huh! I really didn't expect Skull Knight to actually land a blow on him this quickly. Great chapter! I loved how the flashback didn't drag on, yet contained a decent past for the emperor.
Also, did I see a tear in the emperor's eye as the light from Femto "hit" him? Maybe he didn't recognise Griffith as Femto?
The royal cycle of betrayal was as strong as any natural process in kingdoms and empires alike. It's either that the parents kill their children or the children kill the parents and that must really suck. Everyone secretly planning to stab Ganishka's back, who was already betrayed by his own family was really tough to bear. Despite his son being the one who poisoned him to usurp the throne, the fact that he still sacrificed his son to be an Apostle says a lot about him loving his own son.
It is true that the most splendid light shines in the blackest darkness as seen by the dazzling light shone by that bastard Femto. Skull Knight making a last second entrance by ripping a hole in space-time while Zodd watches in shock was priceless.