Emperor's Reckoning

There was no shortage of news. The death of the Elite Five spread faster than a wildfire. Cultivators or merchants, they all knew the details, for the corpse was still lying in front of the restaurant.

Outsiders would not dispose of the body as it would be offending the Pala Kingdom. There was enough rage as it was, they won't tolerate another offender.

As the news traveled from ears to ears and many cultivators gawked at their words, one name was also on the rise to fame, or rather, an enigma.

The young man who originated from the Mortal World was currently on his way back to the inn. Might not be the most lavish compared to the others, and he had complained a lot, but it was enough.

"Hm?" Lyon raised his eyebrows. He had arrived at the entrance of the inn but he saw no one standing behind the receptionist's desk.

"Where are they?" asked Lyon.

The staffs that were working for the inn was gone. The hall was empty but the decorations were still left intact. Painting on the walls, huge standing vases, even the scent of the inn still lingered.

"Lyon!"

A silvery voice of a woman was heard. He turned around naturally to the call of his name.

He saw the beautiful woman, cold as ice, but her current expression belied the chilling bearing that she had.

"Ivy?" muttered Lyon before he put down his hands. "It's nice to see you again, congrats! You have entered the final round! Effectively joining the ranks of the top ten!"

However, his praises were not met with gratitude but instead furrowed eyebrows.

"What have you done?!" asked Ivy as she narrowed her eyes after approaching him.

Despite the figures behind him, the woman stood with resolute eyes.

Kesya blinked twice before she nudged Lyon's elbow, "Emperor, you sly man, did you sleep with her?"

She winked at her ruler but the latter didn't seem to be surprised by her words.

"I wish! Hahaha!"

The two of them brazenly laughed to the ceiling of the inn as if they had no idea what predicament lies before them.

Ivy balled her two fists. "Lyon!"

Lyon's hair slightly fluttered as his face was met with the frosty wind. His eyes felt the chill as he looked at the woman in front of him.

"What? What is it?" asked Lyon. He saw her upper lips were tightening.

She herself knew that her power was far from the young man in front of him. There was little to no use of using force against him.

"What have you done?!" asked Ivy.

"I have lunch? Or was it a brunch? Yeah a brunch," nodded Lyon. "What's wrong? Oh..." (She must be hungry).

"No, she is not hungry Lyon," said Cecile as she chuckled.

"I see," said Lyon as he nodded. "Then, what do you want?"

"Big brother! Bad news!"

Lyon let out a sigh upon hearing that cheerful voice. He was dismayed, and he didn't even turn around to greet the red-haired young man. "What is it now, Zet?"

"You are being slandered!" said Zet.

"Slandered?" Lyon scratched the back of his ear. "Slandered for what? Wait a minute, Ivy, is this what you meant?"

"What do you think?" asked Ivy as she crossed her arms.

"Alright, alright, I just ate, what kind of sla...nder..." His eyes opened wide as he realized what's going on. He felt a cold breeze, blowing against his naked spine, creeping up his goosebumps.

"Big brother, there you are!"

The noble voice came from none other than Porealus. The man was all smiles for most of the time but not this time. The look of worry was apparent behind his eyes.

Before the others could speak a word, Porealus immediately asked Lyon. "Is it true?"

"Hah..." he let out a dejected sigh as if he was defeated.

"I guess no matter how thick the walls are, someone still can overhear them," he muttered.

Lyon takes a deep breath before opening his mouth.

"Lyon, there you are!"

Zet's father suddenly came rushing but Lyon rolled his eyes.

"Come quick, my father and the other two were put on display in the arena! They are demanding your presence!"

"What?! Grandfather is what?!" asked Zet.

"Grandfather..." Porealus furrowed his eyebrows.

"Matriarch," her cold sharp eyes softened as she released her crossed arms.

Lyon's eyes turned sharp. "They took it this far? All for that measly matter?"

