Emperor's Reckoning

Chapter 1128 Expected Triumph

Lyon leaned forward, curiosity etched across his face, "Uncle Minx, have you ever heard of the cloaked healer?"

Minx's red eyes glinted with a trace of acknowledgment, "Ah, the rumors about her have brushed against my ears, like fleeting shadows in the moonlight. A cloaked healer, they say, with skills that dance on the edge of magic and medicine."

Lyon's gaze intensified, "Do you know anything about her, Uncle Minx? Anything that might help me find her?"

Minx chuckled, a sound that carried a mix of amusement and cynicism, "Finding a cloaked healer, my dear blank sheet, is like chasing whispers in the wind. But," he paused, his tone taking a sly turn, "I've heard tales of a healer who, despite possessing extraordinary talents, asks for a meager price for her services. A foolish endeavor, if you ask me. Why wield such power for the benefit of others when you could grasp the world in the palm of your hand?"

Rui's eyes blazed with an inferno of anger as she unleashed the revelation about the cloaked healer. "That cloaked healer you so casually dismissed might be Maria, the woman who held Lyon in his final moments, the one who witnessed his last breath. You dare undermine her significance, you wretched rodent!"

Sun and Shen, in unison, nodded in solemn agreement with Rui's vehement words. Shen added, "Maria was there when Lyon departed from this world. She cradled him in his final moments, and her connection to Lyon goes beyond mere healing. She held him in his last breath, bearing witness to the fragility of his mortality."

Bapho, the wise and measured, interjected with sagacious counsel. "In times of uncertainty, seeking answers from Maria might unveil the intricate threads that bind Lyon's fate. If she is the healer Lyon speaks of, then her understanding of his demise could be crucial. Lyon needs to find her swiftly, for her insights may hold the key to unraveling the enigma surrounding him."

The air was charged with tension as the weight of these revelations sank in. Minx, for once, wore a contemplative expression, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. The urgency to find Maria became a collective purpose, driving the group forward into the unknown, where secrets awaited revelation.

Minx's gaze turned distant, his eyes clouded with memories as he delved into the recesses of the past. "Maria... Maria..." he muttered under his breath as if trying to summon a long-forgotten image. His normally irreverent demeanor took on a rare seriousness, hinting at the depth of emotions concealed beneath his usual fa?ade.

Rui, her anger momentarily eclipsed by concern, softened her tone. "Minx, do you remember Maria? She was there when Lyon... when he left us."

Minx's attempt to evade the memories of the past was palpable in his tone. His acknowledgment of Maria's existence, coupled with the reluctance to delve into the details, hinted at the depth of emotions intertwined with that chapter of Lyon's life. As Lyon sought guidance on the whereabouts of the elusive cloaked healer, Minx's response carried a mixture of certainty and apprehension.

"I know, I know, I remember her," Minx finally admitted, his tone carrying a mixture of recognition and evasion. The acknowledgment of Maria's existence seemed to pull him reluctantly into the recesses of his own recollections, a place he might have preferred to leave undisturbed. His gaze shifted to Lyon, a silent understanding passing between them.

With a reluctant gaze, Minx shifted his attention to Lyon. "The cloaked healer that you seek is nowhere in the Third Realm, I can be sure of that. Try the Fourth or the Fifth, even the Sixth," Minx suggested, his words implying a journey that extended beyond the boundaries of familiar realms. Lyon, undeterred, probed further, mentioning the enigmatic Seventh Realm, Purgatory.

Lyon's curiosity brimmed as he sought guidance from Minx. "What about the Seventh, Purgatory?" he inquired, his voice carrying a mix of trepidation and determination.

Minx, responding with a guarded tone, cautioned Lyon about the perils of Purgatory. "That place is not for her kind to wander there, blank sheet" he warned, hinting at the dangers that awaited beyond the mortal realm. The subtle worry in Minx's words reflected the gravity of Purgatory, a realm not easily navigated and fraught with uncertainties.

The tranquil ambiance of the jungle was abruptly disrupted as a figure burst forth from the dense foliage surrounding the plunge pool. A gust of wind accompanied her swift descent, tousling the leaves and causing ripples across the pool's surface. her figure emerged like a comet streaking through the air, her long hair trailing behind her in a wild dance.

