Chapter 11: Tempering
Dax stepped into the consuming darkness of the chamber—a void so absolute it pressed against the skin like a physical substance, thick and unyielding. He moved through it with unnatural certainty, footsteps silent on the cool, seamless floor that seemed forged from the heart of oblivion itself. His hand found the familiar contours of his throne, and he settled into it with the effortless grace of a king reclaiming his rightful dominion.
He whistled—a single, soft note that vanished into the blackness without echo.
Instantly, light erupted from hidden panels embedded in the walls and ceiling, banishing the shadows to skulk in distant corners. The illumination revealed a command center of stark, imposing beauty: sleek lines of obsidian and chrome, holographic interfaces flickering faintly in standby, the air humming with latent power.
