Emperor's Reckoning

The group was not kindled by the gazes of the adventurers standing by in anticipation of the Swarm. Their cloaks were fluttering against the free wind as their steps were unhindered by even the strongest of beasts. They all had their smirks on their faces as they made their way toward the gate.

"There was no Swarm, wasn't there?" asked White Perch.

"No, there wasn't any," answered Di. "It's a false alarm, or maybe..."

"Maybe what?" asked The White Perch.

Di shook his head, "I have a matter to settle, I will see you later."

The White Perch furrowed his brows as he looked at Di jumping down. He darted from his back toward the cloaked group approaching the city gates. He had experienced their tremendous presence inside his own guild hall. There was no mistaking the crushing feeling that he felt at the time. He was so insignificant in their eyes, so much so that he couldn't even utter a word even when he was supposedly the strongest man in the building.

Abaddon made a wry smile, "That's some entrance, why are they all the way over there?"

Mona shook her head, "It won't be a bad idea to assume that the feeling we felt came from them."

"You are that confident of them?" asked Abaddon.

"I'm scared of them," said Mona.

"Hmm..." Abaddon nodded whilst pressing his lips. She had told him how the group ended the Swarm in the first city, all by themselves. It was an unprecedented feat, especially with a Behemoth in the mix.

"It's a false alarm guy," said one of the adventurers who just came down from the walls. "White Perch and Di have come to the conclusion that there is no Swarm coming today."

"Huh?" The adventurers turned around and raised their brows.

Their surprised eyes soon turned into a sigh.

"What the hell, I thought we are having a hunt," said one adventurer.

"I just honed my sword only to swing the air," sighed another adventurer.

Abaddon shrugged and smiled before he turned around. "Mona, I'll be going to Master Di and tell him what you told me."

"En," Mona nodded. "If the Flame Guild can make these guys join, we would be unstoppable."

Abaddon made a wry smile. ( I doubt that they would even consider joining if they have that much power in their arsenal ). Abaddon shrugged, "We will see."

Soon the adventurers disperse even before Cecile and the rest arrived at the city gates.

"Oh? What's this? I thought we are having a welcoming party," said Kesya.

"More likely they turned wary because you unleashed your power," said Cecile before she chuckled. "Though, they failed to realize that what you did, also frightened those beasts in the same radius."

"Meh, they are too weak anyways," said Kesya as she rolled her eyes. "They have no idea what's waiting for them beyond the Myriad Devils."

"They are not going to Myriad Devils," said Assid.

"Well if they want to grow, they eventually need to go there."

"Alright, enough," said Cecile. "We need to settle the deal with that Di guy."

"Young Miss, please let me do it," bowed Assid.

"No, it's alright, we need to ask about Selena after all," said Cecile with a smile, "I will join you, in fact, the rest of us will."

"I understand," Assid kept his head lowered.

"Don't leave me behind now, hahaha."

"Huh?" Luna turned around before the group followed the same. Her eyes opened wide as she saw the very same young man that pulverized the brutal clashing aura between Assid and Kesya with mere words. "Lyon!"

"Yup, that's my name," Lyon chuckled.

"Oh? You no longer wear the thick cloak I gave you, why?" asked Cecile.

"I told him to keep wearing it, but he doesn't want to listen to me," said Lumina by her side whose face was for the bright sun to see.

"Look at you two, you made up," Cecile chuckled.

"Hahaha! Do you think so? hahaha!" Lyon laughed merrily.

Lumina rolled her eyes but didn't disagree with what Cecile had just said.

"Are you Lyon?" asked Luna.

"Hahaha, huh?" Lyon raised one of his brows before he smiled, "I am Lyon, just not the one that you knew, Luna Phantera."

"O-Oh is that so...." Luna gulped as she looked at the young man in front of him. She had said during the time she spent with him that she thought he of the past was an extraordinary one. That he must have sat at the peak of the hierarchy, the peak of the world itself. Yet, the person right in front of her right now might not be as much as she imagined, but there was a certain indomitable air around him that proved her words to be right.

"Lyon, put on the cloak," said Cecile.

"But no hoodie."

Cecile sighed, "Deal."

"Fine," Lyon smiled before he proceeded to put on the cloak just as his wife told him to do. He shook his head and lift up the back of his hair from being trapped in the cloak before letting out a bright exhale. He put his hands on his waist, "Alright, let's meet Justdy."

Cecile turned around before leading the group. Everyone was walking away except Luna who was at the very back.

"Luna."

"Huh? What?" Luna raised her head before founding Lyon's smiling face.

"You look like you have something in mind."

"Ehm... no, no I don't," said Luna, "P-Please excuse me."

Luna past him before her hand was caught. "?!"

"I know your worries," said Lyon. "He and I are the same, I'm just a bit more mature version than him."

He turned her around before the two meet eye to eye, "I see what he sees, I feel what he feels, when he regained his old memories, we will become one, you don't have to worry about losing him... err.. me.... us? Damn this is confusing."

Luna let out a snort before she chuckled in her hand.

"See, you laughed," Lyon laughed.

"I feel slightly better, thank you," said Luna.

"Only slightly?" Lyon smiled wryly.

"Just this slightly," said Luna as she sized it up with her thumb and index finger.

"Heh, at least it's better," Lyon laughed before he caught with a glimpse in his eyes that the group was out of earshot. His eyes turned sharp, "Luna, I have a favor to ask."

"Huh?"

The change of bearing startled her but her ears were kept open.

"When he regained his memories his soul will suffer a terrible collapse," said Lyon. "He either turned crazy, fall into a deep depression, or something, I have no idea either, this technique is still unknown, however, I want to ask you this, because he make a bond with you after his death."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"I want you to convince him to look into the future and not cling to the past," said Lyon.

"Cling in the past, what happened in the past?" asked Luna.

"Something terrible happened," said Lyon as he sighed. "However, you should be able to convince him, you and the rest of them."

"The rest of them?"

"Those whom he holds dear, and they who hold him dear," said Lyon.

"I-I see."

"I'm sorry to put you in a burden, but, he needs to move into the future, only then can he have the reckoning in the future," said Lyon.

"Reckoning in the future?"

"Yes, Heaven and Hell will both pay for what they have done," said Lyon as a seeping killing intent almost frosted the firmament in the sky, but he managed to hold it behind his glance.

He closed his eyes, "Sorry, I almost lost control."

He let go of his hold on her arms before smiling, "Let's go, can't have the others waiting."

Luna stood petrified as she saw him rushing to the group. Her hand was on her chest, she could feel it thumping. The way Lyon showed his glance was sharper than any blade she had ever bled herself over.

"He needs my help?" Luna muttered. He was the man that had reached the peak of the world. He was perhaps could be said the ruler of an eon. Yet, he still asked her a favor. ( What can I do to help, I'm not as strong as her other women, in fact, I'm the weakest ).

"Something terrible had happened in his past life? What kind of terrible thing would befall his glory?" muttered Luna before she turned around and hovered her glance toward the horizon over the meadow. Luna shook her head before she buried her fingers in his fist, "Either way, I have to try when the time comes, no matter what it takes."

"Luna, oii!" Lyon called out from the distance.

Luna turned around and give him a firm nod, "I'm coming!"

( No matter what happened, Lyon, I will help you when you're in need! ) Luna rushed to the group. "Wait for me!"