"So, did you enjoy your punishment?" Asked Maria lightly as she sat upon her throne while glancing at Elif, only for a large purple sword wave to cut through the air right for her, surprising every Royal Guard.
"Hmph, what do you think, Mother? Maybe you need another explanation?" Replied Elif furiously as he stared at Maria while holding a sheathed Hokori, mere moments away from attacking once more.
"It's one thing to attack me, but to attack your Mother as well? I'm in awe of your bravery, son." Said Marcus lightly as he walked towards his throne while glancing at Elif with pity, causing him to scoff.
"That was highly unwarranted, Elif. I simply asked a question; you know I can have you sentenced to imprisonment under the justification of an attempted Coup d'état for what you just did." Remarked Maria in annoyance as she eyed Elif, who once again scoffed.
"Hmph, what idiot would believe your words, Mother? That I, a mere late Divine King, would attempt to usurp the throne of my parents, who are both True God Emperors, with merely my maid? Hmph, if you're going to scare me, at least make it believable, Mother; I'm no fool, though my blood would suggest otherwise." Remarked Elif mockingly as he folded his arms while eyeing Maria, whose expression violently twitched, only for her gaze to suddenly harden.
"What is that supposed to mean, Elif? Are you calling your father stupid?" Asked Maria with a deep frown as she narrowed her eyes at Elif while Marcus's expression twitched though he remained quiet, enjoying the show.
"Heh, you just proved my point, Mother. No further words are needed." Said Elif mockingly as he looked at Maria with pity, causing her to grit her teeth before she waved her hand, pressuring him with her vastly superior cultivation base.
Being forcefully sprawled onto the ground from Mother's Qi, I raised my head, glaring at her as she calmly watched from the safety of her throne.
"Tch, that is no way to speak to the woman who gave birth to you, Elif! Apologize." Stated Maria sternly as she narrowed her eyes at Elif, who simply smirked before spitting on the ground, thoroughly infuriating her.
"Hmph, as if I'd apologize to a coward! Why don't you suppress your cultivation and make me! That is unless the Empress is afraid of her Prince; the Nobles already aren't fond of you; if words get out that you're also a cowardly Empress who can't even discipline her own son, your public image will further drop!" Stated Elif with a wicked grin as he fearlessly eyed Maria, who gnashed her teeth in fury, only to suddenly grin while the pressure surrounding him vanished.
"Hehehe, it seems someone has finally entered their rebellious phase; I won't make the mistake Mother and Father made with me; I'll make sure to properly discipline a disrespectful brat like you." Declared Maria with a sinister laugh as she stood up from her throne and slowly approached Elif while suppressing her cultivation base to the same as his.
Quickly standing up, I unsheathed Hokori and glared at Mother, who summoned her sword while also unsheathing it, causing me to smirk as I gave her a disdainful look.
"Heh, discipline me? With your strength, Mother? It seems you truly are a fool; I've already defeated your Avatar back in Spire of Generational Might, and the real you will be hardly any different. However, don't worry, I'll make sure to hold back; I wouldn't wish to embarrass the Empress TOO much." Remarked Elif with a wicked smirk as he looked at Maria, who chuckled to herself while raising her sword.
No more words were said between us as I raised Hokori while intently eyeing Mother, only for our figures to suddenly vanish as we rapidly approached each other.
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"Haa, what happened this time, Marcus?" Asked Tiana with a soft sigh as she sat on the Empress's throne and gazed at Maria and Elif partaking in battle in the middle of the throne room floor.
"Hahaha, I don't even care what caused them to get like this; I'm enjoying this!" Said Tyler with hearty laughter, sitting on the Emperor's throne while gazing at Maria and Elif, only for Tiana to shoot him a glare.
"Well, to put it shortly, we punished Elif for doing something incredibly foolish, and once his punishment was over, he was rather unhappy and quite furious, though that is putting it lightly. Afterward, he attacked Maria, the two started to argue while mocking each other before eventually Elif provoked her into battle." Replied Marcus lightly as he stood beside Tyler, enjoying the battle before glancing at Tiana, who nodded while rubbing her face.
"Tell me then, what kind of punishment caused my baby boy, who had inherited his father's calmness, to lash out in such anger? Also, what did he do that caused him to receive such punishment?" Asked Tiana as she subconsciously winced at the battle happening below, the two drawing blood before shaking her head and looking at Marcus.
