Chapter 36: A war of quadrilions
The Orion Arm knew fear and suffering on a level the Hive couldn't have hoped to match, as billions died in mere days, with fleets jumping back and forth between systems, protecting their loved ones but sacrificing the loved ones of others in turn.
A sacrifice they didn't hesitate to make, as the selfish desire to live conquered all sentient thought, leaving the more peaceful and merciful civilizations in a difficult position, many already falling to their neighbors who saw them as easy targets.
Some of the champion civilizations became titans of oppression, and fear. While others became beacons of hope, peace, and everything in between.
Many federations formed in a last-ditch effort for the collapsing races, most of which fell to internal fractures if not outside pressure or a mix of both.
The Empire itself became a mix of both, raining down death and destruction on all of its enemies, but also becoming a haven for all refugees desperate for survival.
Borders became blurry as chaos reigned within, its hand twisting any efforts at diplomacy made by the local powers.
Nonetheless, where there is war, there is profit, and a lot of profit was being made for those who managed to stay out of conflict by selling valuable resources and weapons for extremely cheap, fueling the conflicts around them while making great income.
Battles raged between countless cultures, governments, colonies, and outposts, with some of the less satisfied rising up in rebellion, seeing this as their only chance to escape whatever circumstances they find themselves in, ranging from slavery and active purging to plain dissatisfaction.
Adam personally ensured that none of these revolutionaries got inside his nation and its allies, all of them working like a well-oiled machine while addressing concerns and fighting on the front.
Before this, even while stable, the protective sphere and the former alliance members had slightly tense relations, making cooperation a bit more difficult. Now with them all fighting on one front again, and with time washing away their hate for the Empire, the former alliance members became official subordinates of the Empire, bending the knee, or their equivalent of it anyways.
Additionally, more and more nations fell to the Empire's grasp, causing a domino effect of civilizations bending the knee all around them, effectively giving the Empire a shield against the chaos which reigned all around.
Now that they were safe, the Empire could no longer use the excuse that they were just defending themselves when expanding and invading, forcing them to use another reason.
And what better reason than to "Protect" Human minorities in other nations? Expanding their reach to, "save pressed Humans."
Unironically though, Humans thanks to their curious and expansive nature have spread out far and wide in the few years they could have, with some settling on alien worlds they liked, and now with the situations degrading so much, many have been forced to work and fight on behalf of the country they inhabit, and Adam found such a thing unforgivable.
They treated all refugees from these places with at least minimum respect, never enslaving them or such, but do they think they can do that to them? Ridiculous.
At least it gave them a free invasion ticket.
Adam spearheaded the charge toward such places, liberating the people there and purging the leaders, and their entire families with them, not sparing a single soul in his fury.
These charges caused the surrounding powers to feel threatened by the Empire even more, with all powers in the region either bending the knee or banding together against the Empire in a federation of such scale this part of the Milky Way has never seen.
Alexander earned himself a reputation as a merciless fighter in these wars, fighting side by side with his father during the liberation of the slave camps.
He even oversaw many planetary invasions, leading the charge personally, and earning the nickname 'Royal Executioner'.
His father was ecstatic when he heard about it, clearly filled with pride, which made him also feel very happy about it, he himself was proud of his achievements.
His girlfriend tried to convince him to not go, to stay with her and be safe, but he knew Father would never allow such a thing, as in his eyes, its a man's duty to protect and provide, and if he, his son, didn't even try, he feared the consequences.
No, he feared for his life, his father would make him regret being born.
And besides, he agrees with his father.
So the young prince went to war, and even after extensive training and battle simulations, his first battle was difficult.
His father remained patient, showing him the ropes, and telling him how to kill with the most efficiency as if he was talking about something as casual as the weather, which made him slightly concerned for his father's mental health, but he brushed it off.
His Dad is just on another level.
Either way, soon enough he caught himself doing the same with some of the friends he made in the army while fighting, cheerfully talking about the horrific battles they have endured as if it was the best joke they have ever heard.
His girlfriend also pointed out his behavior changing a few times, with him becoming more rough and decisive, and when questioned if she liked it, she just blushed and stayed quiet, making Alexander grin just thinking about it.
Guess that's why his father went to war so often, as well as more logical reasons.
Either way, years moved on, stars turned, black holes consumed stars like a goddamn Snickers bar, and the Empire continued its race against time, as the more advanced Empires continued their slow but steady takeover.
Adam remembers what happened to the natives in South and North America, and he doesn't plan to let them enslave him and his people.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone