Seeking death

"What?" The star emperor asked while holding his hand to his itching cheek. 

Markus's attack wasn't serious. It was a simple bitch-slap, one he would serve a random civilian that would dare to insult him back in the time he was hailing from. 

In short words, Markus's attack wasn't aimed at hurting the man physically but at insulting his ego. By showing him how easy it was for the former saint to reach his face, something that most of the cultures across the entire world would grow to consider one's most honorable part, Markus only wanted to enrage the man. 

Not because he wanted to turn this place into a slaughterhouse. Markus did what he did, aiming to make the fight easier for Yelna down the line. 

After all, when compared to the former hero, he was but a weakling.