"It had to do with something at Realm Sect, Mother. Sarah Eve had developed a heart demon from spending too much time in the Forest of Madness, and Elif decided to stare into the eyes of a Diabolical for several hours until he developed his own heart demon while also forcing Lynda to connect them via a bridge so he could help her overcome her heart demon. Oh, he also experienced an Epiphany afterward; he made sure to include that. Is that everything, Lynda?" Remarked Marcus as he recounted the events that he was told about while looking at Tiana before shifting his head and glancing at Lynda, who was watching the battle with a smile, only to quickly regain her composure.
"Y-Yes, your Majesty." Replied Lynda respectfully as she calmly glanced at Marcus before shifting her focus back to the battle.
"Oh, that is quite serious." "Haa, I've no words for my Grandson. What was he thinking?" Said Tyler and Tiana, respectively, as they glanced at Elif with disappointment while the latter sighed.
"As for his punishment, he spent a decade with Illumia, under Mortal Imprisonment." Said Marcus lightly, his words causing Tyler and Tiana to freeze before they blankly looked at him.
"Oh, Marcus, Marcus, Marcus. What a fool you are" Said Tyler softly as he seemingly shook his head in disappointment.
"Are you telling me you sentenced my Grandson, your son, Elif August, arguably the most prideful being to ever grace the OverRealm, to ten years in Mortal Imprisonment?" Asked Tiana as she narrowed her eyes at Marcus, who averted his eyes while nodding, only for him to wince in pain.
"Ouch, what was that for, Mother?" Asked Marcus as he rubbed the back of his head while looking at Tiana, who scoffed.
"You should get more than that for your stupid decision; were you and that stupid daughter of mine even thinking when you two decided to punish him?" Remarked Tiana as she folded her arms while eyeing Marcus, who awkwardly nodded.
"I-I don't know about Maria, but I was. That's why I gave him Mortal Imprisonment; it was the fastest punishment I knew; after all, he still needed to return to Realm Sect-Ouch! Realy! Again Mother! S-Sorry, sorry." Said Marcus lightly as he averted his eyes, only for Tiana to once again smack the back of his head, prompting him to raise his voice and causing her to grab his ear.
"Do not raise your voice at me, boy, definitely not when you're in the wrong; do you want us to end up like that? Just know, you're nowhere near as talented at Elif, so you won't last even two minutes against me." Stated Tiana sternly as she held Marcus by his ear, causing him to wince while rapidly nodding and apologizing, prompting him to release his ear with a grunt.
"Remain silent until the battle is over, and think about what you've done; I don't want to be infected by my children's stupidity." Added Tiana as she returned to her seat while ignoring Marcus, who reluctantly nodded.
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"W-Why p-prolong t-t-this Mother? J-Just admit d-defeat a-already." Said Elif weakly in exhaustion as he propped himself up with Hokori, blood dripping down his blade while he gazed at Maria.
"A-Admit d-defeat t-t-to my s-son? N-Never m-my p-pride, w-won't a-allow; y-you s-should k-know that b-better than a-a-anyone." Replied Maria as she firmly held onto her sword while on her knees, refusing to give up despite her injured state, causing Elif to nod weakly.
"T-Then l-let's e-end it n-now, M-Mother." "I-I a-agree." Said Elif and Maria, respectively, as they stood on their two feet while holding their weapons, preparing to finally end the battle.
Taking a few moments to gather my bearings, I looked at Mother, and almost as if we had planned it, we both lunged at each other blades first, using the last of our strength; however, comically, both of our legs happened to give way just when we were a few steps away, causing us to fall onto the ground right beside each other.
"I-I'm s-sorry, E-Elif. I-I d-didn't m-mean a-anything I s-said; y-you're not a b-brat." Said Maria weakly as she turned and looked at Elif before affectionately rubbing his cheek.
"I-I also a-apologize M-Mother. I-I w-was a-angry a-and r-released m-my f-frustration o-on you; y-you're n-not a fool, M-Mother, i-if a-anything, I-I'm t-the fool." Said Elif softly as he grabbed Maria's hand and stared into her eyes.
"My s-son could n-never be a f-fool." Remarked Maria firmly as she embraced Elif in a hug, prompting him to reciprocate; their show of familial love caused every Royal guard to shed a tear.