Revelations from SHADOWBRINGERS

[Alleluia]

That's not how power works. Achilles might have been an invincible warrior but the Greeks followed Agamemnon. People don't look to the thugs for leadership at the national level outside of fiction. Nearly everyone in the Empire would have cause to oppose Zenos, especially out of fear. If he'll betray the Empire and murder the Emperor, then nobody is safe.

Outside of republics and democracies, that is entirely how power works. lol If you have the might behind you, you get to be in charge. IRL that might means being the strongest/most ruthless individual in some setups, and means having the right connections and political alliances in others, depending on the society. In fantasy games, its being invincible. If you are unable to be opposed, you are unable to be opposed. The people you are dominating don't have to like you for you to be in charge.

Also, in your example, 1. Achilles didn't want to be in charge of everyone. And 2. Agamemnon had the might of his political savvy behind him, in addition to being a respectable enough fighter. Neither were commanding through fear, but that's just b/c they didn't need to/want to. Its still an entirely viable path to take. They just didn't.