Chapter 42 - Emperor's Palace

"Alistein…was abandoned?!" Emperor Azaron cried in disbelief. He inadvertently smashed the table with his fist, his entire body trembling with fury and shock from Blaze's words.

In the grand Emperor's Palace, was the enormous hall in which Bon Banson, the Tribe Representatives, Blaze, and the Emperor Azaron were seated along with the long, marble porcelain table. Each held a different reaction to the message Blaze passed on from the first seat beside the head of the table where the Emperor fumed.

"I know it's hard to believe, Emperor," Blaze said gravely. "I don't know if what he's saying is true or not, but that doesn't change the fact that he's coming. I talked to him in person and can confirm that his strength and capabilities alone are a threat to the entirety of any faction. Besides, the only reason why I am still alive is…because he spared me to deliver his words."

The Emperor shot up and stormed towards the luminous balcony at the side of the enormous hall, staring down at the lively, vast, Lunargard Faction below as he tried to calm down, silently contemplating the message to himself. All these years, he'd wished nothing but to see his son again after his reported passing, to see him at least one more time. But not like this. Who would've thought, that his wish to meet his son again would only end up a fight between them? He didn't want this!

Blaze flashed Kingsley a look and nodded, and the two got up to follow the Emperor to the balcony.

She opened her mouth to speak when she arrived at the Emperor's side, but stopped, mouth twisting as her eyes venturing through the great spectacle laid before her feet. Even though civilization couldn't advance as fast and as far due to the emergence of the draconic beasts, the paradisiacal scene of the faction was enough to make Blaze shiver.

Massive, meticulously built walls circled the far outskirts of the faction territory, and a roaring waterfall centered a great valley that rounded three tribes before it reached the lake in the Sea Tribe. The four tribes perfectly surrounded the lone palace in the heart of the faction, made impeccably with shining stones and marbles. Vibrant colors of alternating red, yellow, brown, and blue edges represented the four tribes that served the palace, completely unlike the wooden huts most tribesmen lived in.

Emperor Azaron smiled gently as he saw the amazement in Blaze's eyes, momentarily forgetting his anger.

"I know you studied the history, and I know you know," the Emperor began, "the Earth Tribe were the ones to build the walls that surround us, the Sea Tribe who dug the waterways to reach each tribe. But history taught in the academy doesn't elaborate on the astounding labor the hardworking people of the Ember Tribe committed to build the stone houses we all used to enjoy before the dragons destroyed them. As the daughter of the Ember Tribe's Chieftain, I think you should have the right to know that, Blaze. Be proud, stand proud. Enjoy what you see, and I hope, one day, you take my spot and lead the people to a greater future."

Blaze turned, her eyes wide with bewilderment as she watched Emperor Azaron's shoulders relax just a bit, reminiscing the feeling when he first entered the palace and marveled at the scene before him with his mouth drooling like a child. And knowing that he would leave the faction to people like Blaze pulled a fishbone from his throat.

"Emperor…" Blaze's voice trailed off, and her eyes followed the Emperor's back to the civilization beneath them.

"Stay in the palace for the night," the Emperor suddenly said. "After you satisfy your appetite, go ahead and rest. We'll proceed with our plan to meet my son tomorrow…if he's truly alive." Then he turned and left without looking back, fixing his resolve to what he was to do. And to everyone waiting for further orders from the table, he said:

"Everyone prepare for battle. I don't think Alistein will listen to me."

* * * * *

[The next morning, Ember-Crowned Mountain]

Boom-!!!

A lone figure crash-landed on the peak of the mountain, creating a shroud of dust before Emperor Azaron and Blaze.

And just as Blaze had said, it was none other than Alistein who came out from the shroud, dressed in the dark and grand Death Reaper uniform. He looked almost unrecognizable with his hand pressed against his face as he laughed like crazy, his eyes wild as he could not contain the evident hostility his insane aura exerted.

"HAHAHAHAHA!! LONG TIME NO SEE, FATHER!" he cried savagely. "Or should I say…Emperor of Lunargard Faction?!?"

Emperor Azaron looked longingly at his son, but remained firm, his expression solemn as he eyed him up and down. "So it's true… You were alive all along, my son," he said quietly.

"Stop right there!" Blaze shouted and stepped warily in front of the emperor, pulling her dragon-slaying javelins from her back in one swift move. She brandished them in the air, pointing one sharp tip at Alistein's chest. But he didn't seem to care.

His eyes wandered, eyeing down each direction as he extended his arms out, sensing the presence of others hiding in the proximity. "My bad…I didn't know that so many dragon-slayers would welcome me in my return," he said mockingly. "Should I feel honored?"

Blaze gritted her teeth, her grip on her glinting javelins tightening in anticipation. Regrettably, she was afraid of what was to come next. How could he see through their trick so fast?

Alistein then sighed, seemingly disappointed as he ran his hand through his dark, forest-like shade of hair. "What a cowardly move," he murmured. "But it's not like I didn't expect this from you, father. You're certainly weak, I must say. No wonder Batarak wanted to steal the throne from you!"

With that last sentence, an untamed grin spread across Alistein face, savoring the confusion that flashed across Blaze's once-determined expression to protect the Emperor.

His smile pierced through her guard, and Blaze felt her insides churn uncertainly, her limbs becoming restless upon hearing such an absurd, unexpected statement. "What the hell are you talking about?" Blaze hissed, glaring at him. "My father wouldn't do such a thing! Don't even try to manipulate me with these cheap tricks and don't you ever disgrace my father again!"

Alistein's grin turned into a smirk before he broke down laughing once again. "HAHAHAHAHA!! Then why don't you ask that old man behind you to see if I'm lying, Blaze?

"Behind…me…" Blaze slowly turned, looking to the Emperor, expecting assurance to confirm all he had said was false, but to her horror, he didn't answer, his expression turning bitter before he averted his gaze. He looked anywhere but her, refusing to meet her desperate eyes.

"No matter! I'm not here for that," Alistein said dismissively, drawing Blaze's attention back forward. "Leave here, Blaze. I want to talk to my father alone." He stared down at her with steely eyes, telling her to not get involved any further, but she stood her ground.

"Not gonna happen!" she seethed.

Alistein snorted. "I figured. Don't worry, I didn't come here unprepared. She'll arrive with 'that thing' any minute now…"

Almost as if on cue, the entirety of Ember-Crowned Mountain beneath their feet began to shake, rumbling and thundering loudly in their ears.

"What the-?" "What's that?" "An earthquake?!"

ROAR!!!

All of a sudden, the jagged, towering figure that stood about a hundred feet tall of a horrifying, bipedal beast stormed into view, breathing fire and smoking from its nostrils part of a lion-like face, its open mouth lined with the sharpest teeth they'd ever seen. Its humongous, armored body roughly shouldering through nearby mountains that were too close. It wasn't until it came closer that everyone made out its tortoise-like carapace body, flaming spikes similar to frightening claws lining across its back.

"An- an Infernal Tarrasque?!"