Emperor's Reckoning

Heroes all over the world had gathered in four different cities in Continent Blue or World of Blue as the locals called it. Though the mana was already many times denser than the last world Lyon was in, the pressure of a mountain was upon them as mortals' peak event about to set.

The greatest of the younger generations must meet with each other to determine who was the strongest of them all and they were not talking about pure brute power, but everything else in combat or even non-combat were also taken into account. 

One hundred people had earned the title of Crown, however, there was only one seat available for these young men and women to fight over. No matter what race, what capabilities, what special bloodlines one had, the strongest one was all that matter.

The four cities were divided by the name of where winds directed themselves. East, West, North, and then South City. All of which had their ceremony for The Throne set up. The huge bells were placed in the heart of the city where people could easily gather around. With seven huge steps leading up to the ashen and plain huge bell, there was not a single mallet on the platform where it stood.

Every one of the one hundred must hit it with their own mana and let the  Bell of Heaven determine how it should call above. They could use their fists, legs, weapons, or anything to channel the mana and rang the bell. However, the bell would result in the same phenomenon no matter how hard one hit, so the competitors couldn't fool the others. Albeit, the gauge to measure their strength from the phenomenon that occurred was quite vague since they differed for one another.

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East City

Their people had already gathered at the center of the city with Crown winners gathering in a queue in front of the seven steps of stair leading to the Bell of Heaven. Everyone was unique from one another and it was even more so with the way they dressed. One was exuding the aura of a leader while the other was sinister. One was casually playing with fire with the flick of his finger while the other sparks under the cloaks. 

Menacing weapons, deadly killing intents, intense auras, all of them didn't hold anything back. However, some of them were already famous than the rest and made an impact. Those young promising youth was placed at the top of the board. It was not a ranking per se but it was a board that showed the favored ones to win The Throne. 

"Hmm... Thunderous Princess, Simfoni Aya."

"Fist of Eight Stars, Erigon Den."

"Juvenile Spear, Zu Gusya."

The young man rubbed his chin as he looked at the list in his hand. He read every single name before his mouth twitched as he read the last one. He slapped the paper with the back of his other hand as he complained.

"This is bullshit! Where is big bro's name?!

His long blonde hair draped around his shoulders before he put the list on the table and picked up a wooden glass that was filled with wine. He didn't bother to sniff the whiff out of it before taking a gulp before breathing out a satisfying breath. His face was as handsome as the elf but his ears were obviously that of a human.

"Jugen, what are you doing here inside the room alone?! The ceremony is about to start!"

Jugen immediately felt a cold jolt inside his body as he heard the voice. He recognized it from the moment he was out of his mother's womb. Her unbelievable strength and talent for combat were in a whole different class than him. He was usually the target practice from the time where they were young however, he was saved by none other than the man he admired the most. The same man who without a doubt slowly changed his tomboyish older sister.

"Yes!"

Jugen immediately opened his room and walked behind his older sister. He looked at her back before he contemplated (She sure is changing, not just her personality. There is something about her aura that felt different from before).

"Big sister, I can't feel the same pressure coming out of you from before. What had happened?"

"Hmm?? You must have become stronger then, good for you."

.

.

.

Jugen instantly stopped his tracks. (HAAA?!) Jugen was screaming inside his head as he looked at the figure that was walking in front of him. Sure she got the same blonde hair as him however the words she just laid out made him suspicious. (Is she really my sister?! I know big brother's presence in her life must have gradually changed her, but there is NO WAY she would be this nice!).

He gulped his saliva before sneakingly summon his bow from the spatial ring. His breathing turned slow as his eyes focused. He quietly nocked the arrow to the bowstring before he simultaneously pulling and aiming against the back of her head. (Alright Jugen, you are now provided with two options, one is to ask her if she is an imposter but then I would lose my surprise element advantage, second is just shoot the arrow, however, if she could dodge it then she is not an imposter which means, I would die).

(Heaven if you can hear me! Please hit!) he screamed at the top of his heart before letting the arrow go.

Time seemed to slow down as Jugen's heart raced. He could see his pupils adjusting to the view as he looked at the arrow going to the back of her head.

Karina's eyes instantly turned serious with her eyebrows furrowed. The moment her second foot landed on the ground she immediately turned her body a little and the arrow casually went past by her. Her pupils slowly moved to the source before it turned into a glare.

"W-W-Wait big sister! This is just a misunderstanding!"

However, Jugen could only lament his stupid fate as he watched how his sister didn't have any shred of kindness toward her only sibling.

"WHAT."

Karina was already in the air as she said the word.

"ARE YOU."

She twisted her body around with one leg raised.

"DOING!"

Jugen didn't even move as the skins on his cheeks made a wave the moment her barefoot made the impact. His figure immediately launched to the side before a boom ensued as he was embedded in the wall.

Karina clapped the dust out of her hands as she looked at her unconscious little brother on the wall with blood running from his mouth and nose.

"Honestly, what the hell is wrong with you?!"

She shook her head before she let out a sigh. She approached her younger brother before dragging him out of the inn by the legs. Her action caught a lot of attention from the onlookers who were there to witness the ceremony. She looked around before founding her group.

"Eh? What's wrong with him?"

Ryona asked as she squatted down and look at Jugen's spiraling eyes.

"He just acted stupid for some reason."

She let out a sigh before she let go of his leg and crossed her arms to watch the ceremony.

Luna was watching at the front most of the group alongside Kyoko who seemed to be more excited than the rest as the first hero started to take the first step before standing alongside the huge ashen bell.

The figure was topless and tall compare to the other peers. He was topless and the lines of his muscles were defined. He wore martial arts shoes and long black pants to free his lower body part movement. The eight-pack monster took a relaxed breath as his eyes turned to focus. His dragon braid hair was fluttering against his aura.

"To think that the first person from East City is going to be one from the top boards."

"Fist of Eight Stars, Erigon Den."

"I favor him to be the one that will take the throne this generation."

Mana gradually gathered around his fist before his muscles tensed as he took a stance.

"Haaaa...."

His fist slowly approached the huge ashen bell before he closed his eyes. The onlookers all clenched their buttcheeks as the anticipation was heavy. They were curious about the phenomenon that would occur.

Erigon opened his eyes before he let out a gentle fist against the bell.

Dong!!

The sound reverberated to the whole city even to the outskirts of it before the sky suddenly sent down eight orbs of light down through the clouds like stars slowly falling. This was the answer the ashen bell gave out before the eight orbs of light dispersed into nothingness.

"Wah!"

"Amazing! Amazing!"

"I couldn't have expected more from Erigon himself!"

Erigon closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he retracted his stance.. He stood straight as he opened his eyes with a smirk as he heard the praises from the onlooker.