Star Wars: The Old Republic, Blood of the Empire: Act 3: Burn the Future represents the third story arc within the Star Wars: The Old Republic, Blood of the Empire webcomic series. This series functions as a narrative precursor to the Star Wars: The Old Republic massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by LucasArts and BioWare. It precedes the events depicted in the other Star Wars: The Old Republic webcomic, titled Threat of Peace. The initial seven pages were made available on StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com on August 13, 2010, followed by the release of the remaining twenty-one pages in three installments of seven pages each on August 27, September 10, and September 24. Burn the Future was subsequently compiled into a printed comic format under the title The Old Republic 6: Blood of the Empire, Part 3.
The Sith apprentice, Teneb Kel, has uncovered a horrifying truth about Exal Kressh and the Children of the Emperor, achieved through enduring pain, suffering, and harnessing the power of the dark side. He must now transform this knowledge into a potent weapon to overcome an adversary who has already brought him close to death. As galactic war intensifies, the ultimate showdown between Teneb, Maggot, and Exal draws near!
After regaining consciousness on Lenico IV, Kel encounters the Jedi Master Jerbhen Hulis, who is also in pursuit of Kressh. They briefly join forces to save the remaining colonists and retrieve the necessary components for Kel. Subsequently, the Sith assassin tracks Kressh to Korriban, where Kressh has provided the Republic with critical information to facilitate an attack on the planet. Her ulterior motive is to infiltrate the Sith Academy and sabotage the machines intended for creating the Emperor's "children." Kel and Kressh engage in a final battle within the Academy's depths, resulting in Kel's victory. However, he eliminates Maggot after the Abyssin inadvertently overhears their discussion regarding the Emperor's plans, ensuring the secrecy of the information. Upon his return to the Dark Council, Kel leverages his knowledge of the Emperor's children to blackmail the Council, securing his promotion to the rank of Darth—becoming Darth Thanaton.