Emperor's Reckoning

Black clouds were surrounding a place somewhere far away from the Mist Clan. With every drip from above, the dry road slowly soaked while the dust of a busy city could no longer be seen and children were rushing back home since the sunset was not viewable.

A flapped wings were going through the rain with no regards of the chance of getting struck by lightning. This type of birds was known for its weird habit of flying while it's raining. The reflection in its eyes revealed the sheer size of the entire place. It was three to four times of Kingdom Nostria!

In the center of the city was a palace where the ruler of the region resided. Symbols of a huge half sunrise banner embroidered it but one seemed to be out of place. As the heavy wind passed by, the banner lifted up to the side for a second, revealing a man-sized hole. The bird was quick-witted as it quickly hopped on the side of the hole watching the scene below it.

The leader on the throne carefully listened to the soldier in front of him without leaving any words behind.

"Our scouts have received some info about the cause of Prince Dome's death," paused the soldier before continuing, "It was a woman named Ryona from the Kingdom of Nostria, our scout said that it was a single blow to the gut from her that made him flying and indefinitely, killing the prince."

*crack

The right side of the throne cracked a little as the leader's right hand gripped it too tightly upon hearing the reason for his son's death.

The soldier was having cold sweat but he knew he had to continue the report. As he gulped a chunk of saliva he continued, "Nostria is a small independent kingdom, their strength was lesser than our four vassal kingdoms, that is until the Simak's Labyrinth exploration not too long ago."

"Upon the end of the event, there was supposed to be an attack from the Arcana Kingdom to occupy the Nostria Kingdom with our aid in which the prince was our representative. However, there were thirteen mysterious people that single-handedly stopped their attack or their tactics, completely, with absolute strength."

(Thirteen?! Thirteen people stopped an entire army? Not to mention my army?) thought the leader as he was glad he didn't rush out to seek revenge unprepared.

"Who are these thirteen people? Where are they from?" asked the leader.

"Our scout said that these thirteen people came from the Simak's Labyrinth, the ones that responsible for the trial in every ten floors."

"What?! Impossible! How could that be?!" said the leader as he was once a participant in the event as a guest. "Those things are monsters! The Labyrinth sealed them because otherwise there was no point in the test itself!"

The leader stood up with rage and disbelief in his face while the soldier nervously continued, "A-a-actually, there were a few more things that the scout said."

"What is it?" said the leader as he sat down once more with cold sweat building up on his forehead.

"R-Ryona, sh-she was dubbed to be the strongest of them all and this information was obtained from the other twelve. Her cultivation level was unknown but some guess she was in the divine realm, not the half one."

"D-divine?! A-a true Divine Realm cultivator?!" The leader's pupil shrunk as he heard the news. Ryona's cultivation was even higher than his by many folds!

(I have to seek aid from the other worlds for this revenge) thought the leader.

*creak

The entrance door of the throne room was opened revealing a soldier rushing inside. He bowed to the leader and whispered something to the other soldier.

"Are you sure?!" asked the soldier.

Nodded the gasping soldier.

"What is it?" asked the leader.

"Your majesty, we just found out that Ryona has a husband. This young man identity is also mysterious as he came from the sky."

"What the hell do you mean he came from the sky?!"

"Uh..." (I really should think my words before talking) thought the soldier.

Shaking his head the leader said, "Never mind, so what's wrong with this husband of her?"

A man that could make someone powerful as Ryona to be his wife must be something beyond imagination.

"Actually he is a heaven's realm cultivator..."

.

.

.

"What did you say?" asked the leader with disbelief.

The soldier gulped once more before saying, "He is a heaven's realm cultivator and rumor has it that he was the one that broke the seal."

Silence sank in once more as the leader contemplated.

The leader didn't question the validity of the news this time since from the beginning it didn't even make sense. However, he knew the soldier wouldn't give him false news as that would result in their own death.

(Lyon Torga, whoever this man truly is, he is the key to my revenge!) thought the leader.

The leader stood up, "I, Drake Arabasta, as the king of the Heaven's Dawn kingdom, heed my decree! Find any information and capture Lyon Torga at all cost and I want him to be alive!"

"Yes, your majesty!" the soldier rushed back to deliver the holy mission for the others.

The room was soon empty, only leaving the king behind.

"Don't worry my son, no one ever live after offending the Heaven's Dawn!" shouted the king.

It was at this moment a piece of paper swayed from the top of the room. The thunderous boom of the weather made it unnoticeable until it landed on top of Drake's head.

"Hm?" He took the paper and noticed that the paper was still new while the ink was still wet. It was clearly had been made not too long ago.

Warm liquid started to appear between his finger as his grip was shaking. His forehead started to sweat with his pupils shrunk in disbelief.

The sounds of wing flapping were heard as the bird flew through the rain once more. It wasn't long until a scream of rage was heard throughout the city.

As the paper was torn by his massive strength he walked out of the room. The pieces of paper slowly drifted by the wind from the hole on the wall and it coincidentally almost reattached themselves as they read.

'Nostria's Declaration of War'