CHRIS POV – "Two Years of Silence"
Two years.
That's how long it's been since I drowned the screams of rebellion in fire. Two years since the greatest riot in history was carved into the bones of my empire. I remember every second of it. Not with guilt. Not with pride. Just... clarity.
I didn't kill to punish.
I killed to remind.
To remind the world what it meant to defy Blackwood 1.
Now, the skies over the capital are clear—too clear. No noise. No uprising. No whisper against the throne. Just silence. Beautiful, chilling, disciplined silence. A silence I own.
---
I stood at the balcony of the God-Tower, the highest structure ever built by man, watching over the world I rebuilt from its ashes. Below, the Dominion Festival preparations were in motion again. Another year. Another auction. Another reminder that names are gone, replaced by Numbers.
Even the children chant it in schools now:
"I am Number. I am Rank. I serve the Code."
---
A soft knock.
"Enter," I said, already knowing who it was.
The doors opened, and Skylar stepped in. Still radiant. Still graceful. But different. Stronger. Sharper. Like she had adapted to this new world quicker than the world could adapt to her.
"It's almost time," she said softly.
"For what?"
"For the next law. You never stop, Chris. Not even after everything."
I turned to face her. "The empire breathes because I never stop. Rest is for the weak. And we, Skylar…"
I reached for her hand, kissed her knuckles, eyes locked on hers.
"…we are Blackwood."
---
Behind me, the screens flickered on.
Next on the agenda:
– Number Re-Rank Auction
– Identity Wipe Reinforcement
– Citizen Merge Proposal
– Expansion: New Empire Frontiers
I nodded. "Bring in Classic. He's ready for the next phase."
She blinked. "Your son… you sure he's ready to carry the weight of this world?"
"No," I said. "But he will learn. Like I did. Through fire."
---