Emperor's Reckoning

"Older brother Lyon, long time no see," said a young handsome young man with a vibrant tone.

"Jugen," said Lyon with a nod, "I..."

"You what?" Jugen frowned.

"What's with the sour face, Lyon?" Karina frowned. "Did something along the way? I mean, you didn't even say goodbye."

"W-Well, the plan was— my plan anyway— was to get back in an instantaneous return, so that by the time you woke up, you're going to have uh..." Lyon looked down before he muttered, "Two hands..."

"That's too convenient, even for you," Karina frowned.

"I see that the two of you definitely need some room, sadly, this is outside," said Garuda with a wry smile as he approached both of them. "Why don't you two have at it in the garden? Meanwhile, Yunesia and I will have to tend to the guests."

Garuda turned before looking at the ladies, "Of course, I will play great host."

"Splendid," said Cecile. "By the way, have you seen my father and mother?"

"They... I think they are on their honeymoon or something," said Garuda. "He won't tell me the details though."

Cecile laughed, "Hahaha, let the old couple make love then."

( That's... I don't think that's appropriate to say to your own parents though ) thought Garuda.

Lyon smiled seeing Garuda before darting his glance toward Karina. "I have to talk to you about something."

"Huh?" Karina raised her brows. "Alright, then let's go to the garden."

"We've just been there," Jugen rolled his eyes.

"You did?" Lyon asked as Karina led the way. Noticing that Karina's distance was parting further, he spoke softly toward Jugen, "How is she since I'm gone?"

Jugen sighed and shook his head, "Not that good, every time I see her looking at her missing forearm, my heart aches."

Lyon sighed.

"But that's a thing for the past right?" Jugen chuckled before tapping Lyon's chest with the back of his hand, "You can cure her."

The thud found only solemn in the hero's face. "Lyon...?" Jugen muttered before seeing him off with Karina. His lips parted as he watched them two entering the garden.

Inside the garden of Garuda's Mansion.

"Well, it's quite rare to see you having a grumpy face like that," said Karina before turning around and catching him right at the state she had just worded out. "What's wrong, dear disciple?"

"I uh..." Lyon slightly shook his head.

Karina snorted a smile, "Well! ... It's not every day to see you running out of words. What do you have to be sad about? You even bring a new woman on your journey back home."

"It's not about the women that I'm..." Lyon sighed.

"Yeah, it would be weird if it did," Karina chuckled. "Come, spill it."

"That's... quite some phrasing," Lyon smirked.

"There he is," Karina rolled her eyes. "Just as I thought I was losing you."

Lyon took a deep breath, "Teacher, I have some—"

"It's the two of us now," said Karina.

Lyon smiled, "Karina..."

"Yes?" she answered with a hue of blush on her cheeks.

His eyes turned solemn as he approached her. "I've failed."

The moment slightly paused before Karina tilted her head with her eyes blinked. "Failed at what?"

Lyon tightened his upper lips before looking at her again, "I've failed to find a cure for your arm."

The two shared silence before Karina said, "Oh..." she looked away with the lightest smile she could show.

Lyon was helpless at the sight of the woman who had saved his life twice. "I..."

"It's alright Lyon," said Karina as she enjoyed a few steps whilst looking at the canopy of the tree. The shimmering light escaped through the gaps of the branches and the holes of eaten leaves. The wind slightly breeze away as the branches tussled to make a gentle tune.

"THERE IS A WAY!"

Karina was jolted by his words. She turned around with Lyon clenching both of his fists. "Lyon...?"

"There is a way, Karina," said Lyon firmly. His face was not beaming but full of determination. "There is a way to cure your arm."

Karina's parted lips curved upward, "Then why are you so sad?"

"I just..." Lyon took a deep breath, "It's just that... I hate disappointing people."

"Oh?" Karina raised her brows before she made a burst of laughter.

"Huh?" Lyon raised his brows.

"You? Of all people?" Karina clenched her stomach as she laughed. "Oh please stop with your jest, I haven't had breakfast yet."

Karina shed a tear at the corner of her eyes whilst saying, "C'mon Lyon, nobody's perfect."

