Empire's boy

Chapter 6: The Art of War

The battle was over, but the war had just begun.

Elias had made his mark. The crowd had felt it, the energy had shifted, and Lucious had seen him—really seen him. But in the world of Empire, one win didn't secure your place. If anything, it only put a bigger target on your back.

He knew that the moment he walked into Empire's offices the next morning.

Whispers followed him through the hallways. Some were impressed, others skeptical. A few artists barely looked at him at all, but Elias knew better than to mistake silence for indifference.

People were watching.

Waiting.

Cookie led him through the building, her heels clicking against the floor. "Last night was just step one, baby. You proved you got bars, but this ain't just about battling. This is about building."

Elias nodded. "So what's next?"

She smirked. "Time to see if you can actually make a hit."

---

The Studio – Empire Records

The studio was alive with energy. Producers moved between rooms, artists laid down tracks, and the smell of ambition mixed with sweat and soundproof foam. Elias had never been in a place like this before—not just a studio, but a factory of legends.

Lucious was waiting for him inside one of the larger rooms. He was seated behind the mixing board, watching as an engineer tweaked levels on a track playing through the speakers.

"Took you long enough," Lucious muttered as Elias walked in.

Elias smirked. "Didn't know we were on a timer."

Lucious chuckled, but his eyes were sharp. "Everything in this business is on a timer. The question is—can you keep up?"

Elias didn't flinch. "Guess we're about to find out."

Lucious leaned back. "Good. 'Cause you're about to step into the deep end. You ain't here to just spit bars—you're here to make music that moves people."

He tapped a button on the console. A beat filled the room.

Heavy. Dark. The kind of instrumental that made your heart pound in your chest before a single lyric was even spoken.

Elias knew the track immediately.

'HUMBLE.'

Lucious folded his arms. "You say you're ready? Then prove it. You got two hours to lay your version down. No second chances."

Elias exhaled slowly. The pressure was real. But he'd been preparing for this moment his whole life.

He grabbed his notebook, his mind already crafting the approach. He wouldn't just copy Kendrick—he'd own it. Make it his. Spin it in a way that fit his story, his hunger.

Two hours.

Time to work.

---

The Recording Booth

Elias adjusted the headphones over his ears. The track started, and he let the beat sink into his bones. He knew he had to come in strong—make a statement from the first bar.

Then he attacked the mic:

"Nobody pray for me / It been that day for me…"

The words shot out like bullets. His voice held grit, a controlled aggression. He wasn't just reciting lyrics—he was throwing down a warning. Every word hit, the energy building with each verse.

Outside the booth, Lucious watched, his expression unreadable.

Cookie? She was grinning.

By the time Elias hit the final hook, the room was buzzing.

The engineer stopped the track. Silence followed.

Then Lucious stood up, walked over to the console, and pressed play.

The playback was crisp. Hard-hitting. Unfiltered hunger wrapped in raw lyricism.

When it ended, Lucious nodded slowly.

"That? That was Empire material."

Elias exhaled, his heart still racing from the performance.

Cookie clapped him on the back. "Told you he was the real deal."

Lucious smirked. "One good track don't make a legend. But it's a start."

Elias met his gaze. "Then let's keep building."

Lucious studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Be here tomorrow. We got work to do."

Elias turned to leave, but as he reached the door, he heard Lucious's voice once more.

"Oh, and Elias?"

He paused.

Lucious's smirk widened. "Welcome to the family."

For the first time since stepping into this world, Elias felt it.

He wasn't just proving himself anymore.

He was in.