The throne of Ryo pulsed with golden black light The banner he forged spread like wildfire across the endless corridors engraving itself into walls floors and skies Everywhere the mark appeared reality shifted
Serath gasped as he looked outside the throne hall The broken void was no longer empty Towers were forming rivers of light flowing fields of shadow sprouting Life itself was bending to Ryo's will.
Serath: It's… it's building itself Your kingdom Lord Ryo.
Ryo stood holding the cracked toy left by the Child He raised it high The sigil beneath his feet flared and the fragments of existence obeyed.
Ryo: A throne without land is meaningless A king without people is boring Today that changes.
The Birth of the People
From the glowing rivers rose figures not echoes not shadows but new beings born from Ryo's will They carried no history no weakness only loyalty Their eyes burned with the same mark as his banner.
New Being: We are yours Lord Ryo Command us.
Serath whispered stunned
Serath: You… you're creating life from nothing Entire civilizations from your own law.
Ryo shrugged.
Ryo: If I don't like the subjects I have I'll make better ones Stronger ones Perfectly loyal.
The wolf pup barked wagging its tail Even the Child stepped closer watching silently his ancient gaze fixed on the newborn people.
The First Decree
Ryo raised his hand and the newborn citizens dropped to one knee.
Ryo: You exist by my will You bow to my banner No other law matters here Betray me and you will cease body and soul Obey me and you will share in my strength.
The people shouted as one.
People: We obey! We obey Lord Ryo!
The throne room shook with their voices.
Serath clenched his fists.
Serath: This… this is different from the gods of old They ruled because they were feared But you… you rule because you are absolute.
Ryo smirked.
Ryo: Exactly Fear is weak Absolute is eternal.
The Builders
The newborn people immediately began to expand the kingdom Towers of dark gold rose into the skies bridges of crystal stretched across endless abysses and palaces shaped themselves into constellations.
The wolf pup chased after them yipping happily as they worked Even the Fragments joined in their broken forms mending as they were absorbed into the growing empire.
Serath stood at Ryo's side uneasy
Serath: You're rewriting everything around you… but won't this draw more attention? More challengers?
Ryo leaned back against his throne.
Ryo: Good The stronger the foe the better the test for my kingdom.
The Whispering Gate
The gate at the far end of the throne hall trembled again This time the whispers were louder.
Voice: The balance is shattered.
Voice 2: The throne grows too fast.
Voice 3: If it continues all else will be devoured.
The newborn citizens froze in terror The Fragments looked to Ryo fear in their eyes.
Serath stepped forward
Serath: They're coming again Ryo Stronger than before They won't stop until you're destroyed.
Ryo rose from the throne his cloak flaring like wildfire He looked at his newborn people his loyal fragments the wolf pup and the kneeling child.
Ryo: Good Then this will be the first trial of my kingdom.
The War Drums Begin
The banners of his empire glowed brighter stretching into the corridors beyond The newborn people raised weapons formed from pure will ready to fight.
The wolf pup howled the Child's cracked toy pulsed with strange light and Serath gripped his fists tighter.
The gate split wider Shapes began to emerge armies of forgotten rulers lords of erased timelines gods who had once commanded entire multiverses.
But Ryo only smiled.
Ryo: Let them come This throne isn't for peace It's for conquest.
And with that the war drums of his newborn kingdom thundered for the first time.