Chapter 16 - EMPIRE FRACTURE MANDATE

Heir Primus Throne Chamber, Obsidian Vermilion Citadel. 1:14 PM. Valemaris 87.3% Abyss—Fracture Veins stabilize at 47 rips, void-fish storms ebb.Seven holographic envoys flicker into existence around the Heir Primus Throne—chrome-black fusion of Vacuum and salvaged relics, single conduit pulsing Thomas Emmanuval Devassy's heartbeat. Each regent bears a rival empire sigil: fractured Kalabhara serpents, neural crowns cracked. Holo-bracelet hums steady: "Seq 15: 12.7%. Finite Trial #16: Empire Fractures. Absorption Primed. Nano-Strings: 14,000. Empire Favor: 67.8%." Widowmaker Supreme leans against throne arm, cane-sword keening faint: "Seven echoes... one conductor."Spectral Constabulary honor guard (987 puppets, Varn-pyramid elevated to banner) forms neural wall. No brass prelude; just synchronized revolver spins.Lead regent—ZEPHYR REGENT-IV (proxy for shattered cardinal line, 7 eyes holographic)—bows fractional: "Heir Primus Finite. Seven Empires offer neural-peace: shared Fracture Veins, Abyss tithes, no incursions. Void Emperor's vacuum binds us equal."Thomas laughs finite rictus—razor cascade, silver-void eye dissecting holograms. Emperor's Lament spins casual on trigger finger. "Equal? Finite claims absolute. Seven thrones. One convergence." 14,000 strings extend invisible—probe envoy neural-links, tasting loyalties.Regent counter—six voices harmonic defiance: "Infinity culls you capped! Seven survive distributed Emperor!"Neural mandate ignites:String probe cascade: 14,000 filaments infiltrate holograms—memory theft remote. Visions flood: Seven Empires hoarding Void Emperor shards (87 data-crystals total), plotting "Restore Infinities" cult. Holo updates: "Rival Favor: -47.3%. Absorption Target: Primed."Gunblade fracture symphony tests: Emperor's Lament spits 7 Sorrow Echoes through holo-veils—brass casings orbit throne. Holograms glitch, regents stagger in distant thrones.Seven Empire Holo-Council, Neonatharis Orbit. 1:47 PM. Dreadnought husks converted to council-spires.Thomas projects throne-presence—silver-void eye towers over regents' physical forms. Zephyr Regent-IV clutches cardinal relic (cracked axiom-crystal): "Finite Heir! We hold Emperor-shards: Malachi blade-essence, Lilithra data-core. Yield thrones, share vacuum."14,000 strings supernova—Seq 15 mastery surges finite. Filaments pierce council-spires (47 light-minutes distant), weaving neural fracture cage. Widowmaker phantom pirouettes (string-projected)—1,247 RPM clashes regent blades, keening: "Seven fractures... one mandala."Regent defiance detonates—87 guardian puppets per spire (619 total) swarm with anti-string disruptors. Revolver remote barrage: Lament fires 87 Sorrow Echoes (0.5 sec PB via string-sync), bullets curving Fracture Vein trajectories—198 guardians pyramid.Memory theft symphony: Strings invade regents—Zephyr-IV yields Malachi blade-essence (instinct upload: 0.3 sec reload eternal). Holo: "Seq 15: 24.1%. Absorption: 1/7."Five regents shatter holograms—dreadnought fleets mobilize (47 ships x5=235), chrome lances charging.Neonatharis Fracture Battle, 2:37 PM. Valemaris 92.7% Abyss.Heir Primus Throne LIFTS OFF—anti-grav treads propel through sky rips. Spectral Constabulary armada (987 string-piloted fighters) escorts. 235 dreadnoughts converge—lances fire neural plasma.Fracture mandate crescendos:Dual Lament cataclysm: 198 chambers sync (Malachi echo flawless)—Sorrow Echo hurricane shreds 87 ships, casings forge orbital mandala. Widowmaker Supreme clashes lead dreadnought blade (projected 4,988 RPM)—shockwaves vaporize 47 escorts.String Sovereign absorption: 14,000 filaments snare surviving regents—Lilithra data-core uploads (resurrection protocol: 7th form local). Visions: Emperor's distribution map—87 shards across empires, final shard in Abyss Core Prime (Valemaris bedrock).Holo SCREAMS: "Trial #16: 87%. Empire Favor: 92.7%. Regents: 7/7 ABSORBED." Dreadnoughts crumble pyramid cascade into chrome rings orbiting Neonatharis.Zephyr Regent-IV final transmission (neural echo): "Finite... perfects. Core awaits."Primordial Throne stabilizes—neural conduits x7 regrow singular. Lilithra reforms chrome-threaded beside throne: "Seven fractured. Emperor-shards converge. Trial #17: Core Descent."Chronovore Tower broadcasts galaxy-wide: "COLD-BLOODED HEIR PRIMUS ABSORBS SEVEN! EMPIRE FAVOR: 100%!"Fracture Veins pulse—47 rips birth new neural highways. Thomas holsters, Widowmaker taps throne rhythm. Silver-void eye reflects seven mandala rings. Finite empire hungers core.