"Welcome back to the land of the living," Apophis said to Antanria.
The Zetark princess rose without saying a word. In the last moments of her regeneration, the fusion of dark energy with her body had generated an incredible amount of heat, and it had reduced her dress, the blanket covering her, and even part of the mattress to ash.
But just as Apophis was about to throw her another blanket that was nearby, Antanria moved so fast that she almost seemed to teleport in front of Apophis, then drove her fist with incredible force into his jaw!
Apophis was caught off guard and couldn't defend himself.
He shattered several concrete barriers and over a dozen parked cars as he hurtled almost a hundred meters through the underground complex, finally creating a ~Susanoo~ arm to dig its skeletal fingers into the ground and halt his progress in the middle of the most open part of the lot where everyone else was gathered.
Everyone around him immediately sprang into action, preparing to fight against whatever force was powerful enough to send Apophis flying!
"Stand down!" Apophis shouted, pulling himself back up to his feet.
Through the cloud of dust that he'd made while shattering concrete, a humanoid form could be seen walking slowly into the open clearing, its eyes burning red.
Antanria stepped into the clearing. Dark energy surged around the same clenched fist that she'd used to attack Apophis, and she seemed not to care at all that she was naked.
"Leave me alone, you pathetic commoner!" she shouted in a voice quite different to her old voice—richer, harsher, and crueler.
Apophis quickly surveyed his condition. He'd broken a few ribs, but not much of his HP was missing. He ignored the pain and walked carefully toward the other Fallen Zetark.
"Calm down, Antanria. It's only me."
Antanria seemed to not understand where she was. The muscles around her eyes twitched, as though she was having trouble focusing her vision. "…Who?"
"Apophis," he said gently.
Suddenly, the cruelty and haughtiness disappeared from Antanria's expression and voice. "Father?!"
She rushed to Apophis and embraced him tightly.
The fifty Eclipse members standing around had hardly moved, despite Apophis's order to stand down. They were completely shocked. Many of them felt uneasy at the scene before them.
There had already been some nasty rumors that there was a sexual relationship between Apophis and Antanria, and the sight of her hugging Apophis while naked wasn't exactly an argument against that rumor.
Apophis said to Antanria, "Thank you, but that hurts! I can see that you've really grown in power since the last time we talked. But you should probably get dressed before we discuss that, right?"
Antanria stepped back with a smile. "Yes, Father." She glanced at Hulk, who was holding out a shirt made for someone far larger than her, and put it over her head. The shirt didn't quite reach her knees, but at least covered her up.
Then Apophis and Antanria returned to the room that she'd been sleeping in.
A couple of the female Eclipse members were similar enough to Antanria's new size that they donated enough spare clothes for her to dress properly. After she dressed, Apophis realized he needed to get to the heart of the princess's history.
"Well," he said, "I think it's time we had an important conservation."
Antanria assumed he was going to ask about what had happened since he left her in the Royal Palace of Terra, and she began enthusiastically talking, but Apophis quickly interrupted her.
Apophis said, "No, that's not what I'm talking about. First of all, I'm not your father. You and I both know that. And I also know that you're hiding important information from me… information about your real father, and about the fall of Oralia.
Antanria was shocked. "I... I don't know what you are talking about..."
Apophis said sharply, "That's enough! I've been protecting you over and over for the last few months. I deserve the truth! How is it possible that you reached Rank C in only one week? Rather, how was your body strong enough to survive so much energy in one week?"
Antanria answered, "I trained very hard! Like you said, you've been saving me over and over, and I didn't want you to have to do that!"
Apophis sarcastically replied, "You trained to the point of causing a spontaneous genetic mutation which made your biology accelerate by ten years and species to completely change?"
Antanria's shoulders slumped. She was searching her brain for some story to appease Apophis, but nothing came to her. "I… I..."
Apophis's tone became serious. "I'll ask you again, Antanria. What didn't you tell me the first time we met?"
Antanria started to cry.
After all, even if she had an adult's body, her mind was only that of a little girl.
Annoyed by the princess's lack of cooperation, Apophis stood and turned to the door. "If you don't trust me enough to answer, then I guess you can travel alone from now on."
"Wait!" Antanria called. "Please, don't go!"
Apophis turned to stare at her.
Antanria couldn't look him in the eye, but said, "I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to judge me. You have to promise!"
Apophis said, "Well, I'm listening."
It took Antanria several moments longer to build up the courage to speak. "I… lied. I said that I couldn't remember anything about the Fall of Oralia… but I do. And everything that happened around that time.
"When the Great War embraced the Zetark Empire and the whole galaxy, I was very young, but I remember my father telling me each time my three older brothers died on the battlefield, slain by the enemy—"
Apophis interrupted, "What enemy?"
Antanria seemed confused. "I… don't know. I promise! I'm not lying again! I was very young back then. I just remember listening as my father learned about the loss of the thousands of solar systems under the Zetark Empire's control."
Apophis asked, "How long did the war last?"
Antanria answered, "Two or three years, I think. But I'm not sure. Like I said, I was very young, and I think maybe my memories of all those years are jumbled together."
Apophis replied, "Are you kidding me? How can the most technologically advanced empire in galactic history lose control of the entire galaxy in such a short time?"
