The Shade Emperor stood alone in the vast chamber of his throne room aboard the Obsidian Throne. The glow of the galaxy map illuminated his stark, angular features, casting deep shadows that seemed to writhe with life. Planets marked in blood-red glimmered on the holographic display, each one signifying a failure to capture the Starborn fugitives.
He stared at the map in silence, his glowing eyes fixed on the markers where his forces had been repelled. The air was thick with an unnatural stillness, broken only by the faint hum of the ship's systems.
Commander Varyn entered cautiously, her armored boots clicking against the polished floor. She knelt before him, her head bowed low. "My lord," she began, her voice steady but measured.
The Emperor didn't turn. "They continue to elude us," he said, his tone calm but cold. "The Key remains in their possession, and the temples awaken to their call."
"They've been resourceful," Varyn admitted. "But they are running out of places to hide. We have intercepted communications suggesting their next destination. With your permission, I will deploy the Shadow Vanguard to ensure their escape ends there."
The Emperor turned slowly, his dark cloak billowing with the motion. His glowing eyes bore into Varyn, and she felt the weight of his presence pressing down on her like a vice. "You misunderstand me, Commander. This is not about preventing escape. This is about annihilation."
Varyn raised her head slightly, her brow furrowed. "I understand, my lord. The Vanguard—"
"The Vanguard has failed me before," the Emperor interrupted, his voice sharp. "This time, I will not rely on others to finish what I began. I will lead the strike myself."
Varyn's eyes widened, though she quickly masked her surprise. "Your presence would ensure victory, my lord. But the risk—"
The Emperor's gaze silenced her. "Risk?" he hissed. "Do you believe I fear them?" He stepped closer, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop. "They are pawns playing at destiny. I am the master of the stars, and I will show them the folly of their resistance."
Deeper within the Obsidian Throne, the Emperor stood before a chamber filled with pulsating crystals of dark energy. The room thrummed with power, each crystal radiating a cold, malevolent light.
He placed a hand on the largest crystal, and it responded with a surge of energy that crackled across his form. The shadows in the room seemed to stretch and writhe, drawn to him like moths to a flame.
"These temples," the Emperor murmured, his voice echoing through the chamber. "They are relics of a dead era, clinging to a galaxy that has long since moved on. I will reshape this galaxy in my image, and their legacy will burn in the fires of progress."
The dark energy swirled around him, coalescing into a shimmering shield that pulsed with raw power. He closed his eyes, and his mind stretched across the void, reaching for the faint glow of the Nexus Key.
He could sense her—Liora Veylan. The Sigil's light was a beacon against the darkness, guiding her to the temples. But it also guided him.
"You cannot hide," he whispered, his voice carrying across the ether. "I see you, Starborn."
Returning to the throne room, the Emperor summoned Varyn once more. She knelt before him, her expression determined.
"Prepare the fleet," the Emperor commanded. "We strike at the next temple with everything we have. This will end."
Varyn saluted, rising to her feet. "It will be done, my lord."
As she turned to leave, the Emperor spoke again, his voice soft but filled with menace. "And, Commander… do not fail me again."
Varyn stiffened but didn't look back. "I won't."
The Shade Emperor returned to his throne, his glowing eyes fixed on the galaxy map. The Starborn were running out of time, and he would ensure their legacy ended in ash.
"The Nexus will be mine," he murmured, his voice echoing in the empty chamber. "And the galaxy will kneel."