Chapter 10: A Kingdom in Turmoil

The Imperial Capital, West Throne Hall

The golden halls of West Throne echoed with murmurs of confusion and fear. The recent defeat of the mighty Gale, the renowned warlord, had sent ripples across the entire continent. Rumors of Frank Luminous's immense power were quickly spreading, and even the nobility began to feel the pressure.

In the heart of the capital, a grand meeting was being held. Emperor Alexander, the ruler of the Great Arcane Empire, sat at the head of the table, his brow furrowed in deep thought. His eyes, usually full of regal confidence, now held a trace of unease.

At his side, Crown Prince Damian, his only son, stood with a solemn expression. Despite the emperor's calm demeanor, Damian knew something more sinister was at play.

"Father, the reports… they've all been the same," Damian began, his voice low and cautious. "The entire continent is in chaos. Gale is dead, and no one can explain how it happened. Not even the gods seem to know what's going on."

Emperor Alexander clenched his fists, the golden rings on his fingers gleaming in the dim light of the throne room. "I know. But Frank Luminous is not just a mere mortal. He is a force of nature, and if we are not careful, his indifference to our kingdom may become our undoing."

The emperor's words were chilling. It wasn't the fear of death that haunted him, but the knowledge that Frank was beyond their reach. No army, no sorcery, and no decree could change that.

"Father," Damian said, his eyes darkening, "what if we… send an envoy? What if we try to reason with him? Perhaps we can secure an alliance, or at least prevent further bloodshed."

The emperor's gaze turned sharp. "An envoy? To Frank Luminous?" He shook his head. "No. That would be a death sentence."

Damian clenched his fists. He could feel the weight of his father's words settling on his shoulders. Frank Luminous was no ordinary man, and trying to approach him without the proper power could prove disastrous. But was there any other choice?

"Then what should we do?" Damian asked, his voice tinged with frustration.

The emperor's eyes narrowed as he looked out over the city from his throne. "For now… we wait. Frank may be indifferent to us, but we must watch for any signs of change. If he chooses to make a move, we must be ready."

The silence in the hall was heavy with the unspoken truth. They were all powerless before Frank Luminous. But in the face of such overwhelming power, the only option left was to wait.

Meanwhile, at Luminous Manor

Frank sat on a velvet armchair in the expansive garden, once again enjoying a lavish meal. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the courtyard.

Elise, who had been standing nearby, couldn't help but observe Frank with a mix of awe and frustration. Every time something major happened—every time the world seemed to teeter on the edge of collapse—it felt as though Frank barely took notice.

"Frank…" Elise began hesitantly. "Do you ever think about the consequences of your actions?"

Frank raised an eyebrow, still chewing a mouthful of food. "Consequences?" He swallowed, then leaned back in the chair with a lazy stretch. "I'm just living my life, Elise. Everyone else is overreacting."

Elise's hands clenched into fists. "People are dying, Frank. The gods are involved now, and you think this is all just a joke?"

Frank took another bite of steak, his gaze drifting to the horizon. "The gods are just nervous because I'm too strong. And as for the people, well, they'll figure it out. It's not my problem."

Elise stared at him in disbelief. Was this really the man who held the power to bring entire kingdoms to their knees? He couldn't even be bothered to consider the consequences of his actions.

"Are you really not going to do anything about it?" Elise pressed, her voice growing more urgent.

Frank's eyes flickered for a moment, and for the briefest of seconds, Elise saw something more than just indifference in his expression. It was a hint of weariness, of boredom with the endless cycle of power and conflict.

"I've already done enough," Frank said finally. "The world is just catching up. If they want peace, they'll learn to leave me alone. If not, well… I'll take a nap. They can figure it out without me."

Elise sighed, rubbing her temples. She couldn't even begin to understand Frank's mindset.

In the Divine Realm

Back in the heavens, the gods gathered once again in their chamber, this time with a decision looming over them. The debate had raged for hours, but there was one final matter to address.

Zephiron, the God of Creation, spoke gravely. "We cannot allow this mortal to continue unchecked. His power has reached a level that threatens the natural order itself."

Tyran, the God of War, slammed his fist into his palm. "We should strike! We have the power to destroy him and reset the balance!"

But Astraea, the Goddess of Fate, spoke up, her voice steady and unyielding. "You still don't understand. He cannot be erased. Fate has already bent to his will."

Zephiron turned to her. "And yet, if we do nothing, he may eventually disrupt the heavens themselves."

The gods were torn. Frank Luminous's existence had thrown their cosmic balance into turmoil, but no god dared to make a move. Their power, though vast, was meaningless against him.

"Then what are we to do?" Tyran growled, frustration boiling over.

Astraea's gaze softened. "For now, we wait. But mark my words—Frank Luminous is a force that even we cannot control. And eventually, even the gods may have to bow before him."

The gods exchanged uneasy glances. A decision had been made. For the time being, the gods would do nothing. They would watch.

And they would wait.

Back at Luminous Manor

The night grew darker, and Frank finally stood from his chair, stretching with a long, satisfying yawn. He turned to Elise.

"Think the world will ever learn?" Frank mused aloud. "Probably not. But I suppose that's not my problem, right?"

Elise could only shake her head. Frank Luminous, the strongest being to ever walk the continent, had all the power in the world—and yet he remained an enigma. A lazy, indifferent god in his own right.

And the world? Well, the world would have to catch up.