Emperor's Reckoning

Chapter 1295: Body

The forest swayed gently with the night breeze, the rustling leaves murmuring a lullaby of peace that starkly contrasted with the bloodshed of the past. Moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled silver on Lyon and the White Snake, who rested on his lap like a reminder of the warmth he once knew.

"Tell me, my son," the White Snake whispered, her voice soft, yet burdened by unspoken grief. "Do you still seek vengeance?"

Lyon’s crimson irises flickered with resolve. "It’s not just vengeance, mother," he replied, his tone unwavering. "I chose peace once... and I lost my son. This time, in my reckoning, I choose destruction."

The White Snake exhaled slowly, her expression tinged with sadness. "It pains me to hear you say this. But I cannot pretend to be surprised... I didn’t teach you love, after all. I taught you how to pick locks, steal in silence, and kill—only to survive."

A mischievous smirk tugged at Lyon’s lips. "You didn’t need to teach me love, Mother. You just... showed me."

The White Snake closed her eyes, her heart warming despite the storm of emotions swirling between them. "You always had a way with words," she murmured, her voice carrying both fondness and melancholy.

Lyon leaned back against the tree, a devilish glint in his eyes. "Don’t worry about it, Mother. This time, I won’t die. And I won’t face it alone."

The White Snake tilted her head, curious. "You mean... you’ve found someone to stand with you?"

Lyon’s grin widened. "I’ll drag my old man into this mess, too."

Her eyes widened slightly. "Your old man...? You mean your father?" She paused, surprise flickering in her gaze. "You’ve found your family?"

Lyon chuckled softly, a sound more nostalgic than joyful. "Family? No. Biological makes more sense." He folded his arms across his chest and gazed upward toward the stars. "For me, family is about the ones who raised me, nurtured me, stood by me—and you, Mother, are one of them."

The White Snake’s heart clenched, and for a brief moment, the grief she carried for so long softened. She curled closer to him, as if this brief moment of serenity could last forever.

"You’ve grown into someone more than I ever imagined," she whispered.

"And you were right, Mother." Lyon’s gaze sharpened, as if seeing beyond the stars. "This isn’t just about revenge. It’s a reckoning—and when the time comes, they’ll understand exactly what that means."

The forest stilled in silent reverence, as if aware of the storm gathering within Lyon’s heart—one that would soon sweep across the Paradise.

"Either way, I’m glad you found your father," said the White Snake softly, her voice carrying a rare warmth.

Lyon sighed, running a hand through his hair. "But it’s not that simple." His eyes darkened. "He’s trapped—sealed inside a pristine, transparent crystal. And the one guarding him... is none other than Yggdrasil, the World Tree."

The White Snake’s gaze sharpened, a flicker of recognition crossing her face. "Yggdrasil? A being as ancient as that, guarding him... this isn’t just a mere prison."

Lyon’s jaw clenched, his crimson irises gleaming in the moonlight. "The World Tree told me that the only way to break the seal is by reuniting with the twelve—those who once nurtured me. So far, only one remains."

The White Snake raised a curious brow. "Is it the pig?"

Lyon nodded. "The pig, indeed... wait." His expression shifted to one of suspicion. "Have you seen him?"

"Yes," the White Snake replied smoothly, as if it were obvious. "In fact, he was the one who subtly told me where to find you."

"What?!" Lyon blinked, disbelief flashing across his face. "So he knew where I was all along?"

The White Snake chuckled knowingly. "He is a treasure hunter. And if you are his treasure, surely he’s able to track you down."

Lyon groaned, rubbing his temple. "Of course, that old swine... He always had a knack for sniffing out things he values."

"Sounds like he hasn’t changed one bit," the White Snake mused with a wry smile.

Lyon huffed, but amusement tugged at the corner of his lips. "Well, I guess it’s time to collect the last piece of the twelve—and drag that pig back into the fold, kicking and squealing if I must."

The White Snake gave a quiet laugh, a rare sparkle in her eyes. "I imagine the reunion will be... noisy."

"Noisy is an understatement," Lyon muttered. "But it’ll be worth it. The old man’s been waiting too long."

The two sat in silence for a moment, the gravity of Lyon’s quest hanging between them, tempered only by the warmth of their bond. The stars above shimmered, as if the heavens themselves were watching Lyon’s journey unfold—each step drawing him closer to reuniting with his past and breaking the chains of fate.

