Chapter 82
The ancient throne room stood silent, a cavernous monument of cold steel and flickering hololights. Towering banners bore the emblem of the Kargal Empire—a black sun eclipsed by seven crimson spears—draped over walls slick with centuries of conquest.
Emperor Lucius Karo lay on his deathbed, eyes dim but steady, the weight of countless wars etched in every line of his worn face. His breaths came shallow, the final ember of a dynasty flickering low.
Around him, the highest lords and generals gathered, cloaked in silence broken only by the faint hum of the imperial message relay.
As the last breath slipped free, the holoscreens around the chamber flickered—shimmering into life with a solemn broadcast.
A deep, resonant voice echoed through the halls:
"Citizens of the Kargal Empire, the eternal rule of Emperor Lucius Karo has ended. The bloodline that forged galaxies, shattered worlds, and forged empires now rests beyond mortal time.
"As decreed by the ancient rites and the Council of the Thirteen, the next sovereign shall be chosen from among the royal heirs of the Prime Worlds.