EMPEROR'S RECKONING

Chapter 1016 Where?

As the dusk dawning in, Nyi was catching his breath. His face was covered with blood as he held his chest. The sting from within caught him flinching. He dragged his body over as his gaze darted at another fellow king, Valerius laying breathless with his eyes wide open.

The young genius king had managed to kill another power with the most minimalistic expense, albeit his body now begged him to rest. He lay down seated by the tree with his head gazing at the sun descending from the horizon.

"Were it not for that sudden explosion, we might have switched roles," said Nyi inwardly. He managed to find an opening from the devastating impact of Lyon's battle and gained the upper hand to end Valerius swiftly, as the latter's technique was interrupted.

His ears twitched. He heard the commotion of rustling armor rushing toward the scene. He darted over wondering who, but his vision was blurred. He couldn't make any single face, nor the sigil etched. He snorted in vain. "Perhaps my fate is to die under some guards."

"Your Majesty!" a familiar shout reverberated.

Rew's heart pounded in his chest as he rushed through the chaos of the aftermath. His eyes scanned the battlefield, searching desperately for any sign of his king. The air was heavy with the stench of blood and the sounds of moans and cries filled his ears.

And then, amidst the devastation, Rew's gaze fell upon a chilling sight. King Nyi lay by a fallen tree, his once regal form now battered and bloodied. The sight struck Rew like a thunderbolt, his breath catching in his throat.

"Your Majesty!" Rew cried out, his voice choked with concern. He dropped to his knees by Nyi's side, his hands trembling as he reached out to touch his king. Blood stained his fingertips, a stark reminder of the battle's toll.

Nyi's eyes fluttered open, fatigue and pain etched across his face. His voice was weak but determined as he whispered, "Rew, my loyal friend... is that you?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" said Rew as he knelt and the others followed suit. 𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐧𝗼𝘃𝐞𝐥．𝗰𝐨𝗺

Nyi's eyes fluttered open, fatigue and pain etched across his face. His voice was weak but determined as he whispered, "Rew, my loyal friend... We have endured a great trial."

Rew's eyes filled with tears as he took in the gravity of the situation. His gaze shifted to the fallen figure nearby, King Valerius, who lay motionless, his eyes staring blankly at the sky. The weight of the loss hung heavy in the air, a somber reminder of the sacrifices made in the name of peace.

Rew's eyes filled with tears as he took in the gravity of the situation. His gaze shifted to the fallen figure nearby, King Valerius, who lay motionless, his eyes staring blankly at the sky. The weight of their rivalry and the loss of a formidable foe hung heavy in the air, a somber reminder of the sacrifices made in the name of victory.

"We have triumphed over a formidable enemy," Nyi said, his voice filled with a mix of exhaustion and relief. "Valerius fought fiercely against us, and his defeat marks a turning point in our journey."

Rew nodded, his voice catching with a mix of emotions. "Your Highness, we will honor those who have fallen, both friends and foes. We will remember the battles we have fought and the lessons we have learned."

With great effort, Nyi managed a faint smile. "Thank you, Rew. I trust in your unwavering loyalty and your commitment to our cause. Together, we will rebuild and forge a future that upholds the values we hold dear, but... this battle is not as important as the other one."

Nyi's mind swirled with a mixture of relief and concern. As he lay wounded, his thoughts turned to the climactic battle between Lyon and Drogan, the clash that held the fate of their kingdom in its balance. He needed to know the outcome, to gauge the turning tides of destiny.

Turning to Rew, his loyal companion, Nyi's voice trembled with a mix of anticipation and urgency. "Rew, my friend," he began, his words punctuated by a tinge of anxiety, "tell me, who emerged victorious in the clash between Lyon and Drogan?"

Rew's brows furrowed as he met Nyi's gaze, his eyes filled with worry. "My king, I regret to inform you that I do not know," he admitted with a touch of remorse. "The chaos of battle was all-consuming, and my focus was solely on ensuring your safety."

Nyi's heart sank, his hope for a clear resolution fading. The uncertainty gnawed at him, fueling a sense of unease. The battle's outcome held great significance, not only for their kingdom but also for the delicate balance of power in the realm.

