"The imperial decree has been made, and it cannot be taken back. Tomorrow, you will be crowned and seated upon the throne of this empire. And with that, I will depart on the journey I must undertake."
With one final, resolute pat on Maximus's shoulder, Ethan walked past him, leaving him standing alone in the tea hall.
Maximus remained there in a daze, slowly accepting that he could not pursue his brother this time. He had no choice but to respect Ethan's decision. Still, in his heart, he resolved to wait for his brother's return. And when that day came, he would hand back what was always meant to be Ethan's.
Until then, Maximus would perform his duties to the fullest, as his brother expected of him. He would rule well and prepare for Ethan's return by forging a stronger, brighter, and more powerful empire.
With that resolve settled in his heart, Maximus finally turned and left the tea hall.
Sigh… this game really gets to me sometimes, Ethan said quietly as he watched the night slowly fade. From the horizon, a brilliant light emerged as the sun god arrived once more, ushering in a new day.
With a snap of his fingers, Ethan's attire changed. The regal outfit of the Supreme Commander of All Forces of the Ishvara Empire appeared around him. He had chosen not to wear the formal robes of the emperor. Instead, he donned the uniform he had worn most often throughout his reign in this game world empire.
It was in this outfit that he would hand over the crown and power to his brother, Maximus.
The uniform was completely white, traced with elegant strips of gold and silver woven throughout the fabric. At his chest rested an intricate design made of white gold, or perhaps an alloy of similar rarity. The insignia depicted a sword flanked by phoenix wings on either side. This was the crest and symbol of the Ishvara Empire.
Below it were medals crafted from gold, platinum, and white gold, each bearing a distinct design. One displayed countless warships, symbolizing the vast naval forces of the Ishvara Empire. Another was etched with finely detailed mech figures, their precision so immaculate it inspired awe, representing the empire's mech forces. The final medal showed a crown resting upon a blazing sun galaxy, embodying the authority of the Ishvara Empire and the power he wielded as emperor.
Draped over his back was a white cape, adorned with intricate patterns woven throughout its length. Together, every element of the attire blended seamlessly, radiating both imperial majesty and the absolute authority of the Supreme Commander of all forces.
Looking at his reflection in the mirror and admiring himself for a brief moment, Ethan nodded in satisfaction.
"Let's get this over with," he muttered, a grin forming on his face, "and then I can finally get my hands on those babies."
He laughed softly as his imagination ran wild. An enormously massive yet overwhelmingly powerful ship appeared in his mind, a top-tier warship in the world of interstellar battles, unmatched and beyond comparison. And then there was the other reward, something even more absurdly powerful than the ship itself.
His smile widened, glowing with excitement and urgency at the thought of finally claiming those two prizes.
With those thoughts driving him forward, Ethan prepared to complete the first-stage scenario of the game and move on to the second. Filled with longing and anticipation, he walked out of his quarters and headed toward the Imperial Chamber.
All the while, he paid no attention to the commotion his retirement had caused throughout the Ishvara Empire. To him, this was merely a game protocol. These people were NPCs, not real.
And yet, saying that he felt nothing for the empire he had built step by step, even if it existed only within a game, would not be fair or true.
But Ethan had always believed in progress. In moving forward without pause. He never stopped to rest or look back. To him, the future held limitless possibilities. And if something bound him, slowed him, or stood in the way of that limitless future, he would discard it without hesitation.
Even if that something was an empire.
After all, this was still a game. Treating it like reality would be ridiculous.
Or so he believed.
What he didn't know was that this world was anything but unreal.
Across the empire, shock spread like wildfire when the Interior Minister announced the imperial decree issued by Emperor Ethan. Countless citizens were devastated by the news of his retirement.
Many flooded the official posts of the Interior Ministry with comments, begging the minister to plead with the emperor on their behalf. They asked him not to step down, not because they disliked Maximus, but because to them, Ethan was more than just an emperor.
He was their god. Not in the literal sense, but in the way they trusted him, revered him, and believed in him completely.
On the capital world, massive crowds marched toward the palace gates in protest. They received no reply. Their wishes were not fulfilled. Still, they refused to leave. Instead, they sat before the gates, determined to see their emperor at least once and beg him not to abandon the throne that belonged to him and him alone.
As Ethan walked toward the throne room, the thunderous voices of millions echoed from beyond the palace walls. He paused for a moment, surprised, but quickly dismissed it and continued on his path.
That was when he stopped once again.
The Red Empress spoke. "Ethan," she said calmly, "I think you should go and address your subjects. They have been waiting for hours, hoping to hear your words."
Ethan froze. He turned toward her slowly, stunned. This was the first time the Red Empress had ever asked something of him. And that realization alone shook him far more than the voices outside the palace ever could.
Though stunned, Ethan quickly pulled himself together and suppressed the emotions threatening to surface. He looked at her and asked in a doubtful tone, "Why, Empress? You know they're not real. Unlike you, they're just NPCs. The game doesn't even have a parameter that requires me to go out there."