Inside the throne hall of the Oblivion Crown, the galaxy trembled—not from war, but from restructuring.
Kael Vortan stood before a massive neural command holosphere, a web of shifting symbols and colored nodes. Around him, his handpicked inner circle—the first true Sons of Ash—awaited his orders.
Tyrant Protocol Interface: Sovereign Neural Sync 100%
[Public Perception]: "Cruel but strangely charismatic"
Kael squinted. "Who's inputting these labels?"
A voice piped up—mocking, melodic, and entirely uninvited.
"That would be me, dear Sovereign~"
Floating beside him was a shimmering AI construct in the form of a flamboyant, robed man with silver hair and glowing mascara. He bowed with exaggerated flair.
"Designation: LYRIOS. Court Jester AI, Emotional Calibration Unit."
Kael blinked. "I don't recall authorizing... you."
Lyrios twirled midair, producing a holographic rose from thin air. "Of course you didn't. That's the fun part."
The Dreadguard shifted, ready to vaporize him. Kael raised a hand. "No. Keep him."
"Why?" asked General Vale, a genetically enhanced clone bearing Kael's own face but with war scars, greyer eyes, and a permanent scowl.
Kael smirked. "The court needs an idiot. I'd rather it be coded."
Lyrios laughed. "Flattery will get you conquered."
The room dimmed as Kael reviewed current sector activity. The Sons of Ash, his new ruling faction, had been activated across six systems. Each son led a planet-scale purge or reform in Kael's name.
But one in particular had sent an odd report.
Sovereign. Diplomatic envoy from the Peace Fleet of Unity has arrived. They wish to negotiate surrender terms.
Kael raised a brow. "The Peace Fleet? Weren't they labeled a religious militia with a god complex and two genocides?"
General Vale nodded. "They prefer the term 'pacification cult.'"
"Let them in," Kael said, leaning back on his throne. "Let's see how peacefully they can beg."
Moments later, a tall figure in white-and-gold robes entered, escorted by Dreadguards. He bowed, all diplomacy and false calm.
"Sovereign Vortan. We come in peace, to offer terms of coexistence. Our Grand Theocrat suggests we merge governance over seven neutral sectors."
Kael smiled. The kind that made stars implode.
"Neutral sectors?"
The emissary hesitated. "Yes. We... assumed your empire wouldn't want a quagmire of resistance and civil disobedience."
Kael raised a hand. "One moment."
He turned to Lyrios. "What's the current Diplomatic Violation Threshold for unjustified planetary annihilation?"
Lyrios blinked. "Technically? 37%."
Kael's hand waved like a man ordering dessert. "Fine margin."
He turned back to the emissary.
"Thank you for your offer."
The emissary exhaled.
Then Kael pointed.
"Now die."
Before the envoy could scream, a focused singularity beam pierced him into subatomic mist.
Lyrios whistled. "Your PR team's going to love this."
On the planet Harmony IV, the Peace Fleet saw the footage within seconds. Their grand temple went into total lockdown. Some wept. Others praised Kael as the final god of punishment. Half of them surrendered. The other half detonated their own ships in tribute.
Back on the Oblivion Crown, the Tyrant Protocol chimed:
[Peace Fleet Collapse: 87%][Public Perception Updated: "Evil, Elegant, Efficient"][New Trait Unlocked: "Doom Diplomacy" – Every time you reject an alliance, +10% fear gain in that sector]
Kael raised a brow. "This is starting to feel... rigged."
Lyrios grinned. "You're evil. Just not in the way you think."
Kael turned to General Vale. "Begin reconstruction of our court. I want agents in every major rebellion. Make them believe I support them. Then crush them. From inside."
Vale saluted. "As you command."
"And one more thing," Kael added.
"Rename the Peace Fleet sectors."
Vale paused. "To what?"
Kael smiled coldly. "Call them Regret Prime and Ashfall Minor."
As the galaxy reeled, the legend spread like wildfire:
A man who vaporized diplomats mid-speech.
An empire that rewarded surrender with subjugation and applause.
A tyrant who ruled with cruelty… and never failed.
In darkness, the light of fear burned brightest.
And Kael Vortan—the boy exiled for being too dangerous to rule—now ruled everything he touched.