the one with the most heightened sense of smell than the rest of the group. She had already forgotten half of the words that Lyon had just said. She already had her eyes locked to the entrance to the kingdom. She could smell the fascinating technique that was bestowed upon those dishes.

"Please kindly step a little back, young master," said Assid before he gently put the dishes one by one. No matter how heavy it looked, he took it with one hand. He maintained the proper order and grace of a high-class butler. Clean and sleek, there was not even a drop of oil even after he was cooking the entire thing.

"Woah," even Lyon was startled by the amount of food that was presented. "Did you make the entire course menu on one tray?"

Assid shook his head, "This is just an appetizer, young master, please enjoy to your heart content."

"Alright!" said Kesya as she immediately picked up a fork and plunged it down toward the duck breast.

(Duck breast is an appetizer?) thought Lyon as he gulped. (This is a royal class buffet!)

*Clank!

"Eh?" Her fork was met with another. She carefully trace it back with her eyes before they narrowed. "Lumina?"

Lumina didn't even look at Kesya as she twirled her fork away before plunging it with her own. However, she was not eating it but rather gave it to Kesya instead.

"O...kay?" Kesya slightly pulled her face back as she received the fork that was given to her. The weird act from the dragon woman got her worried.

Lumina nodded slightly before she suddenly stood up. Everyone was looking at her bending slightly before her hands gently made their way under the plate. She picked them up under everyone's eyes before she put the giant plate to her side of the table.

Lyon's eyes bulged open as he looked at the neat duck breast glazed with special brown sauce before looking at Lumina, back and forth. (Is she really that hungry?).

Assid had returned to the kitchen but the bunch on the entrance still stood stupefied by the development. It was so bizarre to take in for them.

"Torga!" shouted Raul.

Lyon had his face turned bitter. No one ever felt good when their eating session was disturbed. He nodded up against Graham. "Sent them out."

"Understood."

Graham stood up before the crowd immediately took a step back on pure instinct. He didn't even need to turn around before he jumped to the first floor. Though his body was huge, he landed with nothing a soft thud. His ashen hair draped on his shoulder as he crossed his arms.

One look was enough to make Raul gulp his saliva. The man standing in front of them had faced uncountable battles, the fact that he could live this long was the testament, the pure testament, to his unmatched capabilities.

He crossed his arms like his master but didn't let out a smirk like an icon. His eyes turned sharp as he looked at the rowdy bunch.

"As my master demand, you can eat, but do keep your manner, shout my master's name and you will be out of this restaurant."

Graham gave out his ultimatum. Either obey or got humiliated.

They knew the meaning very well, but still, they hesitated. Behind them was the Pala Kingdom. The kingdom that had harnessed and must be treated with the utmost respect from any fraction. Only either a really capable man from a higher plane or a madman could even think of deterring their image. However, they knew which of the two he was from.

"L-Lyon! Do you think you are stronger than First Heaven?!" said Raul as he disregard the ashen half-giant.

"You mean your Pala Kingdom or the entirety of First Heaven?" asked Lyon as his eyes focused on the variety of options that Assid gave him.

"Tch! First Heaven!" shouted the prince.

Lyon put his forks down before he stood up. He walked around the table before standing on the edge and looking down at the famous prince.

He crossed his arms as his aura flared. The magnitude of his charisma was unmatched as his black hair fluttered against his own aura.

Cecile pressed her fist against her cheek as she looked at her husband. She then muttered, "This is the difference between a prince and a true emperor."

The distance between the two youth might only be a leap away, but the bearing that the two owned was akin to heaven and earth.

"Heh," Lyon smirked, before he continued with a flat tone, "I am."

"Wha—"

*Boom!

His words were cut short before they were blown away by a sudden force. The entire group flew out of the building and caught the attention of the passerby. They were all rolling out like a group of weak cutlivators that was at th mercy of nature.

Graham immediately walked forward, approaching the gate. He didn't even take a step outside, but a glance from his eyes was wished by no one of the onlookers.

"This restaurant is reserved for the young master," said Graham before he slammed the door shut and left the chandelier shaking.

Everyone was gasped at the outcome but dare not approach the prince of the Pala Kingdom and the rest.