Emperor's Reckoning

Cecile had her right hand turned into a fist with a bit chunks of the Summoning Ruby Stone scattered on the floor nearby. A thin red mist escaped between her finger before she opened her palm and turned it over. The rest of the bits fell down.

The confident smirk on her face was remarkably attractive but her attractiveness paled in comparison against her meaning. 

She was standing against the entire First Heaven. There was nothing in this world that could deter her gaze. Gallant and mighty, she was as strong as she was lithe. They all demeaned her husband in her presence but her heart was unyielding. 

"What's the wrong Hezar?" said Cecile. "You seem so adamant that he was not going to make it, that he was eaten by those boars."

Hezar gritted his teeth. (What the hell is he doing?! Why hasn't he killed that brat yet?!) thought the middle-aged man. He was a cautious fellow and sent one of his subordinates to the forest upon the realization that he couldn't predict nor detect Lyon's movement, to the point that he was sitting right beside him all along.

The royals didn't utter a word. There was no rule that said one couldn't return with Summoning Ruby Stone. The option was in plain sight but they never thought about it. 

Zet grinned as he realized that he would be back. There was no stopping Lyon from returning by using that direct method. He had no idea how Lyon would even have the slightest chance of returning were it not for Cecile. He was ready to not forgive himself if Lyon lose because he didn't make it in time.

Whilst most of them realized that Lyon was coming back. The spectators immediately chattered amongst themselves.

"Hey, how many pounds do you think he had collected?"

"I don't know, at this point, I have not the slightest idea. The mortal cultivators performed too well in this round."

"I know right, they all exceed the heaven cultivators by a mile away."

"However, we don't know that yet, remember, the past ten winners agreed to let the experts check the platform used, we might find some anomaly."

"To be honest, I doubt it."

"What do you mean?"

"Look, the experts were crouching around the platform yet they didn't even touch the damn thing."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning that there was nothing wrong with the platform, but, due to the influence that the royal possess, they stuck in a tight spot."

"You mean finding a fake reason?"

"Exactly. Things must go their way, else their lives might be in trouble if they don't."

Hilde was looking at the experts examining the platform used for weighing the pouch. She had her eyebrows furrowed before her father caught her. 

"Hilde, my dear, you notice something unusual again?"

"Huh? Oh, I just thought that the experts are not in a really good situation right now."

"Explain."

"I think that they found nothing wrong with the platform and are trying to find an excuse."

The king furrowed his eyebrows. "You mean to tell me that you believe the numbers to be true?"

Hilde shook her head. "The number is absurd indeed but it's not impossible. Especially if that man is involved in all of this."

The queen that was listening to the two immediately added. "That young man is really unruly but skillful. He didn't bat an eye and respect First Heaven at all, unlike most of the mortal cultivators down there."

"Do you think that he was acting like that because he has the power to do so or because he was a fool and crazy?" asked the king.

"Ah, that's a hard question, my darling," said the queen with a smile before her eyes turned sharp. "When I met him he was really open and looked lazy. His behavior was nothing more than a commoner you can see walking on the street. However, there was something exuding around his figure that I can't directly explain."

"Hmm... it seems that he has weight if you say so," said the king.

Hilde nodded. "He indeed could withstand a grown Golden Dragon's aura without flinching. He is something else, the worst part is, we don't know a thing about him besides his relationship with Cecile."

The queen nodded, "If a Wargod Physique cultivator finds him deemed to be an absolutely perfect partner then... we are all in for a huge surprise. Heh, I'm starting to think that Hezar won't be alive for long."

"A power that made the Wargod Physique submit," the king furrowed his eyebrows. "I wonder what his full strength is like."

Hilde smiled before she returned her glance toward the experts down in the arena.

"What took you so long?!" 

Hilde furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at Raul getting impatient. 

"S-Sorry prince! But..."

Raul furrowed his eyebrows, "But what?"

"W-We see nothing wrong with the platform, everything is working perfectly."

"What?" Raul furrowed his eyebrows as he glared. "Are you telling me that I'm wrong?"

"C-Certainly not! We are nothing but a mechanic or so to speak. Our grace is nothing against yours, please forgive our dull mind, Prince Raul," they bowed.

"Hm!" Raul snorted.

Hilde shook her head. "This is pathetic," she muttered.

She opened her mouth before a shout snapped her intention away.

"He is coming!" said Kesya as she pointed out at the sky and beat the man from the spectators that were always on time.

Under the dying twilight and the conquering night, a red light was coming down like a meteor. His arrival, as if it was supported by the millions of stars that were hovering in the eternal darkness. 

All eyes were on the red light as most furrowed their eyebrows and some had a grin on their faces. He was the man that was talked about nonstop. His presence, with or without, caused trouble for First Heaven.

Tael grinned, "That lad is coming, boy oh boy, my heart is racing hahaha!"

Carius crossed his arms with a smile whilst the matriarch of the Yuki clan smiled under the veil.

"Tch! That brat is still alive," Hezar muttered as he gritted his teeth.

The red light didn't crash against the center of the arena like the others but instead, it was right beside Cecile.

The light dissipated before gradually revealing the young man within.

The past ten winners immediately furrowed their eyebrows upon his arrival. There was no telling what the young man had done in the forest.

"Eh?" unlike the tension in the arena, the young man was oblivious as to what just happened. "I'm back...?"

Porealus raised his eyebrows (Wait a minute, he didn't know?)

Ivy furrowed hers (So... he was just pure helping Zet gets back? It was luck?)

Zet grinned (He is awesome). "Welcome back big brother!"

"What?" Lyon was still confused before he noticed Cecile beside her. "What just happened?"

"Welcome back, young master," said Assid as he bowed.

"Emp— I mean, young master Lyon, how did it go?" asked Kesya.

"Master, I have no doubt that you will crush this tournament," Graham nodded.

Lyon twitched his eyebrows. "Alright, alright, calm down all of you. I'm still comprehending what just happened, did I just get summoned?"

The three of them nodded together.

"I see, I thought I was summoned to another world again hahaha!"

The three of them had no idea what he was talking about.

Cecile looked at Lyon and her gaze immediately switched. Many keen eyes noticed the difference immediately. It was that kind of gaze that one gives to their loved ones. The eternal calming gaze that could soothe one's soul without a word needed.

"Did I summon you at the wrong time?" asked Cecile.

"Oh? Oh, it was you, well can't say that it's wrong," said Lyon as he smiled. "I was about to fight a hellboar, it was massive!"

Lyon opened his arms to show how big it was to Cecile. The latter chuckled at the excited young man that acted like a child to a mother.

"Lyon."

"Hm?" Lyon looked over Cecile's shoulder to see  Lumina was approaching him. "Your time is running out, the sun is almost set."

"Oh right," Lyon looked over before catching the platform in his view. 

"Just threw it," said Lumina. "Make sure it landed on the platform though."

"Heh," Lyon smirked before he reached out his pockets and pulled out the little magic pouch.

Lyon lobbed it toward the platform. All eyes of the expert cultivators immediately followed the little pouch. The kings the queens and the royals, everyone was interested in his assessment, especially the middle-aged man that he wanted to kill, Hezar.

"Oi, Hezar," said Lyon just as the pouch landed perfectly.

Hezar looked at the young man with a glare.

Lyon crossed his arms as he said, "I killed him."

Hezar's pupils shrunken before a series of gawks and gasps were heard from the spectators. 

A number courted all of their attentions. The atmosphere froze as nobody uttered a word.