With the entity known as Mnggal-Mnggal now gone, Daimon walked up to Vitiate's body which had been abandoned. He placed his hand on Vititate's head and started to look through his mind and see what was going on.
Though as he looked, nothing but a small presence remained for Vitiate. It seemed that Mnggal-Mnggal had almost consumed him entirely but Vitiate managed to put up what little resistance he could at the cost of his life force and memories.
Daimon knew that none of this was actually Vitiate's fault and in his weakened state, he could be used to control the Sith Empire from the shadows.
So, he healed Vitiate up, giving him new life force and implanted new memories into his head. The memories made Daimon out to be the one who saved him from death, and his new Master. Other memories which were necessary, such as the state of the Galaxy who Daimon was were also added so that he wouldn't be confused by certain things.
A few seconds later, Vitiate's body regained life and he began to open his eyes. "Where... where am I?" Vitiate's voice was weak and confused. His eyes darted around the chamber, taking in the scene of unconscious Sith Lords and the massive figure of Daimon standing before him.
"My Lord," said Vitiate as he got up and kneeled in front of Daimon.
"It's okay, take it easy." Daimon replied. Vitiate was literally almost dead so he didn't want him to move too much. "You were possessed by an ancient entity called Mnggal-Mnggal. It nearly consumed you entirely. I extracted it and saved your life."
Vitiate's hand went to his head, feeling a sharp pain. Fragmented memories had surfaced, showing him getting manipulated and making decisions that weren't truly his own. "I... remember now. The darkness. It spoke to me, promised me immortality. I thought I was using it, but..."
"It was using you," Daimon finished. "The entity fed on your ambition, twisted your vision for the Sith Empire into something monstrous. Fortunately for you that means you are somewhat innocent in all this matter."
"Thank you, My Lord." replied Vitiate. His memories of him being Dark Lord remained, but now there are new memories of his subservience to Daimon.
Daimon turned and looked at Darth Marr and motioned him over. Once Marr was close enough, he placed his hand on his shoulder, "I want the two of you to reform the Sith Empire into what it used to be when it was first founded. But this time, there will be some changes."
Daimon began outlining his vision for the reformed Sith Empire. "First, the practice of consuming entire populations to fuel dark side rituals ends immediately. Such wasteful expenditure of life serves no purpose beyond temporary power gains. The Sith will learn to draw strength by controlling their passion and through adversity, not by killing millions of people."
Vitiate and Darth Marr exchanged glances but said nothing, waiting for their Daimon to continue.
"Second, slavery as an institution will be gradually phased out over the next decades and turned more into indentured servitude. This will work in the Sith's favor as it will give people their basic needs, thus decreasing the risk of rebellion."
"My Lord," Darth Marr said, "The Sith philosophy has always emphasized strength through domination. Many on the Dark Council will resist these changes."
Daimon knew that this was true, but in order to ensure the Sith Empire actually last a long time, slavery was something that always led to revolutions. Whether it was a hundred years or a thousand years from now, it would happen.
"Then they will be killed and replaced," Daimon replied. "I will have somebody that I personally trust to come here and assist in these endeavors. The Sith Empire under Mnggal-Mnggal's influence was eating itself alive. How many purges have occurred in the past century? How many promising Sith have been murdered by their rivals before they could reach their full potential?"
Vitiate lowered his head. Even through his fragmented memories, he could recall the constant infighting and paranoia that had consumed the Dark Council. "Too many, My Lord. The Empire's strength has been turned inward, wasted on internal conflicts."
"Exactly. But now we can change that. Competition among the Sith is natural and even necessary to foster growth, but it will be regulated. Trials by combat will be formal affairs with witnesses and rules. Assassination of fellow Sith outside sanctioned duels will be punishable by death. You will direct your aggression outward, toward actual enemies like the Republic."
As he said this, Cortana stepped forward, "Daimon, the Sith fleet in orbit is requesting a report from the Sith Emperor or they will open fire on us."
Daimon looked at Vitiate who understood what he needed to do. He pulled out a communicator and relayed his orders to the Sith Fleet. After that he returned to listen to Daimon.
"The both of you will work together to implement these reforms. Darth Marr, your pragmatism and military ability will be essential to restructuring the Sith military doctrine and dealing with the Sith Lords who will rebel. Emperor Vitiate will focus on the philosophical and religious aspects, guiding the Sith toward a more sustainable interpretation of the dark side."
They both nodded their heads understanding their assignments.
"Good. Now we have visitors coming so let's greet them." Said Daimon as everybody turned to look at the Chamber doors.
A few seconds later, members of the Dark Council and their subordinates barged into the room with their lightsabers drawn. The first thing they saw was Darth Marr and the Emperor standing next to Daimon. "What's going on here?"
Daimon started walking towards them while the Balance Keepers and Empyrean Guards moved to surround the Dark Lords. "As you can see, I have taken control over the Sith Empire and I will change it for the better."
