Emperor's Reckoning

Cecile leaned back as she raised her arm. She yawned as she gave him the denial wave. The leisure that she gave brought the scorn of the so-called Sir Hezar.

Even though she belonged to a somewhat royal family herself. Cecile was not keen on acting polite and graceful-like as the typical princess one would find in a good royal family.

She was first and foremost a sovereign in her own right. She could do whatever she pleased and only a handful of people could stop her.

"Hahaha, husband and wife, they are really perfect for each other," Tael laughed.

Hezar turned his glare against Tael. He smirked as he snorted. "Why are you laughing? Your grandson is probably ended up inside a boar's stomach."

Tael looked at Hezar before he snorted back with a smirk. "You think so?"

"I think so, indeed," said Hezar as he grinned.

"Then he is fine," said Tael as he turned his gaze back.

"What? What do you mean?"

Carius snorted, "He is saying that his grandson is fine, especially after you think so, since... everything you think of has been proven wrong."

"What did you say?!"

"Sit down, Hezar," said the king.

Hezar raised his eyebrows before he bowed and deeply apologized for his rude behavior. "Forgive me, your majesty."

The king nodded before he returned his gaze toward the arena. 

Folcre had proven himself worthy of the tutelage from his son. The astonishing result had reigned the competition by far. He smiled as the Pala Kingdom grow stronger.

(Soon, the other three kingdoms couldn't help but cower against my kingdom) thought the king as he smiled.

"Look! A jade light!"

"Holy shit! You did it again!"

A lone jade light was coming from the blemish of the twilight in the sky. The dusk is fast approaching and this single light came crashing down to the middle of the arena.

"Porealus!" Carius exclaimed.

The figure that was revealed from the dissipating light was Porealus. The noble Mortal Cultivator that was seemed on good terms with Lyon.

"Woah, you guys already here?"

Porealus was looking at the participants beside his own that had gathered before him. They all looked quite cocky with the smirk on their faces 

"What's wrong guys? Surprise to see me?" asked Porealus with a smile.

"Tch! Shut up, outsider. You're lucky you didn't run into three-horned hellboars! That's why you're here?"

"Hah! Speak for yourself!" said Porealus before he walked toward the designated place to give out his pouch.

"Hm? This is new," Porealus looked at the different platforms that they use.

"Your performance will be judged by the weight instead of the sum," said Cecile leisurely.

"Eh? When did that happen?" asked Porealus. "I've heard nothing about this."

"It happens just before you came," said Cecile as she smirked. "No need to know the details, tell me, did you see my dearest on the way?"

"Hehe," Porealus smiled before he lobbed the small pouch in his hand toward the platform.

"One hundred..."

"Two hundred...!!"

"Three?! He surpassed Altre!"

"Four! Wait a minute... oi!"

The spectators gawked as the number stopped increasing. They all hardly blinked their eyes. The number was absurd to the point that the royals had theirs squinting. 

Hilde had her mouth opened as she took a glance against her father and mother. They gawked as well as she was.

Raul couldn't believe his eyes. This mortal had surpassed even that of Folcre, the noble that he personally trained to be his subordinate. 

Words stuck in their throat even the Sverine Princess, Cherie, not to mention Rupert. No words could explain what had just happened. No matter how hard they rubbed their eyes nor they wash their face, the number was absolute.

"Impossible," said one of the pat ten winners, Devan.

"You're kidding, a mortal surpassed First Heaven cultivators? That's..." muttered Ruria.

"Eduma," muttered Sakey.

"En, this is unusual," muttered Eduma.

The host had his lips trembled but he must announce it out loud. "P-Porealus! F-Five hun—"

"I WON'T ACCEPT THIS!"

A shout came in before everyone turned their glance at Altre. 

Folcre smirked as it seems like he didn't have to do a thing.

"You must have cheated!" pointed out Altre against Porealus as he approached him.

"Woah woah, back off now, you lunatic."

"W-What did you say?!"

Porealus's surroundings seemed to not appreciate his words but he couldn't care less. "Back off, it's against the rules to fight outside of the round."

