Legacy of Blackwood
The grand halls of the Blackwood Imperial Palace had witnessed countless moments of history—wars waged, kingdoms swallowed, and rulers crowned. Tonight, it would bear witness to yet another shift in power.
Ethan Carter stood before the towering obsidian doors of the throne room, his expression unreadable. The weight of what lay ahead pressed down on him, heavier than the black and gold cloak draped over his shoulders. Inside, the world's most powerful figures awaited, gathered to witness the final decree of the man who had built an empire from the ashes of democracy.
Chris Blackwood.
A ruler unlike any before him. A man whose name alone struck both reverence and terror across continents. And tonight, he was relinquishing his throne.
The doors swung open. The grand chamber was deathly silent.
At the far end of the room, seated upon the Throne of Dominion, was Chris himself. Though the years had graced him with silver at his temples, his presence remained as commanding as ever. His gaze, sharp and piercing, swept across the assembled leaders, then settled on Ethan.
Skylar Blackwood stood beside him, ever the shadow, her silence more powerful than a thousand words. To her right, Christiana Blackwood, the Dictator, watched with an expression that gave nothing away. And Classic Blackwood, the former heir, stood further back, his posture stiff, his emotions carefully buried.
Ethan stepped forward, each step echoing in the vast hall. He knelt before the throne, bowing his head.
Chris spoke, his voice carrying the authority of a man who had shaped history itself.
"The Blackwood Empire does not crumble. It does not falter. It does not kneel to any force. And now, it will stand under new rule."
A murmur rippled through the chamber. Even those who had anticipated this moment found it difficult to believe.
Chris rose from the throne. The weight of his legacy lingered in the air as he stepped down, stopping before Ethan. Slowly, he removed the Imperial Ring from his finger—the symbol of absolute power—and held it out.
"Ethan Carter, you have served with loyalty, with strength, and with wisdom. You have earned what I now bestow upon you."
Ethan hesitated only a second before reaching out, his fingers brushing against the cold metal. As he slid the ring onto his hand, an undeniable truth settled over him.
He was no longer the right hand of the empire.
He was the empire.
Chris turned to the gathered rulers and delegates, his next words sealing the fate of nations.
"Kneel before your new Supreme ruler."
And one by one, they obeyed.