Chapter 16
The Dark Quadrant had fallen.
The so-called Dead Blade General—Corvus Glaive, who once declared himself the new ruler—was dead. His most loyal warriors, Proxima Midnight and Black Dwarf, were gone.
And with them, any last remnants of resistance had crumbled.
Now, only one figure remained.
The true ruler.
---
The transition of power was immediate.
Supergiant and Ebony Maw stood beside him as the official announcement was transmitted across the entire capital planet.
Every screen, every communication network, every transmission was overtaken by a single broadcast—the face of their new master.
The Dark Legion, numbering in the tens of millions, was reorganized without resistance.
Not because of orders.
Not because of political maneuvering.
But because of fear.
Ebony Maw, the most trusted strategist of Thanos, commanded immense authority. His words alone were enough to stabilize the transition.
And the name of the one who killed Thanos?
That name silenced any opposition.
And yet—
Beyond the capital, beyond this world, trouble was already brewing.
---
The fall of Corvus Glaive sent a shockwave across the galaxy.
Hundreds of planets under Dark Quadrant rule erupted into revolts the moment they heard that their so-called leaders had fallen.
On some worlds, civil wars broke out overnight.
On others, military factions clashed in a desperate attempt to seize control.
And yet—
Before Lin Fan could even lift a finger, something unexpected happened.
The chaos ended.
Not in weeks.
Not in days.
But in mere hours.
And the reason?
The very same fleet that had once fought against him.
The surviving commanders of the Dark Quadrant's Starfleet, the same ones who had tried to destroy him, now did the opposite.
They crushed the rebellions themselves.
Not for glory.
Not for loyalty.
But because they had seen what Lin Fan was capable of.
They had watched as he erased warships with a punch, as he wiped Corvus Glaive from existence, as he stood against the impossible—and won.
And so—
The heads of over 100,000 rebels were delivered to him as a gift.
And one by one, the commanders of the surviving fleets arrived at the capital.
Not as enemies.
Not as prisoners.
But as loyal subjects.
Without a single battle, Lin Fan had taken everything.
---
Seated on his throne, Lin Fan watched the unfolding events in silence.
He leaned forward slightly, his fingers tapping against the armrest.
A single thought echoed in his mind.
"This was too easy."
It wasn't that he doubted his strength.
It wasn't that he believed anyone could oppose him.
But power struggles? Wars?
They were supposed to be messy.
Yet here he was—sitting at the top without even trying.
His presence alone had been enough to break the galaxy.
What did that say about the universe itself?
His gaze shifted to Ebony Maw.
The dark mage stood at his side, ever watchful, ever loyal.
"Status?" Lin Fan finally asked.
Ebony Maw bowed his head slightly.
"The transition is complete. Every remaining world has bent the knee. The Dark Quadrant is yours."
Lin Fan exhaled. That fast.
He turned to Supergiant.
"And the spies?"
Supergiant's eerie blue eyes flickered.
"We found nearly a thousand embedded across the capital. They belong to various galactic powers—Kree, Skrull, Shi'ar, and others."
Ebony Maw's fingers curled. "Give me the orders to eliminate them all, Sire."
Lin Fan raised a hand.
"Wait."
Ebony Maw immediately froze.
Supergiant tilted her head, studying him carefully.
Lin Fan's gaze darkened slightly.
Spies.
Normally, this would be simple. Kill them all, send a message.
But then—a better idea formed.
A slow grin crept onto his face.
"Don't kill them," he said. "Send them home."
Ebony Maw's eyebrow arched. "Sire…?"
Lin Fan leaned back, his grin widening.
"Let them go. But before they leave—give them a message."
Supergiant was silent for a moment before nodding.
"And what message shall we send?"
Lin Fan's golden eyes gleamed under the starlight.
"Send them everything."
Ebony Maw's expression shifted.
Lin Fan continued.
"Show them the footage. Show them how I erased Corvus Glaive. Show them the fleet I crushed. Show them what happens to those who oppose me."
He slowly stood from his throne, stepping into the open air, the endless stars stretching before him.
"Trying to hide what I am is pointless."
His voice was quiet, but it carried through the chamber like a decree.
"I don't need to suppress the truth."
He turned back to his followers.
"I want the entire universe to know."
A pause.
Then—
A command.
"Let them fear me."
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