[Author's Note.]
[This is the 500th Chapter of this novel, Omniphage of Apathy. Also, this marks one year since I published it so happy One Year Anniversary To Omniphage of Apathy!]
[A lot has happened over the past year. I went on two hiatus periods and I managed to get at least half a thousand chapters in just one year and more than 800,000+ words. I also managed to get 240,000+ views during that time period too.]
[Honestly, I didn't expect to get this far in the novel. Over time, I had to rewrite a few things and also since this novel is a harem one, not a lot of people like it. That's why I pushed the narrative first on action before the romance. And still, it will come first before romance. After all, this is an alien world ruled by matriarchal standards and I doubt if such a supernatural society existed, women would have one spouse. Well, that's what I believe anyway.]
[Enough about that. If you are reading this novel, I want to thank you for reading this far. I plan on writing this to a thousand chapters and add more if possible. After all, there is so much lore to cover. Thank you readers for giving this fantasy novel a chance. I appreciate your dedication for reading this novel that kind of has a weird main character who is suicidal and weird in a way surrounded by beauties of different races.]
[To celebrate this, I am going to release three long chapters. Also, this is where the entire narrative changes. It's time to shake things up. I think Sentina Erideae have had enough time to enjoy themselves. Time for chaos to begin. I hope you enjoy this!]
[PS: Don't hate me when the fourth volume ends. Suffering is needed for plot development, especially in a world like this. And also, I doubt I'll take any hiatus periods from now on because I now have a good plan on how to continue with our dear Sentina Erideae.]
[There will be more side character POVs soon so stay tuned! I hope you will continue reading Omniphage of Apathy!]
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The hallway was too quiet for something this monumental.
Asenane stood still in front of the great sealed doors, her breath catching in her chest as she slowly exhaled. The royal gown she wore shimmered faintly with her every breath yet her body was rigid.
She wasn't ready.
It had been three days since Vastarael fell into his coma, if one could even call it that. His body was intact but his soul was just gone, as if it had wandered into some unreachable place between stars and time. And now she was the one standing here, dressed like a Dynasty Monarchess, because officially, she was.
"Damnit, Veneri. You really did just dump this on me, didn't you?"
There was a reason she hadn't moved for several minutes. Behind those colossal golden doors was the Throne Room. All the ruling Dynasties of Spheraphase like Starisnova, Mintheris, Fedres, Skyrover, Andelaris, Cerea, and all the others were gathered inside. Every throne was filled. Every lineage had arrived. Every eye would be on her and not all of them were kind.
Narisva wasn't there, of course. She had made a vow long ago to not be part of politics and with Vastarael's condition, she disappeared entirely. No one asked where. Everyone just knew she wouldn't be back until the whole political storm blew over but she was in the palace.
Adelasta had kept her icy composure, naturally. And Anamorsia… well, Anamorsia had taken charge in her own terrifyingly confident way. She was the only person who seemed completely unfazed by Vastarael's disappearance, saying only:
"He's not dead. He's transforming. Trust me."
And they had. Because no one knew more about the body of an Aeterium than Anamorsia. She is second to Vastarael himself. And now, Asenane had to give the opening speech that should have been his.
He had a month to prepare this whole event and then, on the first day of the Dynasty Meeting, he collapsed.
"Announcing Her Esteemed Highness, the Dynasty Monarchess of Richinaria," came a loud voice beyond the doors, cutting into her thoughts.
The doors began to open with a deep mechanical rumble. Gears and light shimmered from the cracks as the light inside the Throne Room spilled out. She squared her shoulders and took a breath. Every step forward echoed like a countdown to something ancient.
The Throne Room was massive. The center of the room was reserved for the Dynasty thrones, where Vastarael's throne loomed.
Asenane walked in. The murmurs began immediately.
"That's not the Dynasty Monarch."
"Who is she? The Monarchess?"
"I thought the Monarch was supposed to open…"
"Why hasn't the Dynasty Monarch appeared?"
Thousands of eyes bore into her from all across the room. She spotted Natalis and Denisia seated together on Andelaris's twin thrones, both calm but watchful. Elyonari sat quietly, her presence as peaceful as the breeze, while Farrynelle crossed her arms with a scowl like she hated every second of this pageantry.
Even Peroncerea was there, lounging like she didn't care but her eyes were razor-sharp. Xander stood beside his Dynasty's representative, his posture tight as ever. Eldrigan leaned on his own throne. And behind the central thrones where Dynasty Richinaria was a supposed to be, sat two women.
Adelasta was terrifying and utterly beautiful in her royal Aeterium attire, seated on the left as Grand Duchess. And beside her was Anamorsia, the Supreme Commander. Clad in a strange uniform that was half military, half elegance, eyes glowing faintly with a casual amusement as she leaned on the side of Vastarael's throne like she belonged there.