And soon, he knew, the reckoning would come—not just for those who wronged him, but for all who stood in his path.

"Where did he go?" Lyon asked, tilting his head.

The White Snake shook hers with a soft sigh. "I have no idea. That pig is a mysterious one—always has been. Somehow, he even managed to regain his body." She chuckled in disbelief. "Incredible, really."

Lyon grinned knowingly. "Ah, that! I’ve heard about that one. Aunt Enya has reclaimed her body too."

The White Snake’s eyes glimmered with intrigue. "Oh? Then the two of them must’ve crossed paths by now."

"They sure did," Lyon said, crossing his arms. "One’s the brain, and the other... well, let’s call it luck."

The White Snake let out a soft laugh. "That sounds about right."

Just then, footsteps echoed through the quiet night, and a graceful figure emerged from the forest. The air shimmered with a faint heat, the scent of embers lingering. It was Enya, the Immortal Phoenix, radiating a warmth that was both inviting and dangerous.

"Correct," Enya said, a knowing smile gracing her lips as she approached. "The two of them are already stirring up trouble, no doubt."

"I’ve set up the pool," Enya said, her voice calm but certain. "If you want to reclaim your bodies, you’ll need to bask in it for a while."

"Really?" Lyon tilted his head, curious.

"The others are already submerged," Enya replied with a knowing smile. "You couldn’t invoke their blessings even if you tried. Go ahead—try it."

Lyon closed his eyes, steadying his breath as he reached inward. Moments passed, and his brows raised slightly. "You’re right. I can’t feel a thing from them."

Enya chuckled. "Told you."

She turned toward the White Snake and Raja. "So, what will it be? Will you join the others?"

Raja stretched his massive paws and let out a low rumble. "I can’t pulverize Paradise without a proper body." His fanged grin hinted at his eagerness.

The White Snake hesitated, her golden eyes glimmering with worry. "I want it... but will Lyon be safe without us?"

Enya gave a reassuring smile. "Don’t worry about him. He’s got plenty of allies. And besides..." She stepped closer to the White Snake, placing a warm hand on her shoulder. "He has me."

Lyon let out a playful snort. "Oh, great. So, I go from overprotective beasts to an overprotective phoenix. Wonderful."

Enya shot him a sideways glance, a wry smile dancing on her lips. "You know it, kid. Someone’s gotta keep you in line."

"I’ve set up the pool," Enya said, her voice calm but certain. "If you want to reclaim your bodies, you’ll need to bask in it for a while."

"Really?" Lyon tilted his head, curious.

"The others are already submerged," Enya replied with a knowing smile. "You couldn’t invoke their blessings even if you tried. Go ahead—try it."

Lyon closed his eyes, steadying his breath as he reached inward. Moments passed, and his brows raised slightly. "You’re right. I can’t feel a thing from them."

Enya chuckled. "Told you."

She turned toward the White Snake and Raja. "So, what will it be? Will you join the others?"

Raja stretched his massive paws and let out a low rumble. "I can’t pulverize Paradise without a proper body." His fanged grin hinted at his eagerness.

The White Snake hesitated, her golden eyes glimmering with worry. "I want it... but will Lyon be safe without us?"

Enya gave a reassuring smile. "Don’t worry about him. He’s got plenty of allies. And besides..." She stepped closer to the White Snake, placing a warm hand on her head. "He has me."

Lyon let out a playful snort. "Oh, great. So, I go from overprotective beasts to an overprotective phoenix. Wonderful."

Enya shot him a sideways glance, a wry smile dancing on her lips. "You know it, kid. Someone’s gotta keep you in line."

The White Snake exhaled softly, her worry easing but not completely gone. "Fine, I’ll do it... but if anything happens to him—"

"It won’t," Enya cut in confidently. "He’s destined for more than just staying alive. Besides, even if he does get in trouble..." She winked. "That’s what I’m here for."

Raja grumbled but gave a reluctant nod. "Alright. But make it quick. I have a paradise to crush."

Lyon crossed his arms and grinned. "You two really do make it hard to say goodbye, huh?"

The White Snake gave him one last fond look, her voice soft. "We’ll see you soon, my son. Just don’t do anything reckless until then."

Lyon gave her a smirk that promised exactly the opposite. "Me? Reckless? Never."

Enya rolled her eyes. "He’s already planning something, isn’t he?"

"Always," said the White Snake with a knowing smile.