The village was primitive, a collection of crude huts formed from dried mud, wooden beams, and woven grass. Smoke curled from fire pits, filling the air with the scent of burning wood and roasting meat. Children scurried between the dwellings, their wide eyes filled with curiosity and fear as the procession returned from the sacred cavern.
The warriors carried the infant Emperor with reverence, placing him upon a raised platform at the heart of the village. Murmurs spread like wildfire. The old chieftain had been their leader for years, a warrior respected and feared. Now, his corpse lay broken in the cavern, slain by the child with golden eyes who had demonstrated power beyond mortal comprehension.
But power alone was not enough. If Alex was to control these people, he had to ensure absolute authority.
Rising from his seated position, his golden eyes scanned the gathered crowd. Their expressions ranged from awe to uncertainty, their primitive minds struggling to grasp the shift in their world.
"I am no god," he spoke, his voice unnatural for an infant, laced with the undeniable weight of power. "But I am your leader now. And I will make you stronger."
A brief silence fell over the crowd before, one by one, they knelt. The strongest warriors, the hunters, the elders, and even the women bowed their heads to the ground. The act solidified his rule, not through blind worship, but through an unspoken recognition of dominance.
But submission alone was not enough.
Alex needed more than obedience; he needed order, strength, and discipline. The survival of this primitive people would be his doing, and he would mold them into something far greater.
---
Over the next few days, he made his will known. Though his body was that of an infant, his mind and power transcended limitations. He did not walk, nor did he need to. His sheer presence commanded obedience, and his psychic might allowed him to demonstrate his superiority in ways they could not deny.
First, he chose leaders. The strongest warriors among them, those who were quick to obey without question. He bestowed upon them responsibilities, hunting, protection, construction, and governance. They were no longer mere tribesmen; they were his chosen, the foundation of an empire yet to be built.
Next, he reshaped their way of life. The hunters were no longer reckless wanderers—they became disciplined, working in coordinated groups to ensure more successful hunts. The builders learned to reinforce their dwellings, constructing sturdier shelters instead of temporary huts. He even introduced the first concepts of structured learning, commanding the elders to teach the young not just through spoken tradition but through recorded knowledge, using stone carvings and symbols.
The changes were swift, almost miraculous in nature to those who witnessed them. Their fear turned into loyalty, their loyalty into dedication. They no longer saw an infant when they looked upon him; they saw the birth of something greater, something that would lead them into a new age.
And thus, the first step in his grand design was complete.
The Emperor had begun his rule.