Emperor's Reckoning

1124  Lyon + Kesya Vs Minx's Design

As Lyon found himself hurtling through the cascade of water, he rolled several times before coming to a stop inside a cave hidden behind the waterfall. With a seemingly unscathed demeanor, he got up, his face adorned with an amused expression.

Lyon chuckled, shaking his head. "A cave behind a waterfall, that's classic."

The cave exuded an otherworldly atmosphere, its walls adorned with phosphorescent moss that emitted a soft, ethereal glow. Lyon took a moment to observe his surroundings, his senses on high alert.

Lyon, still chuckling, shrugged nonchalantly before taking confident strides deeper into the cave. The phosphorescent moss cast eerie yet enchanting shadows, creating an ethereal ambiance around him.

"Not bad, uncle," Lyon mused, his voice echoing through the cavern. "Let's see what surprises you've got waiting in the dark." The subtle anticipation in his tone resonated with the enigmatic challenge that lay ahead.

The cavern echoed with the subtle hum of runes as the ceiling above Lyon sprang to life. A section slid back, unveiling an upward passage. Lyon, ever the wary adventurer, squinted at the opening with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't tell me," he mused, the suspicion evident in his tone. His intuition proved right as a colossal boulder, gleaming with an otherworldly sheen, descended with a purpose.

Lyon's lips twitched, his sarcastic pride intact. "What, no fire?" he quipped, already anticipating the inevitable.

As if answering his whimsical challenge, the boulder ignited, flames dancing along its perfect surface. Lyon chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course... So this is the part where I run? But the cave doesn't seem to have the right angle of slope to make it roll."

The boulder, now a blazing wheel of destruction, whirred to life with an intensity that signaled impending chaos. Lyon, seemingly resigned, let out a muttered, "Mother..."

In that moment, Rui's divine intervention manifested. Lyon's skin transformed to a resilient bronze, his eyes mirroring the same metallic hue. As the boulder surged forward, he matched its speed, embarking on a high-speed chase through the cavern. The fiery pursuit left a trail of scorched moss in its wake.

As Lyon raced through the cave, his newfound speed, a gift from the Moon Hare, surpassed even the fiery boulder's relentless charge. The supreme acceleration granted him a decisive edge. However, the whimsical nature of the cave seemed determined to challenge him further.

Lyon's eyes rolled at the familiar hum of activated runes along the cave walls. Elements sprang to life, each designed to hinder his unrelenting advance. Scorching flames licked the air, icy cones launched projectiles, small pillars emerged as obstacles and classic pitfalls with hidden spikes awaited the unwary.

Despite the escalating chaos, Lyon maintained a wry grin, muttering to himself, "Really pulling out all the stops, aren't we?" The cave seemed determined to throw every challenge at him, but the Zodiac Emperor, empowered by divine blessings, navigated through the orchestrated chaos with a blend of finesse and amusement.

---

Outside the cave, Kesya's impatience was becoming palpable, and Cecile couldn't help but notice the restless energy radiating from her companion.

Cecile raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Impatient, are we?"

Kesya shot a quick glance at Cecile, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "This waiting game is boring. I want to see the Emperor's grand entrance already."

Cecile chuckled, "Well, Lyon always has a flair for the dramatic. Let's hope he doesn't disappoint."

The onlookers, too, were getting restless, their murmurs filling the air as they awaited the return of the Zodiac Emperor. The atmosphere outside the cave was charged with a mix of excitement and curiosity.

Kesya, unable to contain her impatience any longer, found the perfect moment and leaped through the waterfall, her laughter echoing through the cavern behind the water curtain.

"Come on, Emperor! Don't keep us waiting!" she exclaimed, her voice carrying a mix of excitement and playfulness.

Cecile rolled her eyes with a smirk, muttering to herself, "Well, she always did enjoy a good entrance." The onlookers shared glances, amused by Kesya's bold move. The anticipation continued to build as they waited for Lyon's return.

Kesya, having boldly leaped through the waterfall, was met with an unexpected sight. Instead of finding herself in a cavern or on the other side, she was submerged in the depths of an expansive ocean. Holding her breath in disbelief, she scanned her surroundings with confusion etched on her face.

