Chapter 77 27:
After another day had passed, Korr decided to head toward the Dorymathos council chamber, where the high-ranking leaders who controlled the facilities of the three towers awaited him.
Despite the fact that the children were well, and had congratulated him for what he had done amid innocent jubilation, Korr chose to separate himself from them and simply continue resting.
And so he did. He slept through all the remaining time after having been expelled from the recovery chamber in the medical wing.
Now, he walked through the vast corridors that would elevate him toward the tallest tower, where the Great Imperial Council Hall was located.
As he walked, his white boots contrasted against the dazzling floor that seemed to stretch toward some distant destination.
He ignored the fact that his new uniform, which unlike those of other natos had been equipped with a gray fauld, only meant that he had been classified as a warrior.
The interesting part was that, supposedly, such a distinction could only be granted once one had graduated from Dorymathos, exactly as Imperial law required.
Even the fabric of the uniform had been different, far more resistant than his previous uniforms.
This could only mean that whatever had happened during that Lithari invasion, its consequences had resonated throughout the Empire strongly enough that there was a high probability he would be rewarded or recognized.
So he had simply limited himself to wearing the uniform, taking a deep breath, and walking toward the place where, according to all indications, the Great Regent Thragg himself awaited him.
Korr pulled his gaze away from the brutalist reliefs of the ancient infrastructure and concentrated on walking. On either side, the sealed doors resembled inert executioners, austere and imposing.
The lights blinked in a hypnotic sequence, giving presence to the intense luminescence that awaited him farther ahead, growing brighter with every step, until he reached it and, without hesitating for an instant, passed through it and entered a vast chamber.
There, within that place, the structure itself seemed so colossal, as though Viltrum had once been inhabited by giants.
The hall constituted a monumental space conceived under principles clearly associated with brutalism. Its scale far exceeded proportions considered unusual even for Viltrumite society.
It was configured as an architectural esplanade of colossal dimensions intended for authority and symbolic presence. It lacked a roof, allowing complete exposure to the atmospheric environment and offering an uninterrupted view of the sky in its entirety.
At each end of the hall rose enormous rectangular columns structurally integrated into the complex. Suspended vertically from these columns were gigantic crimson monumental banners.
Each prominently displayed the Viltrumite symbol of the three bars, represented on a scale large enough to be visible from any point within the chamber.
The focal point of the space consisted of a stepped platform upon which nine thrones were distributed, each occupied by the corresponding personalities of the Empire's high command. They were arranged in an alternating pattern across different levels of elevation, establishing a clear visual hierarchy.
The central throne occupied the highest and most dominant position of the entire arrangement, considerably larger than the others. Its scale and placement made it the primary visual reference of the hall, reinforcing the hierarchical structure expressed through the architectural design.
Korr felt intimidated despite not showing it.
The moment he made his presence known, every individual present shifted their rigid gazes toward him.
He remained standing at the entrance of the great hall. He did not dare take a step forward because he was more than nervous.
Despite everything he might have imagined, he had not expected there to be so many Viltrumites.
In fact, there was an excessive number of Viltrumites he did not recognize.
From his position, he could appreciate the true magnitude of the situation.
Before the nine brutalist thrones stood a military formation of exceptional proportions. Tens of thousands of Viltrumites occupied the airspace above and beyond the hall, distributed into twenty-seven great formations equivalent to conventional battalions multiplied by nine times three according to Korr's previous research regarding the Empire's military decorum.
Each formation maintained precise geometric alignment, organized into perfectly straight rows and columns extending hundreds of meters in every direction.
Then he understood the absence of a roof, for without one, it allowed the Viltrumite military force to remain suspended in the sky.
Not a single individual broke formation or deviated from their assigned position. Every unit remained motionless in the presence of the savior of Viltrum, Korr-add, apparently.
Despite what he might have imagined, Korr had not expected to find so many Viltrumites gathered in one place, even if, in reality, the true number of Viltrumites was so vast that he recognized only a fraction of them had been assembled.
"Nato Korr-add. Step forward."
The deep, resonant voice echoed throughout the entire council hall, causing his body to tremble momentarily.
Korr directed his gaze toward the speaker and, despite the considerable distance separating him from the main dais, he could clearly distinguish the one responsible.
Korr-add had only ever seen the presence of Viltrum's Supreme Regent through indoctrination channels; more specifically, through "educational" images and videos glorifying the Regent's achievements during the Viltrumite Imperial unification and centralization campaign.
However, seeing him in person, there was no doubt that no graphic representation could replicate the preeminence, monumentality, and unquestionable authority of the original.
Suspended several meters above the central throne was the Supreme Regent Thragg.
The gigantic brutalist seat remained empty beneath him, serving only as a symbol of authority and hierarchy.
His figure stood out because of an exceptional physical build even by Viltrumite standards. He wore the ceremonial uniform reserved for the Emperor, a singular traditional high-ranking uniform once used during the space exploration campaigns of the Empire's earliest days, complemented by a ceremonial cape, just as Emperor Argall himself had worn.
His posture was completely motionless, impassive, and unshakable, projecting absolute authority over the entire assembly.
Korr did not make him wait. Without thinking twice, he flew forward until he stood at the center of the chamber. Once there, he straightened his back, kept his chin raised, and placed his clenched fist over the left side of his chest, exclaiming:
"For the glory of Argall, this nato greets the—!"
"Lower the salute. For today, this once, it will not be necessary."
The command was gentle, almost courteous, but the implicit authority behind it remained unmistakable, and Korr did not dare disobey.