"Kh! You are cheating!" shouted Altre.

Felicia was standing by his side like a docile sister, but she gave Porealus the same glare.

"Says the one who sneaked against me? Please, your words are only worth a single pea, and even that is insulting for the pea."

"W-Wha?!"

The sharp words that could cut one's soul were uttered out from his mouth. Nobody in heaven thought it coming. Not even his own grandfather did.

"Hahaha!"

The laughter broke the cold silence, and who else could it be but the woman with auburn hair. She acted as if this town was her to roam and her to do as she pleased. Nothing but a backyard for her own comfort.

"I see, you've met Lyon haven't you? There is no one else would you learn that from if not him."

Porealus nodded. "Indeed, I met him, not too long after these lunatic siblings attack me and Ivy."

"You!!"

The matriarch from the Yuki clan immediately stood up with her eyebrows furrowed. "Young Porealus, is my disciple alright?"

Porealus made a dejected face before he shook his head. "The condition was not that good since she suffered a direct hit and we separated on escape."

The matriarch closed her eyes and tightened up her upper lips.

"Thank you."

She sat back down. The worry was obvious but since she had learned the art of the cold, she was ease too easily than the common cultivators.

(I have faith in you, Ivy) thought the matriarch.

"Hmph, collecting horns is nothing but a hunter's job, the round is still long," muttered Folcre before he bowed against Raul.

The gesture brought everyone's attention. It was apparent that Folcre was apologizing for his lack of performance.

Porealus smirked he choose a lone wall and leaned his back on it.

"Don't give me that look guys, this mortal has beaten you, now swallow it hole," said Porealus as he crossed his arms.

"Cocky brat."

Tael raised his eyebrows as he looked at his friend. "You said that but you are grinning ear to ear."

Carius was grinning at his grandson. There was a hint of proudness within him though he disagreed with some of his conduct. This was one of the rare times that he was aligned with the slacking grandson of his.

"Host! That guy is cheating!"

"Oh shut up!" said Cecile. "If you can kill each other in that place, what the hell is the word 'cheating' even for?"

Porealus raised both of his eyebrows (Can't beat that logic).

Altre and Felicia were stumped before both of them glared at Cecile.

"Oh? Do I need to remind you how you got wasted in the Mortal World?" said Cecile with a smirk.

"Wasted?"

"They both fought here before?!"

"And they lost?!"

The spectators immediately talked amongst themselves.

(What?! The problem in the Mortal World was actually with her?!) the sibling's father opened his eyes wide but uttered not a word.

"Kh!.." Altre wanted to shout that she was lying, however, Felicia shook her head at him.

She knew the auburn woman was more dangerous than Hilde and Cherie combined. Not only her prowess but her awareness of the surrounding, her sharp acute mind. She was ultimate, a dead person to deal with.

"I won't deny your prowess Cecile, but why didn't you join the tournament?" asked Felicia. "Afraid to fight against me and my brother?"

The spectators immediately opened the canal of their ears slightly wider as Felicia lobbed all of the attention at the auburn beauty.

"Afraid fighting you? Then let that be a reason," said Cecile. She didn't even raise her tone nor did she sound like she was defeated. She was nonchalant all the way. The poise posture only leaned into the fact that she lied about being afraid.

(Tch! Sly woman!) thought Felicia as she clicked her tongue.

"Oh? Look's like someone's coming! Look there are two jade lights!"

Streaking through the blazing twilight before crushing down against the arena.

The matriarch immediately smiled as Tael grinned proudly. 

The other two cultivators from the Mortal World had arrived.

Zet and Ivy had arrived at the scene. However, Zet's hands were gripped tightly as the surrounding guilt enveloped him.

Porealus smiled, "Took you long enough, hmm?"

He furrowed his eyebrows he looked at the gaze that Zet gave against the ground.

Ivy lightly smacked Zet's trap before she walked past him. 

Zet opened his eyes as he watched her back. "Older sister..."

She didn't post questions like Porealus before she lobbed the small pouch in her hand.