Antanria cringed at this. "I don't know! I assure you, Apophis! I cannot understand it myself!"
Apophis nodded. "Alright. Assuming that's all true, what happened next?"
Antanria answered slowly, so that she wouldn't get any details in her memory wrong. "The Battle of Oralia… When it happened, the few ships that remained in our fleet had returned to defend the capital of the Empire. But at that time, a god descended on the planet and stormed the imperial palace..."
***
[Author's note: During Antanria's flashback sequence, text surrounded by three asterisks (***) means that Antanria is talking to Apophis in the current timeline.]
Stellar Year 5997
Oralia Prime System—Imperial Palace—War Room
Emperor Malekith VI and Princess Antanria stood in the War Room, along with all their administrative staff, around a huge control panel.
***Antanria said to Apophis, "We were completely cornered. After a few years of war, our morale was broken. My father, once a calm and wise man, had become quite nervous and radical."***
Emperor Malekith asked in a fatigued voice, "What is the situation, Lord Enel?
Lord Enel, a well-disciplined man who didn't let much of his inner turmoil show, "The enemy fleet has just overcome our defense sector near the Moon of Erilia. They have destroyed most of our starbase defenses, leaving no known survivors. They have captured our self-defense space turrets and have crossed the magnetic minefields to engage the 8th Fleet over Oralia."
Emperor Malekith could hardly believe his ears. "How did they do all that in less than an hour? And our extra solar detection capabilities? Did they pick up nothing?"
Lord Enel replied, "Nothing, Your Highness. Their technology seems to be far greater than ours. It is as though we are swinging a net at them, believing it to be a sword, while they are like insects who fly through the holes. We are only slowing them down, at best."
Emperor Malekith replied, "And why this sudden enemy attack on the Oralia Prime system? We expected them to attack other key solar systems, such as Terra Prime, Alinor Prime, or even Valor Prime, where our defenses are far weaker! Why would the enemy risk attacking the most fortified system in the galaxy?!"
Lord Enel replied patiently, "As I said, Your Highness, even our tightest defenses mean little to them. They clearly seek to end this conflict at once. If you can easily wound a hydra, it is far better to pierce its heart than to cut off its heads."
Emperor Malekith let out a very long sight. "I understand. Begin the evacuation of the nobles and purebloods. Once in orbit, you will leave the system in hypervelocity to avoid battle. You will… use the Doctrine of Preservation. Use a wormhole to leave this galaxy entirely."
Lord Enel paused. "Yes, Your Highness. Should we prepare an escort to the refuge for yourself and the Princess Antanria?"
Emperor Malekith shook his head slowly. "No. I will remain and activate the Ultimate Weapon when the palace is about to fall."
Lord Enel could no longer contain his emotions. "The ultimate weapon?! Your Highness, this is too extreme! We still control many systems across the galaxy!"
Emperor Malekith replied grimly, "It is what the Doctrine of Supremacy required. If we lose this space battle, which, by your words, we certainly will, then the war will be lost in the same moment. If our race possesses any measure to defeat an enemy that threatens our supremacy as a race—no matter the cost—then it is my duty as the Emperor to use it!"
Lord Enel almost stammered his next words. "But this weapon will surely destroy all life in the galaxy! Trillions will perish! No, even more! The gods will never allow this to happen!"
Emperor Malekith answered, "Don't worry, Enel. Our patron god is already keeping the others in check. Nothing will stop us. Not our attacker, nor even the gods!
"And, of course… This is why we rely on the Zetark Royal Doctrines. They have guided us to supremacy over all the lesser beings in the galaxy, and they will guide us now. When the Empire falls, you and our most valuable families will remain. The fate of our civilization rests on your shoulders, Enel. Don't let me down."
***Antanria said to Apophis, "I could see all around my father the faces of the high-ranking Imperial officials. They were broken, full of sorrow and stern anger at the same time. Their worlds and everything they had ever loved was destroyed or would soon be destroyed, and there was nothing they could do to stop it."***
An hour passed.
Then, a man angrily stomped into the War Room: Lord Vergor, the Palace Steward.
Lord Vergo said to Malekith, "Your Highness! The palace is under attack!"
Emperor Malekith replied, "How is that possible?! The space battle has just begun! Even if they surpassed all our outer defenses, those pale compared to the planetary defenses! This cannot be!"
Lord Vergo replied, "I don't know, Your Highness. Our control posts were heavily attacked by a high-ranking Ascensionist! He literally crushed even our own Ascenscionist guards!"
Suddenly, a huge explosion less than a kilometer away shook the palace.
Emperor Malekith snapped, "Alright! To the bunker, at once!"
***Antanria said to Apophis, "At that moment, my father's steward led the two of us, and our ten bodyguards, towards the palace bunker. We had to pass through the throne room, since the secret passage had been damaged in the explosion."***
Lord Vergo gasped, "Hurry, Your Highness! We're almost there!"
Suddenly, the throne room's two huge doors shattered inward!
The ten Imperial bodyguards, all of whom were demigods, formed a defensive line to protect against the invaders.
The Emperor took his daughter's hand tightly in his own as a magnificent man entered the throne room.