"However, I have sent half of the guards to check the center of the explosion just in case, they are going as we speak, Your Majesty," said Rew.

"How about my juniors?" asked Nyi as his thought dwell on the safety of those Lyon brought at the summit.

"My king, his three students fought valiantly with us, and it is now with the search team as well, they are deeply concerned about his safety."

Nyi's eyes locked on Valerius' lifeless body, his expression a mix of disbelief and sorrow. He turned to Rew, his trusted companion, seeking answers amidst the chaos. "And what of the other kings? What happened to Corvin?" he asked, his voice laced with urgency.

Rew's gaze shifted towards the fallen king's body, lying nearby. His face contorted with a mixture of grief and somberness as he delivered the grim news. "Corvin... he met his demise under the mastery of the blade wielded by Lyon's wife, Selena," he replied, his voice heavy with the weight of the revelation before he emphasized, "King Corvin stood no chance at all."

"That one-sided huh," said Nyi inwardly before he felt a mixture of curiosity and concern, knowing that Aldric had taken a neutral stance despite the impending conflict. With a sense of urgency, he turned to Rew, his trusted companion, and asked, "And where is King Aldric? Has he made his presence known?"

Rew's brow furrowed as he looked around, trying to locate King Aldric among the tumult. After a moment of contemplation, he turned back to Nyi with a solemn expression. "I have not seen King Aldric, my lord," he replied, his voice filled with concern. "However, I heard rumors that he was seen heading towards the center of the explosion. It seems he sought answers amidst the chaos."

Nyi's eyes widened in realization, a mix of admiration and worry filling his heart. He knew that King Aldric's quest for understanding and his unwavering curiosity often led him to the heart of danger. "Aldric... always seeking knowledge, even in the face of peril," Nyi murmured, his voice tinged with both respect and apprehension.

Aldric's heart sank as he arrived at the crater, the sight before him leaving him mortified. His eyes scanned the devastated landscape, taking in the aftermath of the fierce battle that had unfolded. The once serene surroundings were now marred by the destructive forces that clashed there.

As he surveyed the area, his gaze fell upon a torn piece of flesh, a grim reminder of the violence that had occurred. Curiosity mingled with apprehension as he approached, his steps cautious and deliberate. His eyes narrowed as he noticed a lifeless body face down in the dirt, a victim of the fierce conflict.

However, his attention was quickly drawn to something unexpected. A lone arm, still vibrant with life, emerged from the depths of the crater. His frown deepened as he realized that there was more to this scene than he initially thought. Aldric's intuition compelled him to investigate further, to uncover the truth hidden within the depths of the earth.

Turning to his guards, his voice filled with urgency, he commanded, "Dig, quickly! Uncover what lies beneath, for there may be answers to be found." The guards sprang into action, their shovels digging into the earth with determination.

As the dirt was cleared away, the truth began to reveal itself. The body that had seemed lifeless at first was none other than Refl, the one who had been held captive. His presence in the midst of this devastation only deepened the mystery, raising more questions than answers.

The three students arrived at the scene, their eyes widening as they took in the sight before them. They saw King Aldric, the neutral king, standing by the crater, his expression a mix of disbelief and concern.

"Look!" Reinhard exclaimed, his voice filled with a mix of astonishment and urgency. "It's Sir Refl, the one who was held captive! He's alive!"

As Noah and Reinhard marveled at the miraculous survival of Refl, their thoughts filled with gratitude and wonder, Rayus's gaze swept across the ravaged landscape. His eyes searched for any signs of his beloved teacher or his wife, hoping to catch a glimpse of their familiar figures amidst the chaos.

With each passing moment, his heart pounded with anticipation and worry. The weight of uncertainty pressed upon him, fueling his determination to find any trace of his teacher, Lyon, and his wife, Selena. The battlefield was strewn with debris and the lingering remnants of the intense battle that had taken place.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting hues of orange and pink across the sky, the night had finally come. The battlefield that had once been a battleground of fierce clashes and chaotic turmoil now lay shrouded in darkness. The moon emerged from behind the clouds, casting a silvery glow upon the scene below.