1037 Solar System Shakes

The coronation ceremony began.

In front of the throne room of the highest palace of the new space city Kiah, history was being made.

Rituals from pre and post-blink earth were selected carefully, each blessing the Emperor to be. They sang praises of Heaven and proclaimed the Emperor as Heaven's Chosen.

The huge golden double doors were painted with auspicious symbols and flowers rare to be found in a hundred years.

Precious materials worth an entire space city were melted on the spot by a dozen high level 9s and they carefully placed the molten metal across the doors, shaping it into the name 'Human' in deva script. A dozen high level 9 water awakeners cooled down the molten metal.

These awakeners were masters of entire cities and had great say even in the rule of planets. But today, they acted like ordinary blacksmiths in front of all humanity.

Even Sovereigns wouldn't try to pull off such a feat in the old regime. But the new era showed off its difference from this very moment.

The name 'Human' began to glow with beautiful white light on the huge golden double doors.

Then, two groups of twelve level 9 awakeners appeared. The first group was body awakeners and the second was beast morphers.

"Open!"

The morphers transformed into giant beasts but the high ceiling and wide hall ensured they had plenty of room. Then, the two groups began to push a door each.

It was hard. Even when they all worked together. But slowly, with creaking sounds, the huge double doors opened and the throne room showed itself in full glory.

It was a wide room with a vaulted ceiling. The walls were filled with shining murals painting the history of the human race, all the way from inception.

The windows were colorful glasses that looked fragile but wouldn't even budge to a level 9.

There were three levels of seating on either side of the throne. The first level was on the ground with the fewest seats. The second level of seating was raised with way more seats. The third level had thousands of seats in a semicircular arrangement.

And the throne rested on a platform with nine stairs. And even though it's just a live broadcast, the crystal throne sucked all the attention of the public.

It glittered a like diamond but was a million times more exquisite. From time to time, it released a colorful aura.

Even from across the screens, the throne induced awe and hope in the hearts of the public.

Perhaps a better future awaited them. Perhaps.

A few dances and rituals were quickly finished and the ceremony reached the critical phase.

A bunch of level 6s entered the room in servant uniforms and stood guard.

Then, the dignitaries of the human domain began to enter the throne hall in droves and sat in their designated positions.

The outermost level was seated by weak mayors, moderately powerful military leaders, and level 7 awakeners.

Then the second layer was seated by powerful mayors and military leaders along with level 8 and level 9 awakeners.

Finally, the three surviving sovereigns walked in under the cheers of the public and sat in the chairs closest to the throne. Most of the chairs in their layer were empty—an open hint and promise to the public that there'd be more sovereigns in the future.

Finally, the man of the day.

"The savior of mankind, the slayer of abyssals, the peerless genius—Julius Xander."  The servants besides the doors shouted and the throne hall dulled for a moment.

A man in golden and red silk clothes walked in. He exhibited a radiance so bright that even the crystal throne seemed dim in comparison.

With each step he took, the palace trembled and waves of aura washed over the men and women in the hall. It was as if he was the walking incarnation of power.

Julius climbed up the platform and stood facing the audience. But he didn't sit on the throne.

"The master of mercury, the high commander Ilianis, vows to work under his Majesty."

An old man jumped down and knelt on a single knee facing the throne.

"The daughter of late sovereign Vianne, Olisia vows to…"

A middle-aged woman knelt next.

"The vice council of earth …"

"The sovereign of mars…"

Bali just bowed lightly and remained standing.

"The…."

One by one, eight leaders either knelt or bowed in front of Julius, vowing to assist him in the rule of the Human Empire.

"Your Majesty, please be seated on the throne and proclaim your title." The chief servant bowed his head and said respectfully.

Julius remained standing. His eyes stared at the eight subordinates and trailed to the empty spot after the person representing Neptune.

Every second seemed to stretch into an hour as Juluis remained motionless. His lack of response caused a stir in the public and rumors started flying.

"Your majesty, all human domain bows in front of your might. You destroyed all our enemies. Please claim your rightful pl—." The chief servant lost his voice abruptly.

Julius didn't even spare him a glance and said in a low voice that reverberated across the throne hall. "Not all enemies."

Saying so, he snapped his hand. A dozen drone cameras reached him and Julius abruptly disappeared.

The teleportation formations lit up in succession and in a few minutes, Julius appeared at Pluto.

The planet remained desolate and it'd take a while before it could be repopulated.

But Julius wasn't here for Pluto. He stared into distant space, at the asteroids and beyond them.

Then, he grinned.

His figure disappeared once again and after a few more minutes, he appeared in front of a bunch of abyssal spaceships.

The audience panicked learning that some abyssals were still alive. But Julius simply grabbed a spaceship and peeled away its walls.

"W-What the?! No, don't—"

Ignoring the cries of the abyssals inside, he threw them onto an asteroid. The abyssals crashed and broke their bones on impact.

Julius cleared all the spaceships except one and turned to the cameras. "Their death will be the legitimacy for my right to rule."

The people watched on with an almost morbid pleasure as he approached the final spaceship and peeled away the walls.

It came off easier than an onion layer but inside this spaceship was no abyssal.

There were only a few altars and a shining portal.

"What?" Julius squinted and instinctively raised his hand to attack.

But the portal suddenly let out a blinding light and the space cracked like a broken mirror. Julius covered his eyes and stepped back.

The drones began to shake as violent waves of aura began to wash over them. The asteroids began to vibrate and soon began to crack like they were eggshells.

The floating walls of the spaceships, and the items closest to the altars began to rip apart into pieces. The spaceships themselves began to explode like fireworks.

Julius' heart stopped beating for a moment and his eyes widened in utter disbelief. "No. This isn't true."

"Yes, it is." A voice so deep and creepy that it instantly caused goosebumps on Julius replied from everywhere and nowhere.

The asteroids began to shake. Then Pluto. Soon, Uranus, Neptune, and all the way to Mercury, the planets began to shake. Soon, even the two suns vibrated, slightly but surely.

The solar system itself dimmed as if the power fluctuated before it went back to normal.

In that fluctuating moment, a heavily injured, bloodied but imposing abyssal stepped out of the space crack.