Emperor's Reckoning

The moonlight and stars beyond seemed to exist just for this moment. The beautiful wind fluttered her hair and taking off her cap.

When the cap dropped to the ground, Karina finally snapped out of her trance and pushed Lyon away. Both of them didn't say a word for a whole minute, however, Lyon's mind was occupied with fear.

(Oh shit SHIT SHIT SHIT!! I'm so dead !! The F*ck did I just do?! I just kissed her like that? not that I mind though).

A shade of red appeared on Karina's face as she tried not to look at Lyon in the eye, but she still stealing a glance.

(She's so cute and beautiful..) thought Lyon.

"I.." said both of them at the same time.

"Y-You first..." said Karina.

"I-I'm sorry ....I-i-i didn't do it on purpose!! please forgive me!! you can punch me or anything just don't kill me yet." said Lyon while lowering his head.

Karina chuckled seeing his expression. She then turned her backs on him and said: "It's alright, I don't need to kill you or anything. It's just that ... that was my first time kissing a male. I guess it's special in its own way."

Guilt was the only thing Lyon felt where he was supposed to feel relief. Hearing the maiden said that with not so high or low voice made him realize that in the end, she was a really strong-hearted woman.

Then Karina faced the night sky and said: "You owe me one for this, and not a single word about this comes out to the crowd."

Lyon was in a trance seeing her like that, only the word 'yes' came out of his mouth.

"Alright let's end today's training and get back home, AND don't be late for tomorrow's training!!" said Karina smiling while turning to Lyon.

"YES!" said Lyon while smiling back.

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The sun once again illuminated Nostria.

Jugen was still in the bedroom recuperating along with her sister Karina. "Big sis, you looked like a girl in love for some reason."

*Bang

"AHHHHH!"

Karina then broke his leg then said: "What did you just say?"

"I-I said nothing." (Aih, how can I heal if you keep breaking my bones)

Karina got up then walked out of the room, only to see Lyon already waiting in the backyard. Then the two of them started to go to the jungle and trained.

This had been going on for Lyon in the past three days.

"I'm going to teach you a skill," said Karina

"Oh what skill?" said Lyon.

"It's a fist skill since my primary weapon is gauntlet after all."

Karina then stepped back and punched a tree with lightning speed and then struck her palm. She only used two motion to activate the skill, a punch, then a palm.

*Boom

As the palm made contact with the tree, all the leaves on the tree fell down. It didn't take long for the tree to rupture from the inside and finally crumbling down.

Lyon was dumbstruck seeing what happened in front of his eyes, there were no energies of earth and heaven used at all and the tree was as big as 1000 years old oak tree and it goes down like that with a punch.

After retracting her palm Karina said: "This is actually the very first skill I learned, the 'Shattering Palm'. The idea of this skill is to jumble the heaven and world energies inside the enemy and make them explode from the inside."

"The trick of mastering any skill is to use the energies outside of your body, not by absorbing them but guiding them in your moves."

"In one on one battle, it is recommended that you use skill rather than magic because the cast time can leave you vulnerable."

But then Karina sighed and said: "There is a limit to this skill, however, if the body is strong enough to handle a jumble or can control the energies inside, the explosion will not occur and you will be left open." then Karina seems to remember something : "I had this theory for a long time ago but never actually done it. If you somehow can guide more energies than you normally do, then the power you blasted off should be more powerful. But then again, this will be really strenuous to the body and leave you with more wound instead."

Then without warning, Lyon tried to motion like what Karina did.

*Bang

The tree he punched shook wildly but no leaves fell down, only his palm imprinted on the tree instead.

Karina chuckled seeing Lyon did this. "You cannot master a skill in one day dummy," said Karina. But as soon as she said that Lyon tried again ... and again... and again...

(What do you know, besides your lazy attitude, you really worked really hard for something you want) smiled Karina.

5 hours later.

*Bang

Nothing changed. "Why not take a break first, and continue later?" asked Karina.

"I can still continue Karina."

*pak

Karina hit Lyon's head. "Call me teacher," said Karina. Then she said: "Well since it's only the two of us, I guess you can call me Karina then. Hmm? why are you smiling?"

Then Lyon motion his hand on top of his head to signaled Karina to do the same. As Karina motion her hand, she was surprised that there is something on top of her head.

It was a pair of leaves, they came from the tree Lyon practiced on. The surprising thing was the leave didn't fall down because of the shake, but from within, this could be seen as they both had traces of energies left.

It took Karina six months to even had one leaf falling down and that was already considered a genius. But Lyon only took about five hours. This talent was out of this world. If the founder of this technique found out about this, he or she would shit his or her pants and quit cultivating and sell snacks instead.

"If you have this speed of mastery, you might trample down the competition later on. Wait a minute the selection is two days from now right?"

"Yes it is, but I already earn a quota for myself."

"How did you do that?"

"The Queen personally give me the spot."

"The Queen did? Are you close with her?" said Karina with a jealous tone.

"W-w-well not as close as you might think I am.," said Lyon nervously.

"Hehehe I'm just messing with you." chuckled Karina.

(This woman!).