Emperor's Reckoning

Poger stood a few steps away before Rayus, his chest heaving with anger and frustration. His face was twisted in a fierce scowl as he glared down at the young warrior, who had just thrust his sword into the stump of the man's arm.

Rayus stood before him, he was catching his breath. His eyes belied his slightly trembling hand. His glance was filled with fear but also defiance. He knew he had found a way to defeat him and how his enemy was aware.

Reinhard stood beside Rayus with his spear— Kayan —pointed at Poger.

"You have no idea what you're against, boys," said Poger with a fierce scowl. "There are mountains that you should not ever climb!"

Both students had their answers in their eyes. Both of them had faced their own bitterness. Now they stood facing one of the many obstacles to come. If they couldn't overcome what was ahead of them, it would be just a naughty dream to end Ferece.

"You can threaten us, all you want," said Noah. "We're not backing down!"

"Right!" said Reinhard and Rayus altogether.

"Heh," Poger smirked, "Teacher, I never thought that you would be so evil, teaching these students to march to their own end."

"March their own end? Is that what you see? Are you sure it's their end?" Lyon smirked. "Or, do you see yours?"

"Heh, hahahaha!" Poger laughed, "You truly are a talented comedian! Why are you trying to fend off the entire town against you? Are you sure that your wife would be able to handle Rezali?"

"No," Lyon shook his head, "I think she would go a little overboard and kill her."

"Hahaha! There you go again, killing her would mark your end of peacefulness!" said Poger.

"Oh? Why so?" asked Lyon.

"Your answer is to be continued, after the three burials!" said Poger before he punched at the two students standing before him.

"Now!" Noah's grimoire activated once more.

"Immortal Magic!"

( Immortal Magic again!? ) Poger furrowed his brows before turning his trajectory after landing the first step.

( Crap! ) thought Rayus and Noah at the same time as they saw Poger was after Noah.

"You think an Origin God Cultivator can keep up with me?!" Poger laughed. "Die! Imbecile!"

"Fangs of Eels!" shouted Noah.

Magic brand formed right in front of him but a fist surrounded with condensed mana sweeping up to an uppercut broke it with a single punch.

Noah could only look at the incoming fist and braced for pain.

"Oi, Noah."

"?!" Noah felt his shoulders being pulled back. The deadly uppercut missed his jaw by a hair before the shock wave blew against his face. His eyelids flapped as his hair fluttered. Life flashed for a moment.

"Tch! You bastard!" said Poger who glance down and saw how Lyon effortlessly denied Noah's death with just a pull.

"Teacher!!" Rayus and Reinhard exclaimed with their hearts almost sinking.

However, Lyon was not done yet. He quickly got up as Poger spun from the recoil of his missed attack. His hand sneakily moved before one of his feet was timed perfectly into hitting Poger's chest. Noah could definitely hear a roar when the impact was made, but it was quickly overpowered by the wail from Poger who was launched at Reinhard and Rayus.

Both students had their brows raised before narrowly dodging the incoming figure by jumping opposite of each other.

Poger was launched crashing against a still building.

"T-Thank you, teacher!" Noah exclaimed with eyes in tears and his hand feeling his racing heart. Life almost flashed before his eyes but it was canceled at the last second.

"No need, saving you was not my intent," said Lyon as he waved his hand before smirking, "Perhaps the dead didn't want you yet."

Noah smiled wryly. He looked at his teacher keeping the whole town at bay once more. Seeing more cultivators than there were fingers in one's hand could shake any confidence, however, his teacher was still nonchalant like they were nothing but children.

Noah knew that despite his words, the teacher genuinely saved him.

"Stop gawking around, your fight is not done," said Lyon without turning his back.

"Y-Yes!" Noah snapped from his admiration. His back was calling for his attention but he had to grit the pain through. The fight was not over.

Poger pushed rubble out of his way. He looked at Lyon's back with a fierce glare. He had no idea a simple kick was able to make him go through thick walls. He then pointed at Lyon, "You bastard! I thought you said something about not helping them?!"