Lyon raised his brows watching the figure in the air, his mouth agaped. "Eh? K-Kesya?!"

"Hoooahh!!"

As she descended, Kesya's victorious roar echoed through the jungle, momentarily overpowering the natural sounds of chirping insects and rustling leaves. Her landing sent a spray of water in all directions, creating a sparkling spectacle in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. The onlookers, Lyon, Minx, Sun, Shen, and Bapho, were momentarily captivated by the unexpected display of strength and exuberance.

Kesya emerged from the pool with a triumphant grin, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of satisfaction and playfulness. The water cascaded down her, accentuating the lines of her powerful physique. Her laughter joined the chorus of the jungle, creating a vibrant moment that lingered in the air.

"Well, that was quite the entrance. Kesya, I didn't know you had such a talent for seeing through these illusions. Impressive."" Lyon asked.

Kesya, still riding the wave of her victorious leap, flashed a wide grin. "Just felt like making a grand entrance, you know? Adds a bit of flair to the moment."

Kesya, shaking off water from her hair, couldn't help but boast about her recent encounter with the beast from the deep abyss of the water. "Oh, and guess what, Lyon? I faced a Leviathan! Big, terrifying, and scaly. Thought you'd be impressed."

Lyon's eyes widened in surprise. "A Leviathan? Seriously? Where did that come from?"

Kesya laughed, clearly enjoying the attention. "Yeah, right here in this jungle. Caught me off guard, but I managed to give it a piece of my mind. You know, just another day in the adventurous life of Kesya."

Lyon's curiosity sparked as he turned to Uncle Minx with a raised eyebrow. "Uncle Minx, you kept a Leviathan here?"

Minx chuckled, dismissing the notion. "No, Lyon, it's just a mere illusion. A little trick to keep things interesting."

Kesya, however, interjected with a confident tone, "But my fists could clearly hit it! I felt it, Lyon! The jaw, the smell, everything!"

Lyon's gaze shifted between Minx and Kesya, trying to make sense of the situation. "An illusion that feels real? That's some advanced magic, Uncle Minx. How did you manage that?"

Lyon's curiosity sparked as he turned to Uncle Minx with a raised eyebrow. "Uncle Minx, you kept a Leviathan here?"

Minx chuckled, dismissing the notion. "No, Lyon, it's just a mere illusion. A little trick to keep things interesting."

Kesya, however, interjected with a confident tone, "But my fists could clearly hit it! I felt it, Lyon! The jaw, the smell, everything!"

Lyon's gaze shifted between Minx and Kesya, trying to make sense of the situation. "An illusion that feels real? That's some advanced magic, Uncle Minx. How did you manage that?"

Minx smirked, enjoying the intrigue. "I'm that good."

Lyon rolled his eyes at Minx's cryptic response but couldn't help but smile at the eccentricity. "Alright, I guess we need to go to Fourth Hell," Lyon sighed, realizing the gravity of the situation.

Minx, always the carefree one, chimed in, "Right, chop, chop, we have no time for a sad face, blank sheet!" With that, he leaped into the air, landing on Lyon's head, arms crossed, and head held high. Lyon couldn't help but chuckle at Minx's antics.

Rui, Shen, Sun, and Bapho exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of concern and determination. Lyon, now with Minx perched on his head like a peculiar hat, turned to the others. "Looks like we're heading to Fourth Hell. Brace yourselves, everyone."

Minx clapped his hands, and suddenly, the illusion that cloaked Enigma Falls shattered like glass. The vibrant scenery transformed into a desolate swamp, surrounded by ominous, gnarled trees that stretched their skeletal branches toward the sky.

Lyon, with Minx still perched on his head, looked around and sighed, "Well, that's a reality check. No wonder they call it Enigma Falls." Minx chuckled, "Illusions, my dear Lyon, can be both enchanting and deceptive. Now, let's not waste any more time standing in a creepy swamp. Fourth Hell awaits!"

Cecile was the first to notice the unsettling shift. Her eyes widened, and she glanced around, realizing the reality beneath the illusion. Selena, quick to catch the change, turned her gaze toward Lyon, a mixture of surprise and concern etched on her face.

Cecile observed the bizarre sight of Minx perched atop Lyon's head, "I see, he won," she muttered under her breath, her lips curling into a smile as she nodded in acknowledgment of Lyon's expected triumph.