Because, for now, she did.
Her heart screamed. Her mind twisted with nerves but her soul was still that of a Monarchess of Krepsunas. She was a Phantasm millennia ago after all.
She raised her hand.
Silence swept over the room as soon as Asenane lifted her hand. The murmurs died. Her fingers trembled slightly, beneath the delicate fabric of her ceremonial sleeves. Her breath hitched in her throat but she swallowed it down. The echo of the heavy doors closing behind her had long faded but the weight of that sound remained.
She stood at the base of the grand staircase twenty steps tall, leading up to the four thrones of Dynasty Richinaria. Asenane turned to it, gaze tracing the deep carvings of time and stars upon the whitewood surface. Her breath quivered. She then faced the gathered monarchs, rulers and envoys from every Dynasty and kingdom.
"Before I begin, I must give you news I am sorry to be the bearer of..The Dynasty Monarch of Richinaria, Vastarael Richinaria is extremely ill."
There was no sound and yet it felt like the room screamed. Heads lifted. Eyes widened. Confused glances darted across the chamber. Even monarchs who bore centuries of composure flinched at the words.
"You all met him not through letter nor by invitation parchment gilded with formality and cold ink. A month ago, the Monarch did not send word. He personally came to each of your lands. He walked your skies, spoke to your people and dined at your tables."
She took a slow step up the staircase, still facing them.
"He could have sent emissaries. He could have demanded your presence. But instead, he lowered himself to a messenger's role because he believed that unity must begin from the soil of humility."
Her fingers clutched the sides of her dress, her knuckles whitening.
"That man believed in all of you. He looked each of you in the eye and invited you to something greater than tradition. He wished for peace, alliance and something stronger than treaties."
Her voice broke for just a second.
"And yet, he lies in a coma. Because he was attacked."
Now the room went still in a different way.
"Forgive me, darling," she whispered to herself.
She looked back up and spoke aloud.
"The Monarch was injured by the Mopherian Pantheon."
Gasps skilled the room.
"They ambushed him without warning or provocation. They targeted him not just as a ruler but as a symbol. And had it not been for the power he possesses and for his refusal to fall, they would have killed him."
Whispers returned, but now they were less confused, more afraid. worse, furious.
"He left us this meeting, this gathering, to begin something new. But now, he has left us with a war coming."
Her eyes turned to Anamorsia, seated in regal silence.
"Supreme Commander Anamorsia can confirm what I say."
Asenane turned back to the crowd and walked up another step. Her voice rose.
"A year ago, Northern Xypelia, the territory of the Starisnova Dynasty, was attacked by the Mopherian Pantheon. You can ask the Celestial Monarch. It was not a skirmish. It was a declaration. And it was stopped by Anamorsia Richinaria, who stood in defiance against an army of demigods."
Anamorsia gave only a solemn nod.
"They told us what they want. The Pantheon wants to wipe away every Dynasty, to burn down our names, to take our people, our bloodlines, our beliefs, and erase them."
Asenane's voice now cracked.
"They want to replace Spheraphase with one religion and one rule. And for every mortal, immortal, spirit or sovereign who resists, death only awaits them."
She climbed another stair.
"Anamorsia bought us seven years."
She held up a hand, her fingers outstretched.
"A year has already passed. Six remain."
No one spoke. They didn't dare.
"And now, they went after my husband. They attempted to end the very person who sought to protect even the Dynasties who doubted him. They failed. But at what cost?"
Asenane reached the final step and stood before the central throne. She didn't sit. Instead, she turned to all of them again.
"I don't know your Dynasties the way he does. I don't know your people, or your leaders, or your secrets. I don't have the wisdom that my husband carries, or his kindness, or his memory."
She held out her hand toward the empty throne.
"But I am here and I will finish what he started."
Her voice quivered but she forced the next words from her throat.
"I will fight for what he believed in. And if you find me unworthy, if my words do not hold the same weight, you can leave. No one is bound here. No chains hold you to this hall. You may go."
But no one moved. And then, she did the unthinkable. She lowered herself before all the rulers of Spheraphase. Asenane, the new Monarchess of Dynasty Richinaria, bent her knees and bowed her head.
"I beg your patience. Please bear with me. I am sorry for the inconvenience we have caused you all. If you do not wish to be here and not involve your Dynasty with the war against the pantheon, you have the right to leave."
Even Adelasta blinked in shock. Anamorsia's, usually unshakable gaze faltered for half a second. A Monarch or Monarchess bowing down to anyone requires immense willpower. It's the power that comes with the title. They would never bow down to anyone, man or deity, but she did.
This was the greatest humility anyone has ever seen from a Monarchess.