"Did I say that?" Lyon contemplated as he looked at the sky, but everyone knew that he was faking it. He was inviting the rage inside Poger to reach a boiling point. "Oh yeah, perhaps I said that." Lyon shrugged. "But who cares, that thing is in the past."

"You!!" Poger's jaw was trembling. His teeth grind looking at the casual teacher treating the situation like a little game. "You will, REGRET!"

( Now! ) Rayus stealthily appeared right beside Poger. His eyes were looking at the bloody stump. It was Poger's current weakest point. ( If I can't kill you directly, then ). "Tailwind Art: Robust Whisper!"

"Ngh!?" Poger had his eyes widened noticing Rayus. He quickly used his other arm to cover Rayus's sudden assault, however, he was a bit too late as another blood vessel was cut. Blood churned out with higher intensity.

"Brat!" Poger shouted before he heard a shout.

"Over here!"

Reinhard shouted and sent out a flurry of thrusts that zipped through the air in each one.

"Tch!" Poger was struggling as he parried and dodge some of them before deciding to retreat with a leap.

He was breathing heavily, looking at the three students with anger on his face. He couldn't believe that the three of them were still alive even after a few clashes against him.

( Finally! ) thought Rayus as his eyes turned radiant. Poger's vitality had dropped so much that Reinhard could land a direct blow. "The table has started to turn."

( I can't beat them, not with that damn teacher over there! ) thought Poger as he assessed the situation he was in. He had to keep a tab on Lyon's movement whilst countering the three students' attacks, moreover, he lost one arm already. With the loss of blood, Poger was not able to sink in rage anymore, he needed to survive.

His breathing slowly stabilized before his gritted teeth turned into a smile. He pointed out at Lyon, "Remember this! Remember this! You all will die! This town will be a ghost town! Hahahaha!"

"What are you talking about?" asked Reinhard with furrowed brows.

"Focus, Reinhard," said Rayus, "He is planning something."

"You're cornered," said Lyon who dared to show his back to the group of cultivators. "Are you going to run back home to your boss?"

Poger laughed, "Cornered? Are you blind? You think these kids can kill me?"

"Seems like that to me," said Lyon.

"Hahaha! That would be the last joke coming out from your mouth!" said Poger. He willed his intention to summon a Returning Jade Stone, however, nothing came out of his hand. His eyes shifted from confidence into worry. He immediately rustled his clothing to search for it. ( Where is it? It's empty? )

The students furrowed their brows, even the folks that were standing with uncertainty behind Lyon were also confused about Poger's action.

"What's the matter, you look quite perplexed," said Lyon. "Are you looking for something? Perhaps a ring?"

"?!" Poger's goosebumps rose at the mention of a ring. He looked at Lyon before his pupils trembled. A familiar ring was in Lyon's hand. Poger prayed in the deepest part of his heart as he darted his glance toward his hand, but his prayer was not answered. The ring on his finger was gone.

"I'm sorry, is this yours? Do you want it back? Hah, who am I kidding, you're a Burgeon Swan top management, surely you have more than this," said Lyon. "Though..." he raised his chin, "Looks like you only brought this one."

"YOU BASTARD!!" Poger shouted and unravel his mighty presence. He knew that Lyon definitely stole his ring in the midst moment of when he was attacked. The action took a severe hit toward his vitality before it vanished instantaneously the moment he remembered that he was not alone. ( Rezali! ).

He quickly leaped off the ground in retreat. He franticly flew in the sky with teeth gritted. His mind was set on one woman, the one that could send him back to safety, the den of the Burgeon Swan.

"He's getting away!" shouted Reinhard before he leaped and chased Poger.

Rayus was doubtful before he got a nod from Noah and a shrug from Lyon. He nodded before following Reinhard.

After bursting through clouds, Poger was finally at the right place. However, his smile vanished the moment he saw Rezali's throat was already pierced with a sword. Blood was escaping her mouth as her body twitched with her eyes looking half-vacant.