Emperor's Reckoning

It was blatant offense, every one of the inhabitants on the island had their heart churned in fear. A powerful noble who almost could do anything he wanted in the empire was now lying dead in a brutal way. His honor was torn and ripped out of his back that blood couldn't stop pouring out. He died with his eyes opened in horror and his meridians broke like glass. A proud demi-human race, a dragon, one of its descendants had fallen in their own home.

The emperor landed his feet on the ground right in front of the destroyed house. There was a hint of fanciness in those walls that were lucky enough to stand while the rest looked like a bomb just exploded. The noble residencies were only the second safest place in the empire only below the royal palace, however, it was reduced to such a state that even commoners would disdain.

The emperor gritted his teeth, he looked left and right. Trying to sense his presence with the flow of mana, but it came out nothing.

"COME OUT!"

His shout reverberated to the entire island itself as hatred and a feeling he refused to acknowledged flooded his soul. 

Everyone was on their toes on the lookout. Not a fly could escape their vision yet they found nothing, not even a hint of the one the emperor was searching did they notice, except the pair of wings which Sief had before.

"You force me to do this, old man."

A voice came out inside the emperor's mind as he opened his eyes wide. (Impossible, he is just a Divine Realm cultivator. This, this is impossible! You're telling me that my soul is so weak against him that he could penetrate my mind?!).

"F-father, did you hear that?" asked Julian.

"What?! You heard him too?!" asked the emperor in disbelief.

His son looked at him with concern in his eyes, "Not just me, father."

The emperor raised his eyebrows before he looked at the expressions around him made as he looked back at him. His wife, Julian's brother Julius, and the army support the cause of the empire. Everyone was concerned as anxiety slipped in their souls. The only hope they had was the composure of the emperor which didn't happen.

He closed his eyes before settling his heartbeat to a calming rate. He took a deep breath before opening them once more. He was the emperor of the empire that the demi-humans proud of. He won't let a single demi-human revolted against him especially a mere human that wanted to shake things up inside. The morale of his people was the same as the strength that resides in those muscles of his.

"What do you want, human?"

There was a hint of killing intent behind those words that came out from the strongest demi-human in this world. 

"You're daughter."

There was not a single pause as he replied to the emperor's words instantly. He paid no mind that the one he was talking to was a leader of a vast army that could conquer almost any land. However, how could common people understood the amazing composure he had when talking to a higher cultivator than himself, like they were beneath him from the moment they were born.

"Impossible, I will not give my daughter to you, she is to be wed with someone from a Golden Dragon race in four days."

The emperor shook his head as respect and morale in his people grew even more. 

"What is this, Golden Dragon race?"

"Of course a human wouldn't know, you guys are always shallow in knowledge due to your limitation shortage," said Julian before he continued.

"Golden Dragon is a highly respectful race from a world that has higher and denser mana quality than ours and especially yours. They have golden wings and golden vertical pupils for those that came from the royal family.

"We seek a place in heavens! And the son of our sister will have the ultimate bloodline that capable us such a feat!"

"Hahahaha!"

Lyon laughed out loud in their minds to Julian's disbelief. The latter grimaced before he asked, "What are you laughing about?!"

"You say my knowledge is shallow due to the limitation of my age. Pathetic, you don't even know what type of monkey that strolled around the empire, YOUR EMPIRE, and have a wonderful and unforgettable date that sparked much jealousy."

"Hm! Why would I research what type of monkey that you are? It would be nothing but a waste of my time," said Julian as he shook his head with a smug on his face.

"Nice try of being cocky, but are you sure you don't want to know what type of monkey that could rip and thorn apart a dragon's wings with his bare hands, right from its back? I'm sure you would like to know."

Julian gritted his teeth after hearing his condescending tone. It was a humiliation any dragon bloodline could have. Having their honors stripped away, especially by a being they thought inferior.

"Heh, I thought so."

"Old man, you better cancel the arrange marriage."

The emperor shook his head, "No, the day has been set and she will be wedded, nothing could stop it. I will lay down my life if I have to!"

"Good, because you will."

The emperor furrowed his eyebrows as he clenched his fist, "Is that a threat?"

"A superior being does not threaten those who are inferior to it."

"What's that?!"

"Hahaha, for a king, an emperor even, you're quite anxious, do my existence and the absence of my body worried you so?"

"Hah, you're nothing but a coward that likes to hide."

"Me? A coward? Hahaha! I hope your eyes are still working because look at your surrounding. Armed to the teeth with the quantity that exceeds a hundred against a single, lone, prisoner escapee."

"Tch..."

"You better cancel that arranged marriage emperor, I don't want any unnecessary bloodshed."

"Hahaha! Do you think you could take on a matured Golden Dragon? On your own? This is rich! Their wings are different than ours! They are stronger and had more tenacity than any of us!" said Julian with a condescending smile.

"That's what Sief said before I slowly pulled his wings off as his scream aligned with the pulled-out nerves that connected it with his back."

"Sief is weak, why don't you compare a rat with a tiger too at this point?"

"You're right, I guess you better be careful in these four days. I might slip my hand and thorn apart your wings."

"Hahaha! Come and try me then!" said Julius as he taunted to the air.

"Sly, I applaud, old man, is this your future successor? The one that inherited the throne? Surely not that nerd that said he read books but couldn't say shit about my race, right?"

"Father?" asked Julian as he looked at his father in the eyes.

(This sly fox! He dares to use my own family to his advantage!) thought the emperor. He knew that he was dealing with no ordinary human but throughout the conversations, he kept on having the lead, and now, he was using the tension every royal family had. The matter concerning the future throne.

"Don't believe in his useless provocation Julian! You're better than this!"

"But father, the fact that you refuse to answer only brought about unrest within us."

"Tch! None of you will inherit my throne! It will be the son of your sister who will."

"Well, I mean, I don't mind having my son inherited an empire from his grandfather as a toy, but with how you treated his mother, I doubt he will call you grandpa or your wife grandma."

The emperor gritted his teeth, "Keep talking nonsense, you will only devalue your self-worth!"

"My self-worth is not determined by others but by me. Well, that's all for now, let's see if you can sleep well within these four days, I could be anywhere in this world but I won't leave. Will it be an arranged marriage or an arranged funeral, HAHAHA!"

"You! Come back!"

However, the emperor didn't receive an answer anymore. The army was looking at one another before he told everyone to scatter and sweep the island.

Meanwhile, sitting on the edge of the princess's balcony was the man the whole royalty want nothing but his corpse.

"You sounded more like a villain than they do," said the dragon lady with a chuckle as she poured out water to the golden tea leaves inside the teapot.

Lyon chuckled, "Well if it weren't for you, I would have split the island in half right there and then in the square."

"Oh really?"

"Why are you doubting me now?" Lyon chuckled before he continued, "My fart could destroy a ca— *ehem, I mean half a cave, I think I'm strong enough for that feat no?"

"Hm? E-ehm yeah sure! Of course you can haha!" (He must never know! I will keep this secret as long as I deemed necessary!).