The Tool That Never Begged - I
What initially seemed to be Ansel's most pressing concern was resolved with unexpected ease.
Of the Empire's thirteen Dukes, three had been eliminated due to the Iron Blade and Grey Tower rebellion in the North and the Lumenaris genocide in the South. The remaining ten entered the Realm Enigma, where nine, led by the Duke of Wyvern, were either burned alive by the Bloodflame or absorbed and devoured by the golden skeleton's spine.
The Duke of Azuregold initially survived, but failed to meet Ansel's standard of "truly caring for the Empire's citizens" at the last moment, and thus couldn't escape death.
With this... the Empire's foundation, the rulers of its vast territories, were completely annihilated, leaving only two nominally existing rebels.