Emperor's Reckoning

The figure slowly revealed himself from a corner. He knew there was no point in hiding it anymore since the whole army already occupied the place. However, his face was not that of fear but instead, a playful smile was planted.

"How scary haha," said Zeth as he clapped his hands.

The young man managed to break his expectations yet again. Not even batting an eye offending such existence. Truly someone who would dare the heavens.

"Two minutes," said Zeth suddenly as he put up two fingers.

Lyon furrowed his eyebrows. He had an inkling of what he was talking about but he kept his silence.

"You were late by two minutes, you with all the talent you possessed, you still late, by two minutes,"

Ryona gripped her ax only to have Kyoko shaking her head. She knew what Zeth was talking about but she also knew that only Lyon could face the problem. Now is the best time as any.

"What are you getting at?" asked Lyon.

"If you were here two minutes earlier, she won't have suffered such a fate, you know who I am talking about," said Zeth with an opened arm.

Lyon gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. He didn't refute his claim because it's the undeniable truth, his presence could have changed everything. He always reminded himself from time to time, yet he was still late, again.

"But, what if you can change that?"

Lyon loosened his fist as he furrowed his eyebrows, "What do you mean?"

"What if you don't have to be in time all the time, what if we could take care of the issue for you?"

"Speak clearly."

Zeth shook his head, "Join us, and we shall take care of all of your mistresses! No harm shall be done to any of them! I put my title as the leader branch of Legion in Deo on the line!"

The word Legion perked the leaders' ears that were currently in the formation. They immediately unsheathed their weapon as their armies did the same.

"Lyon no! Don't listen to any of his bullcrap!" shouted Luna as she immediately rushed to his side and readied her sword.

"Princess Luna is right Lyon, besides, I suspect that the group had corrupted my older brother!" shouted Aelina as she too rushed beside him then pointed her sword against the gullible leader of Legion.

The first prince childhood was unlike his grownup version. He was an adorable little boy and kind to his subjects. He never mistreated them, not even once, but something suddenly changed him.

"Hey, hey, let's not jump into conclusion here, sure I don't have the proof to prove my innocence but you don't have one to prove that I was guilty either," refuted Zeth. Despite being alone, he kept his calm in check. The feat that only an experienced leader could have.

Aelina clicked her tongue. Though she was sure that Legion corrupted her older brother, there was no proof in the first place.

"And if I refuse?"

The others' eyes lit up as soon as they heard that. They knew Lyon won't betray them for something like that.

Zeth let out a sigh, "I hope you won't say that, but if you indeed refuse, then we must use another way for you to join us, if that still fails, then I'm afraid we have to eliminate you."

Lyon furrowed his eyebrows, "What way?"

Zeth pointed at a woman that was standing proud after having subdued the black-haired queen to the ground. "For example, we might capture her and blackmails you, having you utter an oath with your soul, I'm warning you, we have a lot of strong cultivators."

Karina furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at him.

"What.. did you just say?" his voice turned cold as Clemora's and Biane's state came into his mind. They were chained, their bodies were full of bruises. (Never again!).

(Shit, did I triggered him? Zephyr get ready!) thought Zeth as he could feel the killing intent slowly encompassed his body.

*stomp

Luna's and Aelina's hair fluttered as sudden boisterous speed crashed into her face. The figure they were flanking, leaped forward leaving his shadow.

Zeth opened his eyes wide (What?!).

He saw the green-bloodshot-eyes were vertical like a snake. His heart skipped a beat as there was an image behind him for a flash second, a being that was regarded mythical. A being that could make the heavens crawl. A green-scaled dragon.

"Haa!"

Lyon slashed his weapon diagonally across Zeth's shoulder and chest.

His blood spurted out as Zephyr didn't manage to contest its speed against him. However, before he managed to scream, a scally hand grabbed his face.

Lyon held him in the air as Zeth's blood won't stop spilling. He struggled to rid his grip, but alas he was like a fish on a chopping board.

The rest finally caught up to the scene before they were agape at the sight. He was the leader of the ominous group, his strength was mostly beyond the armies but now he was held in the air by a single hand to the face.

"Die."

His bloodshot eyes turned sharp as he stabbed the red-blood sword toward Zeth's heart.

"Big brother!"

Lyon furrowed his eyebrows as a kick suddenly nearing his stomach. He had no choice but to let go and block the hidden attack.

*boom

Lyon's figure dragged backward because of the force. Though it didn't manage to break his scales, the force was enough to force him to release Zeth.

The man stood between them as he appeared to be a younger version of Zeth. Though it was an astral figure that came out, it managed to damage him despite the knowledge of what Lyon knew.

"Retreat, your wound is quite serious, use the returning stone," said the astral figure before he took an interest against the one he made a kick to.

"What a magnificent form, what kind of blessing is that? A dragon?" asked the astral figure with a smile.

*crack

"We will meet again Lyon, haha!" shouted Zeth as he crushed a jade stone before enveloping him to a green light that shot to the sky.

"You are peculiar indeed, I hope you joined us, you will certainly be an important asset, farewell," said the astral figure before it dissipated.

The two of them, left the scene, signaling the end of the war. The army immediately rejoiced as the victory was theirs, even though their only feat was making their way to Heaven's Dawn.

Despite the cheerful atmosphere, Lyon was still in his true dragon form as he watched the distance to which Zeth flew.

Ryona patted the worried princesses as she smiled at their faces.

------------------

Zeth was sent back to his room where he received the late king of Heaven's Dawn. He was coughing blood non-stop as he smiled at astonishment.

"Amazing, the blood kept flowing out even when I suppressed it with my cultivation," said Zeth as he rummaged through his drawer to find a specific pill.

"Ah, there it is."

The pill was green-colored, with a tint of redness on the tip meaning it was a level four grade pill. Though it was not perfect, the probability of it being unstable was fairly low.

"To think that I would use this pill in this world, heh," smirked the man.

*splurt

His eyes opened wide as the pill dropped from his hand with a thud. He slowly glanced down as a green-scaled hand penetrated his chest from behind. He didn't need to think hard whom it was belonged to.

"Y-you're kidding right," was the last sentence he muttered to the world before his eyes lost its light.