Lyon sighed with his shoulder loosened, "I know... it's just that, it's you."

"It's me?" Karina raised her brows. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're the last person who I want to disappoint," said Lyon. "Because you... you saved me twice, and I... I feel so helpless. That time when I heard that you're held captive, I..."

"Lyon, shut up!" said Karina.

"Huh?" Lyon opened his eyes before seeing Karina's glare.

"What are you whining and sobbing about?" said Karina with one hand on her waist. "What happened has happened, lingering in the past won't change that."

"... but I."

"No but!" shouted Karina. "You promise to bring me to Hell one day or have you forgotten that?"

"No!"

"Good!" Karina nodded. "Besides, if you have found another way, then there is still hope that I can be healed. If that also fails... well... living with one hand is not that bad either, consider it the honor of a true cultivator."

"I will make sure that it won't fail this time," Lyon smiled.

"That's the confidence that I want to see," Karina nodded.

"Well, that's because we are going to Hell," said Lyon.

"Huh...?"

"That's right, the details are not that important but we are going to Hell, I will make sure of it!" Lyon nodded.

"Are... you sure?" Karina asked once more.

"Absolutely certain!" Lyon nodded.

"And how are we going to do that?" Karina asked.

"Well..." Lyon proceeded to explain his lucrative plans to enter Hell.

"Fuck me..." Karina muttered. "Are you serious?"

"I told you, this one is going to be one hell of a trip," said Lyon.

"Spare me your dry jokes, this is serious," Karina answered.

"I'm serious Karina, you saved me twice! That's more than one finger to count! We will go to Hell, get your arm fixed, and perhaps we might stay there for a while since that's the source of Anti-Mana," said Lyon before further explaining. "Think about it, not only you will be healed but you will also get stronger, the TRUE honor of a cultivator. You will reach an even greater height."

Karina's face was beaming as she heard his words before her imagination of the future abruptly stopped. "Then, what about you?"

"Me? What about me?" Lyon frowned.

"In Hell, you would be feeble," said Karina.

"Oh..." Lyon contemplated with his hand rubbing his chin. "I never thought of that."

"That's so you," said Karina.

"But don't worry about it, I'm sure I can think of some way," Lyon nodded. "The problems still lie with how to find seers in Heaven."

"Perhaps the guests know a way?" asked Karina. "They said they were from the Second Heaven."

"Of course! You're a genius!" said Lyon.

"I..." ( Is that sarcasm? ) thought Karina before she watched him go away as he said, "I'll be right back!"

Meanwhile one of the rooms is available for the guests.

The sleeping Judsah suddenly opened his eyes wide as he got up, "Hah!"

"What? What happened?" Judsah said the moment he caught a glimpse of the old man he was with.

"You were humbled by the hero," said the old man's principal.

"Oh.." Judsah looked at his bare hands before they saw them tremoring.

"Still think that young master Mavis's recommendation is a prank?" The old man smirked.

"I... so it wasn't a dream, what were those," said Judsah.

"That's his strength," said the old man before he sighed. "Truly there are more things to learn in this world."

"Even you?"

The old man lifted up his beard before Judsah's eyes opened wide in disbelief.

"They managed to reach your neck?!" said Judsah.

"It's not they, it's one man," said the old man. "It was the driver with 'Godhood' cultivation level."

"That's impossible!"

The old man shook his head, "It's not impossible. Our judgment was limited by this world and that was our fatal flaw. Once you reach a certain point in cultivation level, you can manipulate how the weak sense you."

".... THEN! Then that means, that guy... he too camouflaged his real strength?!" Judsah said as he gulped subconsciously.

"Most likely the entire people inside that carriage were covering themselves in the blanket of a sheep to pulverize a neighboring pack of wolves or perhaps an even more dangerous being."

As soon as the old man's words fell, both of them twitched their eyes. They all looked over the door to find the person they were talking about making an appearance.

Lyon reached for the nearest chair before rotating it in reverse and sat down in one single perfect motion. He crossed his arms on the top rail of the chair with a smirk on his face, "Now then, what do you have to say for yourself."

Both of the guests parted their lips opened.