The echoes of the battle had long since faded. Tenryu Forge, once a thriving industrial hub, was now a silent testament to the strength of Ash "Shogun" Shirogiri and his Tengoku assault team. The harsh hum of broken machinery and the quiet murmur of subdued prisoners filled the air. The forge was his now—its workers, scientists, and even its rogue AI, all subdued under his control.
Ash stood in the midst of it all, calm as ever, while his team moved efficiently to secure the area. They had won, but the battle for Tenryu Forge had only just begun in another sense: now, he had to turn it into something useful. The facility was key to his long-term plans. It had the resources, the fabrication capabilities, and the manpower to build ships—and build them fast.
He turned to face the group of captured fabricators, scientists, and engineers. They were not his enemies anymore. Now they were his workers, and he intended to keep them alive and productive—under his terms.
"You will rebuild," Ash began, his voice low but firm, "and you will build ships. I need Tenryu Forge fully operational again, and I need it fast. If you work for me, I will guarantee your safety. No more wars. No more enslavement. You will have your freedom after ten years of service."
A murmur of disbelief rippled through the crowd, but Ash held up a hand, silencing them.
"No, you won't be slaves. You will be compensated, and I'll treat you with respect," he continued. "But your freedom will be limited to this forge. I will not take chances on betrayal—not after everything you've done. Ten years of work. After that, you'll be free to leave. If you choose to stay and continue to serve me, you will be granted full citizenship within the Shirogiri Shigonate."
Ash's offer was met with uncertain stares. They were wary. It was a good deal compared to what they had before, but it was still a gamble. They had no idea who Ash truly was beyond his reputation as a new Shogun. However, Ash had seen enough doubt in their eyes to know they needed something more tangible.
"As a bonus," Ash added, his voice hardening, "I will send experts and materials to help rebuild this forge and construct the ships you'll need to make it functional again. If you do your part, we'll see to it that your families are well taken care of. We will not abandon you."
Raiga "Stormbrand" Kazuki moved toward the prisoners, his power still crackling in the air. He was imposing, a reminder that Ash's strength was not just in his words. He was ready to enforce them. "Make no mistake. This isn't a kindness," Raiga said, his voice booming, "but you get a chance—something you didn't have under Kaizen. You'll work. You'll rebuild. Or you'll be left behind."
Ash shot him a glance, and Raiga stepped back, allowing Ash to continue.
"Your work will not go unnoticed. I'll ensure you're paid fairly. And you'll have protection. But the cost of defying me is not one you want to pay," Ash said, his tone still calm, but the steel behind it unmistakable.
After a tense silence, one of the fabricators—a man with a weathered face and trembling hands—finally spoke. "And if we refuse? If we choose to leave?"
Ash's eyes narrowed, his gaze cutting through the tension. "Then you can leave, but you'll have no protection. You'll have no resources. And you'll never work here again. The choice is yours. But remember this: Tenryu Forge is mine now. No one gets to walk away from that without consequences."
There was another beat of silence as the prisoners weighed their options. It was clear that Ash wasn't offering them a choice of freedom—he was offering them a chance at a controlled one. Work for ten years under his banner, and they would be free to go or stay. It was a generous deal in comparison to the grim alternative: being left to the mercy of whatever other powers might come to claim Tenryu Forge for themselves.
Finally, one of the scientists—a woman with gray hair and sharp, intelligent eyes—stepped forward. "We'll serve," she said, her voice steady but heavy with the weight of her decision. "Ten years. To rebuild the forge and build your ships. But we want a promise: we want the safety of our families guaranteed."
Ash nodded. "Done. You will not have to worry about your families. They will be safe, as long as you stay true to your word. We'll make sure of it."
With that, the rest of the prisoners followed suit, agreeing to Ash's terms. They had made their choice. They would rebuild, they would work, and they would be free—or at least, they hoped they would be.
Ash turned to his team. "Prepare to send the first wave of specialists to help them rebuild," he ordered. "Get the necessary materials for the shipbuilding process in place. We need to make this forge a weapon that can change the balance of power in the system."
Raiga gave a nod of approval, his crackling presence settling as the tension in the room began to ease.
"I'll make sure the first team is ready for deployment," Raiga said. "I'll keep an eye on things here."
Riku "Viper" Matsuda cracked his knuckles, his voice cold but resolute. "And if they try to pull anything, they'll regret it."
Sora "Ember" Kurogane, as usual, remained silent, but the slight glint of approval in his eyes was enough to know that he was satisfied with Ash's decision. He had always been one to see the big picture, and Ash had just laid out the path to something far greater than any of them had expected when they first set out.
The prisoners, still bound but now with a semblance of hope, were escorted to their workstations. The scientists and fabricators would begin their efforts immediately, bringing Tenryu Forge back to full operational capacity. Ash had made his offer clear: work for him, serve the Shirogiri Shigonate, and in return, they would be given a future of their own making—one that could lead to freedom, wealth, or even citizenship within the Shogunate.
But Ash's thoughts drifted beyond this moment. This was only the beginning. His control over Tenryu Forge would shift the balance of power in the region. The ships he would create here would give him the strength to challenge even the most powerful forces in the galaxy.
"I'll return to the Tengoku and prepare for the next phase," Ash said, his voice filled with resolve. "We rebuild. And once we're ready, we'll take what's ours."
The team nodded, and as they moved to execute their orders, Ash couldn't help but feel the weight of what was to come. Tenryu Forge would be the crucible in which his power would be forged.
For now, he would allow the prisoners their choice, but he knew in the end, they would serve him—whether they realized it or not. The future of Tenryu Forge, and the galaxy itself, was in his hands. And Ash Shirogiri had just begun to write his legacy.