Lyon turned around before he strode forward. The group made way and they all wore smiles. The atmosphere heightened as the youth had his eyes set toward the biggest building in Afurnae.

The crowd immediately noticed them. The audacity of the young man had made him infamous, but this time he had taken it a step too far. They could only inwardly say their opinions about him.

Not the most gallant of all, but he was still a man to be reckoned with. Nobody dared to cross eyes with him. The bearing that he exuded had already rivaled the four kings. According to his sharp glance, the balance of power in First Heaven might not be living past tomorrow.

"It seems like the chances of final round occurring is pretty slim," said one of the onlookers.

"Not necessarily. They might hold it after this is over," said another one.

Considering that Lyon would be executed, this whole ordeal would be done and passed. There was no reason not to continue the tournament and open the final round for the rest of the cultivators anymore.

"Lyon, why did you do it?" asked Ivy as she rushed her pace to match his.

Lyon kept his face straight forward before he answered, "I didn't even do it, yet they take it this far? Look's they really are itching to have their heads roll."

Ivy furrowed her eyebrows, "You are being slandered?"

"Obviously," said Lyon.

"But why?" asked Ivy.

"I bet they want to shake Sverine Kingdom's power by letting out a scandal. Especially at this time where I am an easy target for such a thing," Lyon furrowed his eyebrows. However, he didn't realize that the others suddenly stopped walking.

"Eh?"

Only after a few steps did he raise his eyebrows. He turned around before asking, "What's wrong?"

"B-Big brother, just now, did you say the Sverine Kingdom?" asked Zet.

"Well, well, I wonder what are you talking about," said Cecile as her eyes teased him.

Lyon furrowed his eyebrows, "What?"

Ivy made a harsh gulp before Porealus gently facepalmed. Her icy gaze turned into that of confusion before she asked, "Lyon... are we on the same page here?"

"Oof," Kesya chuckled.

"Wait... What?" asked Lyon before his bearing shifted the moment he realized what's wrong. "Oh... I just dig my own grave, didn't I?

"Welp," Lyon clapped his hands, "Anyway, let's continue forward."

He put his hands behind his head as he whistled his way toward the arena, leaving the others dumbfounded and his group chuckled.

(Damn it, what a blunder) thought Lyon as he walked alone inside the hall. He would have never thought that the slander was not about his meeting with Wanda and Cherie. He was pretty sure that the only thing that they could slander out of him was that private meeting in the lonely alley.

His figure walked out from the gate and entered the main arena.

"There he is!"

"He showed up!"

The place was already crowded as if the last round was held.

Lyon stood nonchalantly amidst the powerful glares and gazes. He noticed that the kings and the queens had all assembled in their respective seats. However, his eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the three leaders of the Mortal World who were being chained on top of the ring to a large log.

"Hehe, nice to meet you again," said Tael. Despite being bound he was still giving him a laugh.

"That was a pretty reckless brat, but," Carius grinned, "It sure does feel good."

"Grandfather!" shouted both Porealus and Zet.

The matriarch didn't spare a word to him but instead, to the woman that was walking behind him. "Don't give your master that face."

"M-Matriarch!" Ivy called out.

"I'm alright," said the matriarch, "I still got my veil."

"Kh!" Ivy buried her fingers to her palm before she ran toward her.

"No don't!"

"Get back missy!" a shout was heard before Ivy opened her eyes wide. A kick toward her abdomen made her spurt blood from her mouth before she was sent backward by the blow.

"Ivy!" The matriarch shouted but the woman got back on her feet amidst the struggle.

The heavy kick caught her unprepared and showed the disparity between the two's power. Ivy furrowed her eyebrows as she wiped the blood off of her lips.

"Hmph! I guess you have some strength," said Erlang with a scowl.

"So you've come... Lyon Torga." The king of the Pala Kingdom stood up from his seat. His eyes were glaring at the young mortal as if he wanted to skin him alive.

Lyon put his hands down as he looked at the king of Pala Kingdom with his eyes sharpened.