The pirate lord Kravyn was not known for mercy.
From the scorched decks of the Bone Serpent, his cybernetic eye flickered over the wreckage of his stolen vault ship. Sparks rained from damaged consoles as he crushed a trembling underling's throat with a metal hand.
"Ashoka Suryaansh..." Kravyn growled, his fangs bared.
A voice crackled through the command channel.
"Lord Kravyn, do we deploy the intercept fleets?"
He smiled, cold and savage.
"No. We burn his world."
On Aryavrat, Ashoka stood on the command balcony again, watching the orbital defense scans. His fingers drummed the railing. The raid had been a success — but now came the real test.
"Multiple warp signatures incoming!" Admiral Viraj barked. "At least three destroyer-class ships, ten raiders, and—"
Priya's console chimed.
"Sir, Kravyn's flagship is leading them."
Ashoka's jaw tightened.
"They came faster than I expected."
Captain Meera rushed in.
"Shall we scramble the fleet, my lord?"
Ashoka looked over the gathered commanders.
"No. We're not wasting our new ships on a frontal battle."
Priya raised an eyebrow. "Then what are we doing?"
Ashoka smiled faintly.
"We invite them."
Hours later, Kravyn's armada descended through Aryavrat's upper atmosphere, weapons bristling. Pirate raiders swarmed across the cities, plundering outer settlements and burning defense satellites.
But the capital — the heart of Aryavrat — stayed strangely calm.
On Kravyn's viewscreen, Ashoka appeared.
Dressed in ceremonial armor, hands folded, gaze steady.
"Kravyn," Ashoka said softly. "Welcome to Aryavrat."
The pirate lord sneered.
"Prepare to die, boy."
Ashoka tilted his head.
"Actually… you should prepare to bargain."
In the heart of the capital, Kravyn's landing skiffs touched down. His elite guards marched through ruined streets — but something felt wrong.
No civilians.
No resistance.
No… anything.
Inside the old palace, Kravyn strode into the throne hall, expecting fear.
Instead, he found Ashoka waiting, alone, standing beside an enormous holo-table.
"I have your treasures," Ashoka said quietly. "Your stolen shipments. Your weapons caches. Even your Earth-AI relics."
Kravyn's eyes gleamed. "You're going to return them, then?"
Ashoka smiled thinly.
"No."
With a sharp motion, he tapped the console.
Hidden turrets sprang to life across the palace walls. Stealth drones uncloaked in the rafters. Plasma cannons hummed, targeting Kravyn's escort.
The pirate lord froze.
Ashoka stepped forward.
"I could kill you here, Kravyn. But instead, I propose this: You serve me."
Kravyn snarled.
"Why would I—"
Ashoka's voice hardened.
"Because I know what's coming."
He activated the holo-map.
The image shifted: far-off sectors, flickering with encrypted signals, dark fleets massing beyond the lawful zones.
"The Earth-AI treaty is breaking," Ashoka murmured. "Something stirs on the old battlefronts. Pirates, nobles, scavenger lords — you're all just distractions."
Kravyn stared at the map, momentarily shaken.
"You expect me to believe this?"
Ashoka's eyes locked onto his.
"I expect you to survive it. With me."
A tense silence.
Finally, Kravyn threw back his head and laughed.
"You've got nerve, boy."
Ashoka smiled coldly.
"And soon, you'll have a war."
That night, under Aryavrat's starlit sky, Ashoka stood beside Priya on the palace walls.
"You think Kravyn will honor the alliance?" she asked quietly.
Ashoka's eyes were sharp.
"He'll honor survival."
Below them, the first joint Suryaansh–Nyros warships fueled up.
Ashoka folded his arms.
"We're no longer just reviving a house, Priya. We're forging a coalition. One warband, one pirate lord, one broken piece at a time."
His gaze lifted to the distant stars.
"And when the real enemy comes, we'll be ready."