The Realm Lord stood on the deck of the Eternal Voyager, his gaze distant as he stared into the endless expanse of stars. The message from Azazel lingered in his mind, casting a shadow over the successes of their recent journey. Ylra, the realm they had fought so hard to protect, was now on the brink of destruction, and the ancient powers stirring beneath the surface threatened to upend everything they had built. But as grave as the situation in Ylra was, it was not the only threat on the horizon.
For weeks now, rumors of a rising force—one more sinister than any the Realm Lord had encountered in millennia—had begun to filter through the cosmic channels. Whispers among celestial travelers and traders alike spoke of a new empire that was silently expanding its reach, swallowing up star systems and enslaving worlds in its wake. Its name was uttered in hushed tones, as if speaking it aloud might invite disaster: the Dark Star Empire.