Hearing that the Dark Lords grew angry and were about to charge forward, but their bodies wouldn't move. One of the Dark Lords, Darth Raithon looked at Daimon with fury. "Come on Emperor, scared to lose in a duel to me. I thought you were a God."
Daimon released his hold over then put one arm behind his back as he drew his lightsaber with his right arm. "I'll take all of you at once and show you how primitive your understanding of the force is." The Dark Council members hesitated for just a moment before their pride as a Sith took over. Seven Sith Lords charged simultaneously, coordinating their attack from all sides.
Daimon didn't move from his position as the first strike came from Darth Ravage, a Sith Pureblood whose species had been practicing dark side combat for millennia.
His blade swung in an arc that was designed to cut Daimon from shoulder to hip. But the attack didn't land as Daimon reflected the strike while also sending Force energy through the contact point. Darth Ravage's entire arm went numb and his lightsaber clattered to the floor as he stumbled backward.
Darth Mortis attacked from the left while Darth Thanaton came from the right, attempting to catch Daimon in a pincer attack. Their coordination was good, but their combat techniques to Daimon were primitive.
Daimon countered by running towards Darth Thanaton and sliding on his knees underneath his strike. This put both Darth Mortis and Thanaton in front of him, but they had already turned to face him and were charging at him again.
He blocked Darth Mortis's attack that came from the right and had stepped back with his left foot, shifting his body away from the attack, allowing him to dodge it.
He pushed Darth Mortis back with his lightsaber and then turned and headbutted Darth Thanaton's lightsaber. Everybody in the room was shocked at what they had just seen and they all thought the same thing.
'Did the Emperor just headbutt a lightsaber?'
Darth Thanaton was so shocked by what he just saw that; he was unable to block Daimon's lightsaber from piercing his chest and killing him.
Darth Mortis saw this but still charged forward as this was a fight to the death. Daimon simply sent a wave of Force energy that sent him flying like a rag doll into a stone pillar which collapsed on top of him.
Darth Raithon, who had spoken earlier, let out a growl. With both hands gripping his lightsaber, he charged, but not alone. Darth Nox, a master of ancient sorcery, began weaving lightning around her blade, while Darth Hexid moved to flank Daimon's left.
Raithon reached Daimon first. Their blades clashing, sending Force shockwaves throughout the chamber. Daimon caught one of Raithon's strikes, twisted his saber in a spiral maneuver, and disarmed him with a single move. Raithon dropped to one knee, but before Daimon could finish him, he sensed Hexid behind him.
Hexid's strike was fast, too fast for most to react. But Daimon could anticipate her moves as she made them. He spun around, parried her, then used his lightsabers hilt to strike her in the throat, crushing her windpipe in a single brutal motion. She collapsed as she silently gasped for air.
Darth Nox had finished charging her attack and unleashed it towards Daimon. The entire room lit up as Vitiate and Darth Marr instinctively raised their hands to shield themselves. The Empyrean Guards and Balance Keepers stepped forward, ready to interfere if necessary.
Daimon held his lightsaber sideways and absorbed the lightning into the blade. He then began walking toward her through the storm of lightning.
"You… can't…" Nox stated, her eyes wide with disbelief at what she was seeing. "A…Monster…"
Daimon closed the distance and stood in front of her who for the first time was feeling fear. Her body felt cold and she couldn't move.
"You have potential, so I won't kill you." Daimon said as the lightning stopped and he roundhouse kicked her into a nearby wall.
Darth Raithon came from behind to try and attack again, but Daimon turned around and caught his arm mid-strike, twisting it until his bones cracked. He then drove his lightsaber through Raithon's chest causing his face to freeze in pain and disbelief before he fell to the ground.
The only one that remained was Darth Arctis, the youngest of the council, who had yet to make his move. He was hesitating as he looked at Vitiate and Marr, then to the bodies that laid across the floor.
"Don't do it," Marr warned him. "You are not ready for this."
Arctis was about to raise his blade, but in the end, he gave up. There was no use in fighting a losing battle.
"Very good young one. You recognize that you will lose and instead of mindlessly charging in, you surrender. Such an act may be seen as pathetic, but in my eyes, it means you know how to choose your battles which makes you smarter than the rest." Stated Daimon putting lightsaber back on his waist.
He turned towards Emperor Vitiate and Darth Marr and said, "You know what to do."
The two nodded as Daimon left the chamber, ordering the Balance Keepers to take Darth Nox with them. There were still 5 more members of the Dark Council out there, and they will likely oppose the changes that were about to be made.
But this is the Sith way. To reclaim their future, they must take control or get rid of those that will step in their way. Daimon understood this, that's why instead of mind controlling the entire Dark Council, he only did it to Darth Marr who would become a strong Sith Lord.
Emperor Vitiate would just be the man who keeps the title of Sith Emperor from falling into another's hands and he was also powerful and useful.
Returning to the fleet, Daimon departed for the Imperial controlled Hutt territories to see his daughters before he joined the attack on the Core worlds which would be the final push to win the war against the Republic.