Emperor's Reckoning

"I hereby declare the custom to begin!" said Anskar while standing and spread his arms forward.

*WOAHHH

The audience riled up once more.

"I"m here to take Luna as my bride, as the Phantera custom goes," Draco then took off his armour to reveal his tight black training shirt, "Please test my abilities to prove my worth." Although he was saying that, he didn't take it too seriously as he believed that beating a trash wouldn't mean anything.

The girls were screaming his name to get his attention. But he only looked at Luna with only dirty thoughts on his mind. Then he motioned his lips toward's Luna.

'I'm only gonna made you my concubine'

Luna knew what he was saying as she also motioned her lips.

'Trust me, I would rather marry a monkey then you.'

Draco face was fueled with anger. Meanwhile, the scholar just scratched his itchy hair, even though he didn't know that they were talking.

"C'mon hurry up!" shouted Draco.

*swoosh

*thud

Amazingly it was Martis who brave enough to confront him. "Please," said Martis while holding his greatsword.

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"Hahahhaha, are you kidding me. This trash wouldn't even last one hit from me," said Draco.

Anskar notice that his parents didn't reprimand the son of their attitude. 𝗳𝘳𝒆𝘦𝑤𝐞𝚋𝗻𝚘𝘷𝘦𝙡.𝑐𝐨𝘮

"Begin," said Anskar.

*tch

"I will give you handicaps, I will only use one hand to beat you and if you can land a single hit from me, it's your win," said Draco.

Martis gripped his greatsword tightly and veins were popping out. He slammed his eyebrows and his eyes were filled with rage.

*Swoosh

Martis jumped at Draco with high speed, but Draco only smiled in response. He shifted his body to the right to avoid Martis slashed.

As Martis's greatsword about to touch the ground, Draco punched his side.

*boom

Martis was sent flying to the edge of the arena, however since he was not out, the battle continuous.

*tap

*tap

Martis was struggling to get up as there was blood on the right edge of his mouth.

*swipe

*tap

*tap

*tap

Martis clearly injured as he was moving more slowly than before, "Phantera Art, Tiger Tornado."

*swing

*swing

Martis rotate his body along with his greatsword moving away from the centrifugal force and a huge violent tornado was release toward Draco.

*sfwoosh

*swoosh

"Amazing, he mastered the Tiger Tornado even though he was still young." said one of the audience.

"That's not all, for a top-level heaven realm this feat should be impossible, even if his affinity is wind." said one of the experts among them.

"Hmpph! Useless art!"

Then Draco motion his right arm, to literally slap away the tornado. f𝒓𝑒e𝙬𝒆𝚋𝘯૦𝘷𝐞𝑙.c𝑜𝐦

*sfwoosh

With a slap, the tornado was disintegrated which bring a smile to Draco's face, but he soon had a surprised expression.

(He is gone?!).

"I GOT YOU!" a screamed took Draco by surprise.

*Sfwoosh

"HIYYYYYAAAAHH." Martis swing down as hard as he could to take advantage of the boost from natural gravity.

However,

"Hmph!" Draco smiled at the incoming attack once again and crouched

"Too slow," Draco slightly bent his body to release a palm to Martis's stomach.

*Sfwoosh

Martis was sent flying under everyone's eyes.

*Boom

*Thud

Martis was spat out from the wall unconscious and he left a human-sized indent on it.

*tap

*tap

The imperial doctors from the kingdom quickly rushed to the scene to bring Martis away for treatment.

"Is there no one else in this kingdom that dares to challenge me?" declared Draco.

"I haven't even used my bloodline yet!"

Anskar was still calm despite Draco's action, which made him looked more unfathomable. Like he was watching a blabber from an ant.

"There is one!" shouted a beautiful young girl from the balcony. With her shout, she stole all the attention in the arena, including her own father.

"Hmph! Who dares to challenge me with cultivation under soul realm?" replied Draco with his menacing gaze toward Luna.

Then that skinny hand of her pointed out someone that never ever crossed someone's mind. She was pointing toward the east side of the arena.

"No way right?" said one of the guards that got treated squid stick with cheese sprinkled on top by Lyon.

"To be honest I don't care, someone needs to teach that guy a lesson." said the other guards who got the same snack from Lyon.

Then Draco shifted his vision to the scholar guy. He really looked like a nerd you couldn't imagine fighting.

There was a reason why Luna was so confident at Lyon's capability despite his third elemental realm was no match for Draco.

The night before the custom day, Lyon contact her through the same magic he used when he shouted at her.

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It was when Luna was taking a shower, a magic brand suddenly appeared behind her,

"Pssstt! Hey Luna," said Lyon from the magic brand.

*Kyaa!!!

Luna's screamed woke a nearby maid, "Are you okay miss?" asked one of the maids from outside the door.

"Ah, I'm fine, I just slipped myself, you are dismissed," said Luna.

"Yes, miss."

"Lyon? is that you?" asked Luna.

"No, It's a mysterious voice who is gonna give you a system that will change your life ... of course it's ME!!" shouted Lyon.

Apparently, Luna didn't get the joke.

"Listen, I know you are confused as to why I arrived here early and not getting stronger first and I'm going to explain it to you," said Lyon seriously.

Luna then began to listen, she even forgot that she was still in the middle of a shower.

"It's because I'm strong."

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"huh?" Luna was confused

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"You explain nothing!" reprimanded Luna.

"Aih, alright then .." Lyon then explained that he could breakthrough anytime he wants and he had myriad of spells. He didn't explain about Selena or the three rings, because he was too lazy.

"Are you telling the truth?"

"Yes, of course, I wouldn't contact you just to lie you know."

"Why are you telling me this."

"Well, so you can sleep peacefully tonight and not worry about a thing."

Luna instantly felt a warm current inside her heart. Like a heavy weight on her mind was being lifted off by him. Since her mother died, she was like snow white without the seven dwarves nor a step-mother but more beautiful. His father became cold and colder after her mother's death, thus she was lacking love or attention. But by growing up into a young woman, she began to understand her father's changes, at least some of them.

"Thank you, Lyon," said Luna affectionately.

"En, of course, leave it to me, okay I gotta go, goodnight.."

"Goodnig-"

"Oh, by the way, there is some soap left on your left butt, bye!."

*zuut

The magic brand vanishes.

*RRRRGGHH

"Teehee~ .. that idiot." chuckled Luna after she gritted her teeth.

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Back inside the arena

Lyon with his scholar getup approached the arena with a smile. He had no intimidating aura or something like that. Just a simple walk to the stage, however somehow the audience even the ones on the balcony had an eerie feeling from him, they didn't dare to utter a single word. It was absolutely silent and only the tapping sound he made when he walked was heard.