100X Returns System: I Dominate the Age of Gods

And so Anastasia decided she would change William and shape him the way she wanted as a mother.

She would guide William to grow into someone capable not merely of wielding immense magical powers but also someone able to carry the weight of leadership without being clouded by his limited worldview.

In many ways, she wanted him to become more like Rudra, or even better than his father.

Rudra Solaris had possessed a temperament unlike any emperor before him. It was precisely that mentality that allowed him to reach heights no ruler on Aris had ever touched, and that too at a very young age.

Aside from Tamasya and Rudra, he had been the only person to breakthrough to the realm of true godhood, excluding the Primarchs themselves.

And if William wished to inherit his father’s path or even cross that threshold set by him, then he needed to be shaped into a sharp sword. Right now William was like a sword with immense force and strength behind it, yet the only thing limiting it from becoming a divine weapon was its blunt edge.

Anastasia already knew the Eternal Sun Empire stood on the edge of terrifying tides that were yet to come; no way was she ruling peacefully for another century now. She knew it; she could see storms approaching her doorsteps already.

Yet every crisis brought an opportunity to sharpen your sword and grow beyond your limits. The current scenario only meant that it was time to polish the gem that she had lost earlier.

And so she spoke once more.

“Crown Prince William, Kaiser Solaris.”

Her voice echoed through the throne hall and reached the ears of everyone; they were curious as to why William was being conferred a second title. Such a thing was rarely seen in empires, as it would shift the balance of power immensely.

“By the authority vested in me as the Empress of the Eternal Sun Empire…”

“…I hereby bestow upon you the title of the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Military that would belong to the Eternal Sun Empire.”

The atmosphere inside the hall instantly shifted to a military position; this had been completely out of their expectations. A boy of 16 given the charge of managing the military of a whole empire was an unprecedented and absurd development.

The decision was being mocked and belittled by even the common public watching through the broadcast.

“From this moment onward, your name shall stand above every banner of war. Above every general, marshal, commander, and soldier who marches beneath the imperial standard.”

“You shall become the shield of this empire… and the blade of the crown.”

Anastasia slowly raised the imperial scepter.

“Kneel… and take your oath.”

William lowered his head further.

“Swear upon your blood and your name that you shall protect every river, every city, every mountain, and every grain of soil belonging to this empire until you hold the sword of supreme commander.”

“Swear that no enemy—whether born beyond our borders or festering within them—shall escape your judgment.”

“Swear that you shall stand as the sword of the Empress, striking wherever my gaze falls and carrying the will of the Eternal Sun Throne.”

“Swear that you shall lead the armies of the Eternal Sun without fear, without hesitation, and without mercy toward those who threaten this land.”

Her voice gradually grew heavier with authority.

“As Supreme Commander, you are entrusted with preserving every form of security and sovereignty belonging to the crown’s rule.”

“You shall uphold law and order throughout the empire and enforce the will of the throne wherever chaos dares arise.”

“You shall hunt rebellion, treachery, corruption, and disorder wherever they attempt to hide.”

“You shall defend this land against every external threat.”

“You shall raise armies, forge military orders, and preserve the strength and glory of the Eternal Sun Empire.”

“Within the hierarchy of the military…”

“…your authority shall stand second only to the crown itself.”

The entire throne hall had become utterly silent by the time Anastasia reached the final lines.

“Rise as the Supreme Commander of the Eternal Sun Empire.”

“For the will of this land is the will of the Crown.”

“And the will of the Eternal Sun Crown…”

“…shall be eternal.”

When the conferment ended, William slowly drew Crimson Aeon from his waist and planted the blade firmly into the floor before him.

Then, before the entire continent, he repeated the oath line by line.

His voice remained steady throughout, though inwardly he already felt the terrifying weight of responsibility settling onto his shoulders.

For many observers across Aris, this decision seemed unprecedented.

The newly formed Eternal Sun Empire barely possessed enough centralized military strength to secure its own borders. Under such circumstances, most rulers would decentralize military authority, allowing regional forces, noble armies, mercenary factions, and independent security groups to develop rapidly.

Such decentralization created risks of civil wars and undermining of imperial authority later, but it also allowed faster military growth during unstable periods.

Yet Anastasia had chosen the exact opposite approach.

Instead of distributing military authority, she centralized it completely under the banner of a supreme commander, and that too a 16-year-old kid, who would even serve him in a militarized structure.

And she had entrusted nearly all of it to her son. Maybe she was being blinded by her maternal instincts.

Naturally, many people questioned her judgment immediately. Some viewed it as recklessness. Others saw it as emotional favoritism.

A few dismissed it entirely as arrogance from a newly restored dynasty.

But in truth, no one could yet determine whether her decision was genius or disaster. Only time would reveal that answer.

Strangely, after granting William the position of Supreme Commander, Anastasia returned to the throne and declared the official end of the public broadcast.

The remaining conferments and appointments would now continue privately beyond the eyes of the continent.

To shallow-minded viewers, the final smile Anastasia wore before ending the transmission appeared almost prideful, as though she had extended the broadcast merely to glorify her son publicly.

But those who truly understood Anastasia thought otherwise.

The more intelligent figures among the nobles, military factions, and surviving political powers felt instinctive caution instead.

They could sense calculation behind her actions.

Anastasia had deliberately allowed the world to witness William receiving military authority above nearly everyone else in the empire.

And then she ended the broadcast before revealing anything further.

Why?

That single question lingered heavily within the minds of countless influential people across Aris.

Why continue the transmission solely to display William’s appointment as Supreme Commander?

Why hide the rest?

The answer remained known only to the woman seated calmly upon the imperial throne, whose faintly satisfied expression suggested that every move unfolding today had already been calculated several steps in advance.