Suddenly, a colossal shadow loomed behind her, and Kesya's expression turned from confusion to frustration. "No, no, no, don't you dare!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with defiance. The massive jaws of a sea creature opened wide, as if ready to devour an entire island. "Ah, you mother—" Kesya's words were cut short as the jaws closed around her, and she disappeared into the abyss.

---

Lyon, unaware of Kesya's underwater ordeal, continued his breakneck acceleration within the cave. He even taunted the fiery boulder with a cheeky grin, shouting, "What's wrong? Can't keep up? Hahahaha!" The rhythmic hum of activated runes filled the air, as various elemental obstacles attempted to impede his path.

The combination of his agile movements and Moon Hare's supreme acceleration granted Lyon a decisive edge over the fiery pursuit. The cave became a blur of motion, with elements of fire, ice, and earth attempting to hinder Lyon's progress, yet failing to match the speed of the Zodiac Emperor.

Lyon, amidst the repetitive cycle of traps in the seemingly endless cave, started to discern a pattern. As he effortlessly navigated through the usual sequence of fire, ice, pillars, and pitfalls, a realization dawned upon him.

"Fire," Lyon casually mentioned as he effortlessly sidestepped the flames. "Ice," he continued, smoothly avoiding the frozen obstacles. "Pillar," Lyon declared as he gracefully danced around the emerging columns. He anticipated the sequence and jumped over the pitfalls, but his eyes were now searching for something beyond the expected traps. That's when he noticed the burnt moss.

Lyon grinned, realizing the repetitive nature of the trap. "Then!" he exclaimed, deliberately allowing himself to fall into one of the pitfalls just as the fire boulder raced past. Inside the pitfall, he skillfully maneuvered, clinging to the walls and avoiding the spikes below. As the scorching sounds of the fire boulder approached, Lyon smirked, "It's a loop alright." The boulder whizzed by overhead, failing to ---

10:27

catch the Zodiac Emperor in its fiery pursuit.

Lyon controlled his descent, making himself comfortable within the pit. He relaxed, leaning towards one of the spikes, and a rare moment of introspection swept over him. He murmured, "A rare thing these days," his gaze lost in the intricate fabric of the past, recalling a few but prominent memories.

---

A young kid watched earnestly as a man sat alone, equipped with nothing but a brush and a piece of paper. The curious child approached the man, who seemed content in his solitude. "What are you doing, Uncle Minx?" the kid inquired, eyes widening with curiosity.

"Hoh? How did you find yourself here?" Uncle Minx responded with a chuckle. "Hahaha, to think that a kid would be able to penetrate my absolute stratagem. I must have been losing my edge lately."

Uncle Minx shook his head, a hint of disappointment lingering on his features. The curious kid, undeterred, inquired further, "What's a stratagem?"

"Huh?" Uncle Minx furrowed his brow, eyeing the child skeptically. "How did you come here?"

"Uh... walk?" the kid replied with a tilted head, displaying puzzlement.

Uncle Minx turned around, his gaze following the direction from which the child came. With a slight smirk, he pulled out a piece of paper adorned with intricate runes. "Oh... I didn't activate it," he admitted a mix of chagrin and amusement in his tone.

Uncle Minx inquired, "What brings you here?"

The kid responded, "Uncle Ma told me to come see you. I don't really get it, but here I am. Honestly, I'm kind of glad. Training with him feels like my feet are about to fall off, and sometimes I forget I'm still alive."

Minx erupted in laughter, "Hahaha, well, you're a blank sheet. Ma is determined to give you tough training, but he fails to realize that no matter what, he's just a horse that neighs and grazes. You, on the other hand, are a human, and the size of his heart is bigger than that of a human."

The kid furrowed his brows, "Wait, so what are you then?"

"Me? I'm a god, kid," Minx replied with a mischievous smirk.

The kid was taken aback, "A god? What's that?"

Minx, surprised by the innocence of the question, pondered the profoundness hidden behind its simplicity. "That is a good question," he said, smiling.

The kid's confusion deepened. "Well, what is it then?"

Minx chuckled, "A god, my curious friend, is like an artist. They paint the canvas of existence with the brushstrokes of creation, weaving the threads of reality into a masterpiece."

The kid scratched his head, "So, you're like a painter?"

Minx nodded, "In a way, yes. But imagine a painter who doesn't just create art but influences the very fabric of the world, someone who can make the impossible possible."

The kid's eyes widened, "Wow, that sounds amazing!"

Enjoy!

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